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ANNALS 

or 



BEING A COLLECTION OP 

IMIEXKIOIRS, AIJSCDOTES, &. INCIDBKTS 

OF THE 

CITY JiJ^I) ITS IJSTHJiBITJlJ^TS 

FROM 

THE DAYS OF THE PILGRIM FOUNDERS. 

INTENDED TO PRESERVE THE RECOLLECTIONS OF OLDEN TIME, AND 

TO EXHIBIT SOCIETY IN ITS CHANGES OF MANNERS AND 

CUSIOMS, AND THE CITY IN ITS LOCAL CHANGES 

AND IMPROVEMENTS. 

TO WHICH IS ADDED 



AN APPENDIX, 



OLDEN TIME RESEARCHES AND REMINISCENCES OF 
NEW YORK CITY. 



■' Oh ! dear is u tale of the olden time !" 



" Where peep'd the hut, the palace towers ; 
Where skimm'd the bark, the war-ship lowers : 
Joy gaily carols, where was silence rude ; 
And cultur'd thousands throng the solitude." 



BY JOHN F. WATSON, 

Member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 



PHILADELPHM, 

E. 1. CAREY & A. hart; 

J^EW YORK, 

G. & C. & H. CARVILI. 

1830. 



EASTERJ^ DISTR'lCt OF PEJf^rSYLtAJ^IJ}, Totmf. 

******■*% Be it remembered, that on the twentj-fourth day of June, in the tifty-lourtii 
I L. S. ^ year of the Independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1830, John 
I*,**«*» F- Watson, of the said District, has deposited in this office the title of a Book, 
(lie right whereof he claims as author, in the words following, to wit : . 
" Annals or Philadelphia, being a collection of Memoirs, Anecdotes, and Incidents of 
the City and its Inhabitants, from the days of the Pilgrim Founders. Intended to pre- 
serve the recollections of olden time, and to exhibit society in its changes of manners 
and customs, and the city in ils local changes and improvements. To which is added An 
Appendix, containing Olden Time Kesearches and Reminiscences of New York City. 

" Oh ! dear is a tale of the olden time !" 



" Where peep'd the hut, the palace towers ; 

Where skimni'd the bark, the war-ship lowers: 

Joy gaily carols, where was silence rude ; 

And cultur'd thousands throng the solitude." 
By John F. Watson, Member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania." 
In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, intituled, " An Act for the 
encouragement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, lo the 
Authors and Proprietors of such Copiesduring the Times therein mentioned." And also 
to the Act, entitled, " An Act supplementai-y to An Act, entitled " An Act for the encour- 
agement of Learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Authors 
and Proprietors of such Copies during the Times therein mentioned," and extending the 
Benefits thereof to the Arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other 
Prints." 

D. CALDWELL, 
Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania 

Bjllmeyei-— Printer 



KiLL OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PE^XA'SYLVAJWIA. 

PhUailelph'uu June 7, 1830. 

At a stated meeting hekl this evening, it was 
Resolved,— ThAt the Society being inlornied that John F. Wat- 
son, Esq. one of its members, was abont to publish a work entitled 
"Annals of Philadelphia," which having been examined and 
found to be authentic, curious, and highly interesting in many 
respects, it is rccomujended to tlie patronage of those who feel an 
attachment to our city, and take an interest in its primitive char- 
acter. 

Ordered, tliat a copy of this resolution be furnished to John F. 
Watson, Esq. 

ROBERTS VAUX, Vice President. 

Joshua Francis Fishee, Secretary p. t. 



.IBVEMTISBMEMT. 



" I pray you, let us satisfy our eyes 

With the memorials and the things of fame 

Tliat do renown this city." 

THIS work, dedicated to the Historical Society of PennsyUa- 
nia by one of its members, is designed to revive the recollections 
and the peculiar traits and characteristics of the olden time; to 
give to the present race of Philadelphians curious and amusing 
facts from times by-gone, of which few or none have had any |)roper 
conception. It is an effort to rescue from the ebbing tide of oblivion, 
all those fugitive memorials of unpublished facts and observations, 
or reminiscences and traditions, which could best illustrate the 
domestic history of our former days. As such a work is without 
example for its imitation, it may be deemed sni generis in its execu- 
tion. It has, however, powers to please apart from its style and 
composition, because it is in effect — a museum of whatever is rare, 
surprising, or agreeable concerning the primitive days of our pil- 
grim forefathers, or of the subsequent changes by their sons, either 



i V Jldvertisement. 

in the alterations and improvements of given localities, or in the 
modes and forms of "changing men and manners," It is a pic- 
ture of the doings and characteristics of a ''huried age." By the 
images which their recitals create in the imagination, the ideal 
presence is generated ; and we talk and think with '' men of otiier 
days.'* 

Herein, the aged may find ready assistance to travel back in 
memory to the scenes and gamhols of their sjmrti ve innocent youth : 
and the youth of our city may regale tlieir fancies with recitals as 
novel and as marvellous to their wondering minds as the Arabian 
talcs — even while they have the gratification to commingle in idea 
with the plays and sjjorts of their ow^« once youthful ancestors. 
The dull unheeding citizen who writes '"mi admirai'i^' on the most 
of things, may here see cause *' to wonder that lie never saw before 
what he shows him, and that he never yet had felt what he im- 
presses !" To Philadelphians settled in distant countries, these 
particulars concerning " Sweet Home" would present the most 
welcome gift their friends here could offer them. 

It is not too romantic to presume that a day is coming, if not 
already an-ivcd, v» hen the memorabilia of Philadelpliia, and of its 
primitive inhabitants, so different from the present, will be highly 
a])preciated by all tliose wlio can feel intellectual pleasures in trav- 
elling back the vale of years, and conferring with the *' mighty 
<icad/' Sucli will give their tlianks and their gratitude to labours 
humble as these; for, I have not aimed to give them tliat " ])aijited 
form" wiujh might allure by its ornaments of rhetoric : — I liave 
rather repressed the excursive fancy I sometimes could not but feel. 
My object has not been to say all which could have been adduced 
on evt?ry topic, but to gather up the segregated facts in their 
several cases, which others had overlooked or disregarded, or to 
save fugitive scraps, if published, which others liad neglected.* In 
this w ay I have chiefly aimed to furnish the material by which bet- 
ter or niore ambitious writers could elaborate more formal history, 
and from wiiich as a repository, our future poets, painters, and 
imaginative authors, could deduce their themes — for their own and 
their country's glory. Scanty therefore as these crude materials 
iniiy ])vo\c,Jiction may some day lend its charms to amplify and 
consecrate /acis; and "Tales of ancient Philadelphia," may be 
touched by genius and made immortal ! 

* It may be noticed, as a proof of the care with which this work has been restricted to 
nioderHle size, that in most cases of recitals from others, a smaller type has been used 
than the common text ; and frequently whole articles have been omitted, and only referred 
to, as to be seen in the two MS. books, either in the Philadelphia Library, or in the His- 
torical Society of Pennsylvania. It has been limited also to one volume, of over size^ 
rathor than present the name of "two volumes" on so untried a subject. 



PREFACE. 



OITR love of antiquities, — the contemplation of days by-gone, — 
is an impress of the Deity. — It is our hold on immortality. The 
same affection which makes us reach forward and peep into futurity, 
prompts us to travel back to the hidden events which transpired 
before we existed. We thus feel our span of existence prolonged 
even while we have the pleasure to identify ourselves with the 
scenes or the emotions of our forefathers. For the same cause 
relics are so earnestly souglit and sedulously preserved, — " they 
are full of local impressions," and transfer the mind back to 
'' scenes before." 

As Americans, we see in a short life more numerous incidents to 
excite our observation and move our wonder, than any other people 
on the globe. The very newness of our history ministers to our 
moral entertainment and increases our interest in conteni])lating the 
passing events. A single life in this rapidly-growing country, wit- 
nesses such changes in the progress of society, and in the embel- 
lishments of the arts, as would require a term of centuries to 
witness in full-grown Europe. If we have no ruins of Pompeii 
and Herculaneum to employ our researches ; no incomprehensible 
Stonehenge nor Circle of Dendara to move our wonder ; we have 
abundant themes of unparalleled surprise in following down the 
march of civilization and improvement, from the first landing of 
our pilgrim forefathers to the present eventful day ! 

The wealth and ambition of a potent prince may have accom- 
plished a magnificent city in shorter time upon the batiks of the 
Neva ; but in this country we have many equal wonders by the 
energies and resources of a people, until lately *' no people." The 
wisdom of our free institutions has made our land the desired asy- 
lum of the oppressed. Here human life is not wantonly wasted in 
ambitious broils for sovereignty ; we therefore behold our popula- 
tion quadrupled in a term of forty years, and our hardy pioneers 
subduing the soil, or advancing their settlements, from the Atlan- 
tic to the Pacific wave. Canals, rivaling in magnitude the boasted 
aqueducts of imperial Rome are in successful operation. By these 
and turnpikes, inaccessible districts are brought nigh : mountains 
charged with metallic treasures are entered, and their deposits of 
it"on, coal, and lead, &c. lavished over the land. Cities, towns, 
and villages, arise in the West, as if by enchantment. — Many of 
their present inhabitants redeemed their soils from a waste howl- 
B 



vi Freface. 

inff wilderness. In less than twenty years our exports have grown 
from twenty to eightv millions. Our navy, from *' cock-hoats and 
raffs of striped bunting," has got up to power and renown. Our 
private law, commercial code, and bold diplomacy, have grown 
into a matured and learned system. Our inventions and improve- 
ments in the arts, which began but yesterday, make us, even now, 
'• a wonder unto many ;" and our vapour vessels, while they fill 
all our waters and overcome the rapids of our great Mississippi 
and Missouri, are accommodating and enriching the old world by 
their adoption and imitation. Here we have no lordly potentates 
in church, "lording it over tiie consciences of the people;" no 
standing armies to endanger their liberties ; no despots to riot on 
the opiiression of the subject. Nay, so exalted arc our privileges, 
as a sdf-i-overned people, that the fact of our example and happu 
ness is' bidding fair to regenerate other nations, or to moderate 
the rigour of despotic governments throughout the world ! 

If topics lilic these, which enter into the common history of our 
o-rowing cities, may be the just pride and glory of an American, 
must not the annals which detail such facts, (and to such, these 
pa<^es are devoted,) be calculated to aflbrd him deep interest; and 
should it not be his ])rofit as well as amusement to trace the suc- 
cessive steps by which we have jjiogressed from comparative 
siothingness, to be " a praise in the earth !*' 

There are minds, feeling and cultivated, which can derive rich 
moral pleasure from themes like those, for 

'• Is there a man with soul so dead 
Who never to himself hath said — 
This is mij own, my native land .'" 

Such a Philadelphia)!, mav now stand upon tlic site of Philadcl- 
phia and feel his soul partaker of its grandeur. He beholds a 
city and liberties with a population of 110,000 souls, assessed at 
a value of 43 millions of dollars ; containing edifices and improve- 
ments of princely magnificence and expenditure. He looks through 
the long vista of ])rogressive ages, and imagines to what wide ex- 
tended range she may yet run. He foresees, as at no distant pe- 
riod, when all the area from river to river will be filled with 
closely compacted houses, "stretching street on street." From 
such elevation and comprehension of thought, he looks back on 
the past. Only seven scores of years have past since the plot of 
this wide-spread city lay in woods or waste fields of blackberries 
and whortleberries. Then it was daily traversed by swarthy In- 
dians, and the leafy arbouis were vocal with plumed songsters ; 
at such a crisis, he sees and considers the landing and settlement 
of our enterprising founders— they had to encounter and subdue 
innumerable inconveniences which riches and the arts have since 
changed or hidden from our eyes. The heads and the hands which 
i-hieved those ( hoies benefits for us are no more ; we now tread 



Frej'(ic£, vii 

liicir aslios beneath tiic soil which they subdued lor our use. Oh ! 
the memory of it is touciiing, — 

" • And the heart is stone 

That feels not at it, or it feels at none !" 

A Philadelphian has every reason to prize and venerate sucii 
forefathers, — men of peace and men of worth. Tlie excellency of 
tlif morals which regulated their lives, infused itself into all the 
institutions which tiiey, as public oHicers, cstablislied for tlic gov- 
ernment of the people. We their descendants will embalm their 
memory, because we inherit and enjoy the rich patrimony which 
their wisdom and enterprise created. 

The progress of such a society, originating our present fiur 
*^ City of brotherly love," becomes therefore, if duly told, a tale of 
stirring interest, and should be the favourite theme of her sons? 

" Go call thy sons, — instruct them what a debt 
They owe their ancestors, and make them swear 
7'o /lay it, — by transmitting down entire 
Those sacred i-ights to which themselves were born!'" 

Such views and such feelings impressed and imbued the mind of 
the autJ^or, else he had never attempted these pages. His stimu- 
lus w;is ^njrely con amore; recompense he did not contemplate, and 
t: i' ne could ill spare from other engagements, wherefore, indul- 
gence for casual imperfections is but justly due from the considerate 
reader, ii^ wrote at first for his sole gratification, never intending 
his collections for tiie public eye, nor now does he encounter that 
ordeal but by the encouragement of those friends who are willing 
to accept the perforaiance by their sense of his limited means to 
perfect it. If it should stimulate others to add to these materials 
it will be a grateful service. And if the example, thus set to the 
sister cities of New York, Boston, &c. should engage minds of 
kindred feelings and adequate industry to make similar collections 
of their domestic history, the usefulness of the present publication 
will be still more felt and acknowledged ; and the eventual aim of 
the author still more accomplished.* 

We should not forget these things : Our land, and our fathers 
have been the subject of many heaven-descended mercies. They 
who love to contemplate the cause of the numerous effects, so in- 
dicative of our blessings as a nation, will regard it not less a duty 
of piety than of patriotism, to thus preserve their memorial. 

*The Annals of Portsmouth, Lewis' History of Linn, Gibbs' Collections of Salem, and 
Davis' Notices of Plymouth, are already works of the nature which we wish to see mult' 
plied in our country. 



COJVTENTS. 



PAGE. 

General Introductory History, . . - _ . i 

Epitotne of Primitive, Colonial, and Philadelphia History, 7 

Fragments of the Primitive History, embracing Salaries to 

Officers; Value of Customs; Tobacco Cultivation; Fair- 
mount ; The Faction against Penn ; Civil Government em- 
barrassing to Friends ; Penn's surrender to the Crown; Penn's 
title to the Lower Counties ; Primitive Commerce ; Cata- 
logue of Ancient Publications on our History. ... 36 
The Primitive Settlement— its Incidents, - - - - 51 
Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement, inclu- 
ding Items of the Olden Time, from the minutes of the Assem- 
. biy of Pennsylvania, and from the minutes of the City Council ; 
List of Mayors of Philadelphia ; Gabriel Thomas' Account 
of Philadelphia, to year 1696; Wm. Fishbourne's Narrative to 

the year 1 7:19, - - - - 5i> 

The Penn Family — primitive Race, embracing business con- 
cerns of William Penn ; Penn the Founder ; Wm. Penn's sec- 
ond Arrival; Causes of Penn's return home ; Penn's design in 
founding his Colony ; Causes of Penn's pecuniary embarrass- 
ments ; His mal-treatment from the Fords ; Penn's Letters ; 
His Illness and Death; His Portrait; Mrs. Hannah Penn; 
Wm. Penn, Jr. ; John Penn ; Wm. Aubrey and Laetitia his 
v/ife ; Penn Genealogy ; The Penn Family of the Royal 

Tudor race, -- -- 95 

Penn's Descendants, Ill 

The Landing of Penn at Chester, 117 

The Landing of Penn at the Blue Anchor Inn, - - 121 

The Treaty Tree and Fairman's Mansion, - - - 125 

The Swedes' Church, and House of Sven Sener - - 133 

Penny-pot House and Landing, 139 

Poole's Bridge, -_--.-- 143 

Penn's Cottage in Lsetitia Court, 145 

Slate-roof House — Penn's Residence, - - - - 151 

The River-front Bank, 155 

The Caves, 159 

Habits and State of Society, 161 

Apparel --------- 171 



CONTENTS. iX 
PAGE. 

Furniture and Equipage, - - - - - 183 
Changes and Improvements in Public and Domestic Com- 
toi ts and Conveniences, including Wells and Pumps ; Watch- 
men ; Lamps and Constables ; Pavements; Bridges; Balco- 
nies; Window-glass; Dials on Houses ; Plate Stoves ; Public 
Stuires and Packets ; Porches ; Houses and Stores altered ; Cel- 
lar Kichens; Ice Houses ; Shade Trees, - - - - 191 
Changes in Residences and Places of Business, including 
Meic.iants lived in Water Street; Places of Business and 
Stores changed ; Tanyards ; Ropewalks ; Shipyards ; Black- 
smitii Sliops; Auctions; Board-yards; Chesnut street, - 203 
Local Changes in Streets and Places, including the Gov- 
er.;or's Woods; iiudson's Orchard; City Hills ; Streets cut 
d(..' or raised ; Miscellanea, ----.. 209 
Innovations and New Modes of conducting Business, &c, 
including Candidates for Office; Rum Distilleries; Pot and 
Pearl Ashes ; Millinery Stores ; Hucksters ; Pawn-brokers ; 
Lottery-brokers ; Second-hand Clothes and Shoe-blacks ; Oys- 
ter-cellars ; Intelligence Offices; General Remarks on various 
Items of Change, - - - - - _ . . 217 
Changes in prices of Diet, &c. ----- 333 
Superstitions and Popular Credulity, - - . . 227 

Sports and Amusements, 237 

Education, -" 245 

Primitive Courts and Trials, 251 

Crimes and Punishments, 257 

The Excellencies of Penn's Laws, 261 

The Philadelphia Bar, 265 

Militia and Colonial Defence, and City Volunteers, - 271 

Duels, - -- . 279 

The Drawbridge and Dock Creek, . . . . 333 

The Old Court-house, and Friends' Meeting, - - 295 

High Street Prison and Market Shambles, - - - 301 

The Stone Prison, S. W. corner of Tliird and High streets, 305 

Market Houses, ----,... 397 

The Arch Street Bridge at Front Street, - - - 311 

Shippen's House, ^ -315 

Benezet's House and Chesnut Street Bridge, - - 317 

Clarke's Hall, &c — Chesnut Street, - - - - 321 

Carpenter's Mansion, - - - - - . 323 

Christ Church, 325 

Friends' Bank- meeting — Front Street, - - - 335 

Friends' Meeting at Centre Square, &c 337 

The London Coffee-house, &c. 339 

State House and Yard, 343 

State House Inn, - - - - - - . 349 

Washington Square, 35 X 

Beek's Hollow, ----.... 35/5 



X CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Norris' House and Garden, . - , , . 354 

Robert Morris' Mansion, - . . . . 355 

Loxiey's House, and Batlisheba's Bath and Bower, - - 357 

Duche's House, &c. 359 

Bingham's Mansion, ---..-_ 36O 

The British Barracks, - - - - - - 361 

The Old Academy, 363 

Office of Secretary of Foreign Affairs, - . - - 365 
Fort Wilson, corner of Third and Walnut street, - - 368 
Friends' Almshouse; Whitpain's Great House, - - 370 
Wigglesworth's House, - - ' - - - -371 
The Old Ferry ; Offly's Anchor Forge, - - - 372 

Baptisterion, 373 

Fort St. David; Bachelor's Hall, ... - 374 

The Duck Pond, corner of Fourtli and High streets, - - 376 

Pegg's Run, &c. 379 

Specimens of the Best Houses, 386 

Rare Old Houses, - - - - - - - SST 

Churches — The First Presbyterian and Baptist Worshippers, 

Friends' Meeting in Arch street ; Earliest Presbyterian Churches, 

Lutheran, Dutch Reformed, Roman Catholics, Moravian, St. 

Paul's, and Methodists, - - - . - 389 

Hospitals, - - - - - - 399 

Poor-houses, ...... 400 

Libraries, - - - - - - 401 

Taverns, - - - - - - - 402 

Theatres, ..-..- 408 

Custom-houses, - - - - - -412 

Banks, -..-.. 413 

North End, - - - - - - 415 

South End and Society Hill, - - - - 421 

Western Commons, &c. . - - - . 423 

Springs, ...... 427 

Gardens, - - - - - - - 430 

Ponds and Skating Places, ... - 432 

Fires and Fire Engines, - ... - 434 

. Indians — including Indian Visits to Philadelphia, Alarms and 

Massacres ; Association for Preserving Peace ; The Paxtang 

Boys ; Indians — present refuge of the Delawares ; Tedyiiscnng; 

Isaac Still ; Miscellanea, - - - - 4S7 

The Pirates and their piracies, — including Captain Kid and 

song ; Blackbeard ; Other Pirates, - - 459 

The Swedes, - - - - - - 470 

The Germans, ..... 472 

The Irish, - - - - . - - - 477 

Negroes and Slaves, - - - - - 479 

Redemption Serraijts, - - - - - 485 



CONTENTS. Xi 

PAGE. 

The Friends, - - - - . 488 

Persons and Chararters, — including, The First Born — Jolsn 
Key; Edward Dimker; Alice — a black woman; F. D. Pastoi'iu.s; 
Thomas Lloyd ; Norris Family ; J. Dickinson ; Samuel Carpen- 
ter ; David Lloyd ; Thomas Story ; Edward Sliippen ; James 
Lop.an ; John S. Hutton ; Thomas Godfrey ; Dr. Franklin ; Rev. 
George Whitefield ; Count Zinzendorf ; Bradford Family ; Hud- 
son Famil , •. John Bartram ; Eccentric Persons ; Rare Persons ; 
Samuel Keimer; Virgil and Wife ; Claypole Family; Hannah 
Griffethb ; French Neutrals ; Lieutenant liruluman ; Susannah 
Wright ; David L Dove; Rev. Morgan Edwards ; Robert Proud ; 
Charles Thomson; Edward Duffield ; Lindley Murray; Sir 
, Benjamin West; William Rush; Hannah Till'; Isaac Hunt; 
(1 Javncs P. Malcom, - - - - - ■ 494 

1] Th*^ Governors — colonial, ----- 555 
i Aged Persons. — a variety of them, - . _ 560 

Seasons and Climate, — including Mild and Hard Winters; 
Instances of Anomaly ; Rain Fallen ; Winters at and near Phila- 
delphia from its origin ; Remarkable Springs and Summers ; 
AVeather Denoter ; Indian- Summer, &c. - - 566 

Medical Subjects, — including Earliest Diseases ; First Physi- 
cians ; First Lecture;: ; Changes in Practice ; Former use of 
herbs; Women Midwifery ; Yellow Fever of 1793, - - 599 

Culture of Silk, - - - - _ 518 

Ships and Ship-building, - - - . . 620 

Paper Money, . - . . . 622 

The Post, — its earliest use - - - _ 625 

The Gazettes, and ihe titles and characters of the earliest, 628 
Olden Time affections and researches, - - 633 

Remarkable Incidents and Things,-containing, Wild Pigeons ; 
FireFhes; Bees; Rarities sei. to Penn ; Flies and Mai'tens ; ^ 
Locusts ; Sturgeons ; Noxious Insects and Weeds ; Rare Floods 
and Ebbs ; Storms ; Meteors ; Earthquakes ; Typography ; 
Aged Animals ; John Kinsey's strange death ; Varieties from the 
Gazettes, &c. ; Ruinous Speculations ; Amusing Facts, - 639 
Curiosities and Discoveries — generally of a sub-terrene char- 
^ acter, - - - - - . 653 

Statistic Facts, --.___ 659 
Whales and Whalery, _ - _ , 667 

Grapes and Vineyards, - - . . _ 669 

Beasts of Prey, and Game, -' - - - 673 

The Stamp Act Resisted, - -^ _ . _ 676 

British Duties and Tea Act Resisted, - - 679 

Occurrences of the War of Independence, — including Trans- 
actions of the British Army at and near Philadelphia; Notices 
of their officers and residences, and Description of the celebrated 
tilt and tournament called the Meschianza, - - 681 

The Alliance Frigate, - - - . 691 



Xii CONTENTS, 

PAGE. 

The Federal Procession, . - - - 694 

Watering Places, — including Notices of the earliest use of 

Long Beach ; Tucker's Beach ; Long Branch. k.c. 698 

Steam-boats, and Notices of Fitch and other steam inventors, 702 
Anthracite Coal, and its earliest history and use, - 707 

Lotteries, and their eai-Iiest uses and present evils, - 710 

Miscellaneous Facts, — including Miscellanea; Tobacco, Grass, 
and Clover Cullivatioii ; Plaster of Paris use ; Veijctables Intro- 
duced ; City Charter ; Port Entries; Funeral Pomp restrained; 
The Bloody Election, 1742 ; Insurance; Aboriginal Trees; Strange 
Transmission of Sound ; Names of Streets changed ; Public Spec- 
tacles ; Apron Club ; North West Passage ; Magistrates; Dutch 
Riot, -------- 713 

River Delaware, ----- 728 

River Schuylkill, 730 

Relics and Remembrancers, - - - - 732 

List of Unpublished Papers, . - - . 737 

To which is added after page - - 740 

An Appendix, of about 80 pages, containing " Olden Time Re- 
searches and Reminiscences of New York City," under the 
following heads, to wit : Primitive New York ; Ancient 
Memorials ; Local Changes and Local Facts ; Former 
Manners and Customs ; Remarkable Facts and Incidents ; 
Dresses, Furniture and Equipage ; Superstitions ; Ancient 
Edifices ; Things as they were when the British held New 
York ; Passing Remarks on the present state of society, 
p.ompared with the past, he, &c. 



ANNALS 



GENERAL INTRODUCTORY HISTORY. 



" My soul, revolving periods past, looks back 

With recollected interest on all 

The former darings of our venturous race." 

BEFORE proceeding to the proper object of the present work, 
(" The Annals of Philadelphia, &c.") it may be profitable to occupy 
a few lines in a preliminary and brief survey of the successive effoi-ts 
made by kings, discoverers, and founders, to settle colonies in our 
hemisphere. 

The earliest English claim to sovereignty in America was based 
upon the discoveries of John Cabot, accompanied by his son Sebas- 
tian. These, acting under the commission and for the service of 
Henry VII. in the year 1497, ran along the line of our coast, from 
the 38th to the 67th degree of north latitude ; — thus making their 
discoveries only five years later than those by Columbus himself in 
lower latitudes. 

But great as w^ere such discoveries, and important as have been 
their consequences, since developed, they tlien excited no effectual 
spirit of adventure and colonization. It was not till upwai-ds of a 
century, that any nation of Europe made any effective establish- 
ments in our country. In 1608 the French, conducted by Samuel 
Champlain, founded their- colony in Canada; — about the same time 
the Dutch planted New York, and the British, Virginia. I'he few 
earlier attempts at colonization made by England and France were 
virtually nothing, as they were abandoned almost as soon as begun. 

When we contemplate the present wealth and resources of our 
country, once open to the aggrandisement of any respectable adven- 
turer, who had energies sufficient to avail himself of its advantages, 
it is matter of surprise, that a period of eighty years should have 
elapsed in England before any of her subjects should have made any 
effort to possess themselves of the benefits of their proper discovery ? 
France with less pretension did more; for, Cartiers in 1534 made 
some ineffectual attempts at plantation in Canada. This was under 
the discoveries imputed to Verranza. who, only ten years before, 
G 



2 General Introduciory History. 

while sailing under a patent from Francis I, ranged the coast from 
North Carolina to the 50th degree of north latitude, and called the 
country New France. 

At length the attention of the English nation was called to the 
subject of colonization by the genius and enterprise of Sir Walter 
Raleigli. In 1578 he procured a patent for settlement for the use of 
his half brother Sir Humphrey Gilbert. The latter however made 
no endeavour to execute it till 1583, when it soon proved abortive 
in his attempts to a settlement in New Foundland. It was not, from 
its very nature, the land to allure and cherish strangers. Another 
expedition quickly succeeded under a direct grant in 1584 to Sii* 
Walter Raleigh himself. He committed the enterprise to Sir 
Richard Greenville under two divisions of vessels, (the first, as it is 
said, under captains Amidas and Barlow,*) both of which made the 
land at Roenoke in Nortli Carolina in the years 1584 and 5. Dis- 
aster and dissatisfaction soon broke up this colony ; for, losing 108 
of their number in an enterprise wherein their fate was never known, 
the remainder willingly availed tliemsel ves of an unexpected chance 
to return home with Sir Francis Drake's fleet. They were hardly 
gone, in 1586, before Sir Walter himself arrived to join his colon- 
ists : but finding all had gone !ie returned home immediately much 
chagrined with his non-success, f Still however, two other colonies 
succeeded under captain White in 1587 and 1590. The first were 
supposed to have been destroye<l ; and the latter, being much dis- 
tressed by a storm on the coast, resolved on a return home. Thus 
ended the disastrous and nugatory efforts of Sir Walter and his 
associates! They were indeed enough to repress and break the 
spirits of any individual projector. 

The spirit oi' adventure slumbei'cd for a season, and no further 
attempts of Englishmen occurred until 1602, when the enterprising 
Bartholomew Gosnold, (a name since much appi'opriated to New 
England history,) made his discovery of Cape Cod and the neigh- 
bouring regioi^.s, although he then purposed a voyage to the for- 
mer illj'ated Roenoke. He was succeeded in the two following 
years by captains M. Pring and George Weymouth. In 1607 
captains George Popham and R. Gilbert built Fort George at the 
place where now stands the city of Boston. These all contented 
themselves with making short stays for purposes of trade and traffic. 
They sought not colonization, nor cared to seek after the abandoned 
Roenoke. :{: 

Sir Walter having forfeited his patent by attainder, king James I. 
was pleased to grant another patent for all our territory from the 

*Bennet's MSS. History does not regard Amidas and Barlow as a part of Greenville's 
expedition as other historians do; but that they amved in 1584, and Greenville's in 1585. 
He also asserts, as if relating it from data, that the former took home two natives named 
Wanchese and Manteo, and also the first specimens of tobacco. 

t It has lonsf been held uncertain whether ever Sir Walter visited his colony ; but Ben- 
net's MSS. History asserts that he did. 

4 Roenoke is the ladian name for Wampum. 



General Jntrodnctory Historij. 3 

34tli to the 45th degree, (that is, from Noi-th Carolina to Nova Sco- 
tia,) under the general name of Virginia, — a name previously con- 
ferred on Sir Walter's patent as a compliment to the virgin reign of 
queen Elizabeth. The Soutli-Virginia division extended from the 
34th to tlie 41st degree, or, from Cape Hatteras to New York city: 
and the first colonization of any of tlie new patentees, destined 
however for Roenoke, was effected in 1607 at James Town, Vir- 
ginia. Thus giving place to the idea, often expressed in modern 
times, of the " Ancient Dominion," so claimed for Virginia among 
her sister states; altliongU hotfpr liistorical reasons can be assigned 
for her distinction.* The North-Virginia division, if we except 
the alleged intrusion of the Dutch on the Hudson river, or of captain 
Popliam's relinquished attempt to settle at Boston, was not perma- 
nently colonized until 1620, wlien it was made forever memorable 
by the laiuling of the Plymouth Colony of Puritans in Massasoit, 
or Massachusets. 

In 1609 Henry Hudson, an Englishman,! in the service of the 
Dutch East India Company, having fruitlessly sought a north 
west passage to India in the high northern latitudes, resolved to 
repair the losses of his ineffective labours, by extending his voyage 
more southerly for the purpose of traffic. In returning thence 
from the bar of Virginia he discovered our bay of Delaware, and 
soon after the Hudson river. From this last discovery, certain 
traders from Holland came out in 1614 under a patent from the 
States General, and made theii* first establishment at Fort Orange, 
(Aurania) near the present city of Albany. Of this fort they were 
dispossessed the same year by captain Argal, acting uiuler gover- 
nor Dale of the South-Virginia Province. But after his return to 
Virginia the traders reassembled and formed a new establishment 
at the mouth of the Hudson on the island Manahattan, the present 
New York, where they built a fort which they called Nieu ximstel, 
or New Amsterdam. Tliis event is said by some writers to have 
been in 1615; — but governor Stuyvesant's letter of 1664, of the sur- 
render of tlie place to the British conquerors, speaks of it as occur- 
ring ** about 41 or 42 years preceding," thus affixing it to the 
yeai's 1622-3 ; — the same period assigned by Professor Kalm. 

About that time the States Genei'al appear to have enlarged 
their schemes of profit from the country by an attempt at coloniza- 
tion ; for they grant in the year 1621 their patent '' for the country 
of the Nieu Nederland, to the privileged West India Company." 
From this time the Dutch began to progress southwardly over the 

* It is a fact on record, that Virginia resisted Cromwell's rule, and treated with his naval 
commander as an " Independent bominion." King Charles II. afterwards quartered Vir- 
ginia with his Arms, having the motto, " En dat Virginia quartam." Vide — Encyclopedia 
Britannico. See also those Arms and motto engraved on a Virginia 5£. bill of the year 
1773 in my MSS. Annals, p. 276, in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 

t Wm. Hudson, an English Clergyman from Barbadoes, who was a primitive settler at 
Philadelphia, and has left several descendants among us, was a near relative of Hudson the 
discoverer, — perhaps his brother. He became a Friend, and was employed much in civil 
offices. 



4 (General tniroductory History. 

lands bordering on both sides of the river Delaware, which they 
then called t-ie Zuydt or South-river, in contradistinction to tlieir 
Noordt or North-river. To protect their settlei's they built in 
1623 their first fort on the Delaware, and probably made their 
first village, at the place since known as Gloucester Point in New 
Jersey, at a little distance below the present Philadelphia. This 
was of course the proper ''Ancient Dominion," to us! The fortifi- 
cation was called " Nassau." The place was known to the Indians 
by the name of Arwanus, * and by the ancient Philadelphians by 
the less poetical name of Pine Point. 

In 1629 tlie country of New Netherland became of consequence 
enougli to deserve and receive a Governor : and Wouter Van Twil- 
ler, the first Governor that our counti-y in common with New York 
ever possessed ! came out to Fort Amsterdam, (called New York 
after 1664-5,) where he ruled in the name of tlieir " High Mighti- 
nesses and the privileged West India Company." 

In 1631 the Swedes and Fins, allured by the publication of 
William Usselinx, a Dutch trader, effected a colony under the 
patronage of their goveinment at Cape Hinlopen,f (called after- 
wards Cape James by William Penn,) at a place near the present 
Lewes Town, which tliey called Point Paradise. 

In 1631 also, the Swedes laid out Stockholm (New Castle,) 
and Christianna, (now Wilmington.) on Minquas creek. They 
thence spread theipselves further along the Delaware. 

In 1632 Loi^d Baltimore obtained from Charles I. his patent for 
the ^laryland colony, and fortliwith began his colony there. 

In 1640 the Puritans from New Haven, under the name of 
English People, desirous of planting churches ''after a Godly 
sort," and '' to trade and ti'affic with the Indians" along the Dela- 
ware bay, made a purchase of soil for 30£. sterling, transported 
thither about fifty families, and erected trading houses; from all of 
which they were ejected in 1643 by orders from Keift the Dutch 
Governor. 

It is matter of curiosity and wonder to us of the present day to 
contemplate the vagueness and contradictions with which oui' 
country was at first lavishly parcelled out and patented. Fii'st, 
the Spaniards would have claimed the wliole under their general 
grant from tlie Pope! Then Henry VII. of England, and Francis I. 
of France, would each have claimed the whole of our coast: the 

* Called also Tekaacho. 

+ 1 have assumed the time given by Campanias, both because he was among the earliest 
historians of our country, and also dweUing among us as a Swede. He speaks thus, " when 
the Sweiles arrived in 1631." Proud, deriving the time from Smith's Nova Csesaria, has 
given the ye.qr 16'27 as the time ; but this is a mistake easily accounted for, as being the 
year, as the state paper shows, in which the king and diet of Sweden gave their sanction to 
the colonization. There are, however, several reasons assigned for thinking that 1638 was 
the ychr of their first arrival and settlement, and the facts are well told in Moidton's hisloiy 
of New York;— it should be consulted by the curious in this matter. James Logan's letteic 
of 1726 to the Penns, to be foumi elsewhere in these pages, says," there was also a prohi- 
bition' (from the New York government,) to the Swedes between the years 16*0 and 40." 



General Introdudonj Historif. .'j 

lormcr under the name of Virginia ; the latter under the name of 
New France. While the English are actually settling in Virginia 
proper the Dutch take possession of New York, and claim it as 
New Netherlands; the Frencli at tiie same time under their claim 
of Canada encroacii upon New York. The limits of North and 
South Virginia are confusedly made to include New York in both 
of them. The charter for Maryland is made to invade that for tlie 
New Nethei'lands ; and the charter for Connecticut is made to 
encroach upon New York and Pennsylvania hoth, and to extend 
in effect to the Pacific Ocean. These conflicting charters and in- 
terests go far to prove the great deficiency of geographical records 
and infonuation, or the ti-ifling estimation in wliicli lands tluis 
cheaply attained or held were then regarded. 



<l 



EPITOME 

OF 

FUXMITXVXS OOKOHZAX; 

AND 



-push enquiry to the birth 



And spring-time of our State." 

OUR country having been successively possessed by the Dutch, 
the Swedes, and the English, at periods preceding the colony of 
Penn and Pennsylvania, it will be a useful introduction to the pro- 
per history of Philadelphia and the pilgrim founders, to offer such 
notices of the earliest colonial history as may briefly show the 
times, places and manner of the several attempts at dominion or 
colonization witliin our borders. When this is accomplished, ar- 
ticles of more general acceptance and more varied and agreeable 
I'eading will follow. 

The Dutch were undoubtedly the first adventurers who endea- 
voured to explore and colonize the countries contiguous to our bay 
and river. So far as precedence of time could confer supremacy, 
the Dutch had it by actual occupancy. But although they so 
aspired to possess and rule the country in the name of tlieir '' High 
Mightinesses," it was not conceded by others; for tlie Swedes in 
1631, and the English from New Haven in 1640, severally essayed 
to become colonists under their own laws. These based their 
claims on their actual purchases from tlie Indian Sovereigns; of 
whom they alleged they had each acquired their titles. That the 
Sachems did so sell to them is perhaps pretty good inferential evi- 
dence that the Dutch had not so accpiired their title before them, 
unless for special places where they designed to settle, — so they 
certainly procured theii- title to Cape May ; the deed for which 
is still extant in the archives of state at Albany. 

Captain Kornelis Jacobus Mey must be regarded as the first 
explorer of our bay and river, because it is recorded of him that as 
early as 1623 he was among those first settlers who formed a vil- 
lage at Gloucester point, and built fort Nassau for its defence. 

From him, thus preeminent at least by precedence of name, our 
prominent points of port entrance derived their names. Thus our 
Cape May retains his surname ; and tbe inner cape of the southern 



8 Colonial and Philadelphia History. 

side of the bay once bore his baptismal name — Cornelius. The name 
of Hinlopen was at tlic same time bestowed ujmn tlie outer cape in 
honour of a Dutch navigator of the name of Jelmer Hinlopen. The 
bay itself wa^ called Zuydt Baai, but oftener Goodyns Bay ; — 
tlie latter in honour of Samuel Goodyn, one of the partners of the 
purchase of Cape May county from the Indian chieftains in 1630. 

The Indian ^ya-m" oi the bay was Poutaxat. The river they called 
Lenape WihitUuk; which means — the rapid stream of the Lenape. 
It also bore the names of Mackerish Kitton, and Arasapha. The 
name of Delaware bay and river, conferred by the English, is 
manifestly derived from Lord Delaware (i. e. Sir Thomas West,) 
but whether from his arrival at it on his way to Virginia in 1610, 
or because of his death off the place on his return home in 1618, is 
uncertain, as both causes have been assigned. The Swedes called 
it New Swedeland stream, and the country Nya Swerige or New 
Swedeland. 

The year 1630 must ever be regarded as the year peculiarly 
fi'uitful in expedients with the Dutch to colonize and engross the 
advantages of our river Delaware. Several merchants of Amster- 
dam, including Samuel Goodyn aforenamed, sent out in this year 
captain De Vries with two vessels to execute their projects. They 
designed to raise tobacco and grain, and to catch whales and seals. 
The little colony of about three dozen persons, with their cattle 
and implements of husbandry, made their settlement up a creek* 
two leagues from Cape Cornelius, which they named Swaenendael 
(Swandale,) or the Valley of Swans, because they were then 
numerous there, f The illnatured conduct of an inferior officer in 
command in De Vries' absence having caused the destruction of 
the colony by the Indians, and the whalery not being sufficiently 
encouraging, we hear little more of the Dutch on the Delaware 
until several years afterwards, when, being grown into power and 
consequence at New York, they made their approaches as conquer- 
ors, to the occasional terror of English or Swedish settlers. 

From the absence and long silence of Dutch incidents on the 
borders of the Delaware subsequent to the loss of De Vries' colony 
and abandonment, we are the readier prepared to believe the report 
of some of the liistorians, that when the Dutch on the south river 
perceived the superior advantages gaining by their countrymen on 
the north river, they abandoned the little possessions they had 
acquired near the Delaware. We think too, tlie general absence 
of Dutch settlers among us is strongly corroborated by the fact of 
so few names of Dutch origin being ever to be met with in our ear- 
liest land titles and records, whereas the names of Swedish settlers 
are numerous, and their descendants are plentiful among us even 

* Now Lewis town creek I presume. 

tThis was the same place cn'lud the « Hoer creek," by the Dutch, and Sinknasse, by tlic 
Indians, As Aerelius speaks of the Dutch having a fort at the Hoer Kill in 1038, the pro- 
bability is that they had then restuaed tbeir settleaieat tbere. The English once called it 
Deal, and also " whov» creek." 



Colonial and Philadelphia Historij. 

to tliis day. Indeed, ^vhat lew did remain on our shores must have 
been about the lower and bay part, as was expressed by William 
Penn in his letter to the Mai-quis of Halilkx of 1683, saying, " the 
Swedes having had the upper part of the river, and the' Dutch the 
lower and all the bay."* 

The Swedes claim our notice from and after the year 1631, as 
the time of their arrival assigned by tlieir historian Campanius. 
At that time they laid out the present New Castle under the name 
of Stockholm.! They also built their first fort for another settle- 
ment at Christianna,:}^ on Minquas creek, called also Suspecough. 
At the island of Tcnecum (wrote — Tuta; a; nung Tencho and Tenna 
Kong.) they built a fort called New Gottenburgh. With it tlioy 
connected several of tlie best houses, a church, § and tlie Governor's 
house, called Printz's hall. Numerous are the other places named 
or held by the Swedes as set down in the old maps of Campanius and 
Lindstrom; such as, Mocoponaca-the present Chester, Mauaiu)ig — 
a fort at the mouth of the present Schuylkill, Chincessing (now 
Kinsessing township,) Korsholm fort — a fortress in Passaiung, sup- 
posed to be the same originally at Wiccacoa, (now Swedes' church 
neighbourhood,) where Sven Schute|| was in command. They had 
other names not far from the present Philadelphia, such as Nya- 
Wasa,Gripsholm, Finlandt, Meulendael, Karakung, Lapananel, Sec. 
— not to omit the settlement of Olof Stille's place, ancestor of a 
present wealthy city family of that name, at a place called Techo- 
herassi. 

The numerous forts, so called under the government of Swedes, 
very probably often mere block-houses, indicate the state of their 
apprehensions from enemies. Whether their Dutcli neighbours gave 
significant signs of intentions eventually to supplant them is not now 
so obvious ; but it is matter of i-ecord that the Dutch, as early as 
1651, built fort Kasimer, and called the place Nieu Amstel, at the 
present New Castle. As it had before been a Sw edish town under 
the name of Stockholm, the Swedish Governor, Printz, did what he 
could to prevent it by solemn protest, kc. The fort being but 
small, tlie Swedish commander, Risingh, succeeded some time after- 
w^ai-ds to make it his own by sti*atagem. 

Mutual jealousies being thus fully awakened, and their "High 
Mightinesses" sufficiently powerful at New York to sustain an ex- 
pedition, we see, in 1655, that governor Stay vesant with half a dozen 
vessels and 700 men, embarked from the then New Amsterdam to 
subdue the power of the Swedes on the Delaware. Such a force 

* On another occasion he says, " the first planters were Dutch. Soon after the Swedes 
and Fins came. The Dutch ti-afficed, and the others turned to husbandry near the freshes 
of the rivers." See also the same idea iu his letter of August, 1683, to the " Free Society 
of Traders." Gabriel Thomas, in 1698, says, "soon af^er them (the Du-tch) came the 
Swedes and Fins." 

t New Castle has been peculiarly fruitful in names, — it having been called Sandthoek, 
Nieu Amstel and fort Kasimir by the Dutch, and Delawaretown, in 1675, by the English. 

t The present Wilmington. § Consecrated in 1646. 

8 The name of the original proprietor of the scite of Philadelphia, 



10 Colonial and PliUadelphia History. 

in tliat day was too imposing to be successt'uily resisted, and the 
consequence was tlie entire surrender, alter some resistance, to the 
Dutch conqueror. They destroyed all the public buildings, inclu- 
ding the fort on Tenccum island, and carried off the chief people 
to New York and afterwards to Holland. But the connnon people 
and such as were not subjects of Jealousy remained in the country, 
under the dominion of the Dutch laws. 

But whatever v. as the triumph oi* the severity of the Dutch at 
their success ; whatever were their projects and dreams of hope, 
from the future employment of their control and resources on the 
Dciaw are, they weie but of sliort enjoyment : for they in turn were 
doomed to be forever set aside by the coviqnest of the British power ! 
In 1664, king Charles 11. whose claim to New England gave 
liim powers to claim to the south wai-d, bein-g unwilling to sanction 
the prosperity of the Dutch as a separate community, granted a 
patent to his brother James, Duke of York and Albany, of lands in 
America, including all the Dutch then held as their New Nether- 
lands. As this was doubtless a most unjust pretention in the judg- 
ment of the officers of their " High Mightinesses" at New Amster- 
dam, it required all the usual "logic of kings," to enforce it: 
wherefore, a force was thwiceforth sent out from England to put the 
Duke 1)1 possession. To sucJi arguments the Dutch reluctantly 
submitted, and thenceforth New Anjsterdani a*, as named after the 
conquering Duke, '*New York," and the Jcrsies and the western 
shores of the Delaware were forthwith transferred to the British 
rule.* 

The Duke of Y'ork, thus possessed of the Jersics, granted it to 
Sir George Carteret, with an intention to call it Nova Csesaria, in 
hojiour of Sir George's family, whicii came from the isle of Jersey; 
but the people, more attached to the name which they could read 
and understand, soo)i abandoned the classical appellation and 
adopted the thing intended, to Avit, — the Jersies.f 

In 1675, the west part of Jersey was sold out to one Edward 
By Hinge, a Friend, to whom William Penn, the founder, soon after- 
wards became a trustee. This seemingly uniavportant and inci- 
dental connection became i\\e prhmim mobile or fulcrum to a lever, 
whose force may continue to operate on oui' destinies as long as 
Pennsylvania shall endure! Penn, in his efforts to settle the estate 
of By Hinge, became so well acquainted Mith the region of Pennsyl- 
vania and colonial settlements, as to be afterwards induced to pur- 
chase that for himself, by receiving it as an equivalent for claims 
due to his father, admiral Penn. 

The leading facts concersiing New Jersey, bordering on the Dela- 
\vare, arc so blended with the proper history of the settlements on 
that liver, that it may be deemed appropriate to notice such. 

* The Swedes and Dutch on the Delaware, in 1683, are given by OldmLxon as equal te> 
5000. 
1' The Indian name of the Jersics was Scheyichbi. 



Colonial and Philaddphia History. 1 1 

The first English colony tliat came out under the sale to Bylling* 
went into Salem creek, which they so named, and there began tlie 
present existing town of Salem. The neighbom-hood had beoi 
previously settled by the Swedes, who had near there a fort whicli 
thi-y called Elsinburgh. 

In 1677, the ship Ivent arrived atNew Castle with 230 passengers, 
mostly Friends of good estates. They landed at Raccoon creek, 
where they found some Swedish houses: but not being well accommo- 
dated, they with the commissioners who came in the ship, went up 
to Chygoe's island, (now Burlington.) so caiie4 then after the name 
of the Indian Sachem w ho dwelt there. The town plot was pur- 
chased and called New Beverly. Directly afterwards a fresh sup- 
ply of inhabitants went there from >Mccacoa. 

Tiie first ship that ever visited Burlington was the Shiekl from 
Hull, in 1678. Then the scitc of tiie present Philadelphia was a 
bold and high shore called Coaquanock, but more properly spelt 
Kuequenaku. This ship in veering there, chanced to strike the trees 
with her sails and spars. It m as then observed, (as the historians 
haAe presei'N ed the tradition,) that the passengers were induced to 
exclaim, "what a i'lne place for a town!" A line coincidence, con- 
sidering that none tiieii purposed a Philadelphia city there! 

Other vessels continued to follow to Jersey. In 1682, as many 
as 360 passengers came out in one vessel. Thus Burlington and 
the adjacent country settled rapidly, the settlers fully believing it 
would "become a place of trade quickly," no)ie then foreseeing the 
possibility of an overwhelming rival in the future Philadelphia. 

It appears from the records of Friends' yearly Meetings, that 
some Friends ^^ej•e settled on the \\estern side of the Delaware 
before Philadelphia was laid out. Some are named as at Shacka- 
maxon, the present Kensington, where they also held INieetings at 
the house of one Fairlamb. The titles of several Swedes in that 
neighbotirhood derived fiom the British Governors at New York, 
are as early as 1665-6, and of those at Tacony as early as 1676. 
The sons of Sven, (i. e. Svcn Sener,) holding the southern part of 
the scite of Philadelphia, had their original title of 1664 confirmed 
to them by Sir Francis Lovelace. Besides these facts, ^\e know 
that as early as 1642, the Dutch Governor, William Keift of New 
Amsterdam, fitted out two sloops to drive the English out of 
Schuylkill. These were properly Marylanders, who, it may he 
ohserved, early pretended to claim Pennsylvania as a part of their 
patent, — a dispute which was not settled with Pennsyh ania till 
1732. 

In 1675, some Friends settled at Chester, probably from the 
Jersey colony. At Robert ^yade's house there, (a distinguished 
Friend often afterwards in the Assembly,) they held their Meetings. 
So too, some Friends from Jersey or from New York were settled 
Bear the Falls af Delaware, called Sankicans by the Indians, 



12 Colonial and Philadelphia Historij. 

There they had regular Meetings. Their titles they derived from 
Sir Edmund Antlros. the Governor of New York. 

But of all the settiera prior to Penn. I feel most interested to 
notice the name of Jurian Hartsfielder, l)ecause he took up all of 
Campington, 550 acres, as early as March. 1676, nearly six years 
before Penn's colony came. He settled under a patent from gov- 
ernor Andros. What a pioneer, to push on to such a frontier post! 
But liov^' melancholy to think, that a man. possessi)ig the freehold of 
wJiat is now cut up into thousands of Northern Liberty lots, should 
have left no fame, nor any wealth to any posterity of his name. 
But the chief pioneer must have been Warner, wlio, as early as the 
year 1658, had tlie hardihood to locate and settle the place, now 
Warner's Willow Grove, on the north side of the Lancaster road, 
two miles from the city bridge. What an isolated existence in the 
mi<lst of savage beasts and men must such a family have then ex- 
perienced! What a difference between the relative comforts and 
household conveniences of that day and tlds! Yea, what changes 
did he witness, even in the long interval of a quarter of a centuiy 
before the arrival of Penn's colony ! To such a place let the anti- 
quary now go to contemplate the localities so peculiarly unique! 

It was a signal and blessed providence which first induced so 
rare a genius, so excellent and qualified a man as Penn to obtain 
and settle such a great tract as Pennsylvania, say 40,000 square 
miles, as Jiis proper domains. It was a bold conception ; and the 
courage was strong which led him to propose such a grant to him- 
self, in lieu of payments due to his father. He besides manifested 
the energy and influence of his character in court negociations, 
although so unlikely to be a successful courtier by his profession 
as a Friend, in that he succeded to attain the grant even against 
the will ami influence of the Duke of York himself, — who, as he 
owned Ne>\ l^ork, desired also to possess the region of Pennsyl- 
vania as the riglit and appendage of liis province. 

Tliis memorable event in history, this momentous concern to us, 
tlie founding of Pennsylvania, was confirmed to William Penn un- 
der the Groat Seal on the 5th of January, 1681. The cause of the 
name, ar.d the modesty of the founder, in finding it imposed on him 
as a family distinction and honour, is so characteristic of that great 
and good man as to deserve a few lines of extension to explain it. 
It is expressed in tlie simplicity and fi'ankness of private friendship, 
saying, (vide his letter to Robert Turner,) "This day my country 
was cTiidirnied to me by the name of Pennsylvania, a name the King 
would give it. in honour of my father. I chose New '^^'ales, being, 
as this, a pretty liilly counti-y : but Penn, being Welsh for a head, — 
as Penmanmoire in Wales, and Penrith in Cumberland, and Penn 
in Buckinghamshire, the highest land in England, — they called 
this Pennsylvania, which is the high or head woodlands, for I pro- 
posed (when the Secretary, a Welshman, refused to have it called 
New Wales.) Sylvania, and they added Penn to it; and though T 



Colonial and Philadelphia History. 1 S 

much opposed it and went to the King to have it struck out and 
altered, he said, 'twas past, and woukl take it upon him ; nor wouM 
twenty guineas move the under Secretaries to vary the name, — for 
J feared least it shoukl be looked on as a vanity in me, and not as 
a respect in tlie King, as it ti'uly was, to my father, whom he often 
mentions with praise."* If the cause was thus peculiar in its 
origin, it is not less remarkable in its effect, it being at this day 
perhaps the only government in existence which possesses the 
name of its founder! 

Penn, being thus in possession of his province, forthwith proceed- 
ed to allure the good people of Europe to its settlement and im- 
provement. He published terms, at 40 shillings per 100 acres, and 
1 shilling per 100 acres for quit rent. He did not sell such small 
pai'cels himself, but in "shares*' of 5000 acres each for 100£. How 
little this seems for lands now bringing from 100 to 300 dollars an 
acre, and yet how great is the consideration that he possessed 26 
millions of such acres ! 

These generous terms soon caused many purchasers in Europe. 
Thus was formed in London. Bristol, tScc. the "Free Society of 
Traders," of whicli Nicholas Moore Predt, and J. Claypole, were 
conspicuous members and also residents of Philadelphia. 

They bought at first 20,000 acres ; and their ap])urtenant city 
lots " was an entire street, and on one side of a sti-eet from river 
to river,"f comprising thei'ein 100 acres, exclusive of 400 acres 
besides in the Liberties. Contemplate the value of all this ground 
now, in comparison of its original cost of only 400£. then ! What 
a result in 150 years! They set up a glass-house, a tan -yard, a 
saw-mill, and a whalery. A society of Germans was also formed 
at Frankfort in Germany with a view to send out settlers. These 
took up Germantown township, Manatawny, &c. 

In consequence of his numerous applicrtions for sales, he, in July, 
1681, gave out his '• Heeds of Settlement." wherein he states at large 
the terms of their residence, and their privileges as his colonists. 

Tiie first colony, the venturous pioneers to this new State, left 
England in August, 1681, in three ships ; and the first arrival was 
the ship John and Sarali, from London, captain Smith! The name 
of this vessel, and of this captain, and of those who were passengers 
therein, became memorable in the future city, — as they came in 
time to be designated as " the first landers," &c. by the succeeding 
generations. When they had lived to see the rising importance of 
the growing city they must have felt themselves ennobled by tlieir 
identity with its primitive existence. Among those primitive names 
Avas Nathaniel Allen, (a name conspicuous in the Annals of Phila- 

* It Mill be shown in its appropriate place, that Penn himself professed to have descended 
of the house of Tudor, in Wales ; one of whom dwelling on an eminence in Walej, received 
the name of John Penmunnith. He going afterwards to reside in London, took the name 
of John Penn, i. e. " John on the hill." 

t Its location was from near Spruce to Pine street, and from the river Delaware to the 
SchuylkJlL Their lands there gave name to " Society Hill." 



14 Colonial and Philadelphia History. 

dclphia,) John Otter, Edmuiul Lovett, Joseph Kirlchride, &c. Thi« 
little colony was the more memorable, because the other two ships 
were prevented for some time from increasing their population. 
For one, the Amity, captain Dimon from London, was blown off to 
tlic West Indies, and did not land her disappointed passengers in 
Pennsylvania until the next spring ; and the tliird ship, the Factor, 
captain Drew from Bristol, having made as higli as Chester on 
tli8 1 ith of December, was frozen up the same night, and so made 
their winter there. What a cheerless winter it must have been ! 
How (iifn -ent too from their formei* comforts and homes! — There 
several ' olthc-m had to ciowd into little eartiiy caves and huts, con- 
stnii tel for the emergency. 

It IS a prev{>iling and general mistake tlsat the primitive emi- 
grants made their way direct to Philadelphia. Such a place was 
not known before their departure from England. Thei'efore, those 
who arrived first and did not purpose to locate as farmers in the 
country had to wait the choice of a scite and a survey. This we 
learn from several incidental facts, such as these, viz. Penn's letter, 
of F iruary, 1681. to Robert Turner, says, ''care is taken already 
to look out a convenient tract of land for a first settlement," and 
*'t]iey who fii'st go will find inhabitants able to yield them accom- 
modation tiiere." Penn's ''instructions to his commissioners,*' of 
the T4th of October, 1681, designating the natural advantages to 
be sought after in tlieir selecc'on of a city plot, is evidence that the 
choice was left to their disci'ction after arrival. That the city was 
not surveyed and laid off as soon as some of the emigrants needed, 
is indicated both by tradition and the fact that the first intended 
survejor, William Crispin, died in England, and that Thomas 
Hohiie, his successor as surveyor general, did not arrive in the 
province until the end of June, 1682. Penn's letter, wrote when at 
PJiiladeJpliia in 1683, speaks thus exultingly of the scite at length 
chosen, as if it bad been before a matter of much anxiety and search, 
saying, ''Philadelphia, the expectation of those concerned in this 
province, is at last laid out to the great content of those liere." 
Then the ])reeminent local advantages are thus strikingly portray ed, 
saying, " Of all the nuuiy places I have seen in the world, I remem- 
ber not one better seated ; so that it seems to me to have been ap- 
pointed for a town, — whether we regai'd the (two) rivers, or the 
conveniency of the coves, docks, ^^ springs, the loftiness and sound- 
ness of the land and the air,*' he, 

I infer Irom the premises, that as the primitive comers knew not 
of such an appointed plot as Philadelphia, but were aware, through 
Penn's previous coi-respondence in Jersey, that the then existing 
small village of Upland (now Chester) was peopled by Swedes and 
some Friends from Jersey, they therefore would be jiredisposed, 
as I conceive, to make their first landings at that place. So in 
fact, Mrs. Sarah Shoemaker, who died in 1825, at the age of 92, 
*By docks, (natural ones,) I think he intended no separate wharves. 



Colonial and Philadelphia History. 15 

assured me slie was expressly told by her grandfather, James 
Lowiit'S. who was one of the emigrants wlio so tarried for a time 
at that place. As mc know that many vessels ari'ived with pas- 
sengers during the >ear 1685, (say 23 ships,) we must conceive tlie 
great influx into Upland of the earlier part of tlicm, and how very 
natural it should have been to many of them then who had begun 
to make it a kind of home, to wish the intended city to be located 
there. We suppose from this cause, though we have no records to 
that effect, =^ that the tradition, so often repeated, has come down 
to us that Chester was once purposed as the great emporium of 
our State. 

The town and borougii of Philadelj)liia was located we know in 
the latter end of 1682, •* having a high and dry bank next to the 
water, Avith a shore ornamented with a fine view of pine ti'ees 
growing upon it." 

The way the first purchasers or adventurers made their settle- 
ments was, first to make their caves or shelter in which to place 
their families and effects, — then to get wai'rants of survey, and go 
out and wander about for tlieii- choice of localities. In doing this 
they had no paths or roads to direct tiiem, save near the river side. 
AH was a wilderness, and without the marks of travellers, except 
occasional Indian paths from their abodes. Old inliabitants, who 
have conversed with their grandparents, have told me, that the 
intercourse from Germantow n to Philadelpliia \\ as only a foot or 
horse path for some time after the first settlement tliei-e. 

The very name of Philadelphia is impressive, as impoi'ting in its 
original Greek sense — hrotherly love: thus giving to the original 
place the peculiarly characteristic trait of unity of interests and 
purposes, i. e. the '' City of Brotherly love." Long may its society 
constitute a brotherhood never to be broken, — clinging together in 
mutual interests and combined efforts for th.e general and enduring- 
good ! If it had in its origin that love among its members, w hich 
so distinguished the fraternal regard of Attains and Eumenes, as to 
give the name of IMiiladelphia to the place honoured by their mutual 
attachment, — so may it also be blessed with the ancient church of 
its name in ever having its ci\al and religious privileges inscribed 
in divine sanctions as free as hers, to wit: "I have set before thee 
an open door, and no man can shut it!" 

William Penn did not embark w ith his first colonists, but he 
sent out his cousin, captain William Markham, as his first deputy 
governor, to supply his place, and also to make needful l)uildings 
and preparations for the reception of the founder when he should 
arrive. To tliis end the finer parts of the frame work required for 

* The late aged and respectable Levi HollmgswortlijEsq. informed me that hj=i ancestor, 
Heniy Hollingsworth, who was assistant to the surveyor general, Thomas Holme, had 
kept a journal, in which he had read, that William Penn caused his first observation to be 
taken at Chester, with the intention of fixing- the citv there ; but ascertaining it was not far 
enongh north for the 40th degree, the boundaiy line of Lord Baltimore, lie changed his 
mind, and afterwards made choice of the city where it now stands. That journal was 
extant until it was taken or destroyed in 1777 by the British at Elkton. 



16 Colonial and Philadelphia History. 

the construction of ''Penn's cottage" in Latitia court, and for 
*'Pennsbury palace," were freighted from England, together with 
Penn's workmen, (called ♦' servants," in the parlance of that day,) 
to set them up.* 

The founder set sail from England in August, 1682, with captain 
Greenway, in the ship Welcome, of 300 tons: — a propitious name, 
and peculiarly so to tliose before arrived colonists who were anxi- 
ously waiting his arrival. The passage was good, and the ship 
well filled with additional passengers, mostly Friends. But having 
had the misfortune to get the small pox on board, it proved fatal to 
nearly one third of the original hundred ! What a calamity in the 
outset! Poor adventurers ! — how these evils must have depressed 
their spirits and embittered their voyage! What a spectacle to see 
such numbers of their endeared relatives and companions in peril 
cast daily into the deep! The recitals of this voyage were dwelt 
upon by the aged, and listened to by the young in many succeeding 
years. 

^'They told their marvelling boyhood, legends store, 
Of their strange ventures hap'd by ship or sea." 

They landed first at New Castle on the 2fth of October, 1682,— 
a day since to be devoted to commemorative festivals by those who 
venerate the founder and his primitive associates.! Here tlie foun- 
der was hailed with acclamations by the Swedes and Dutch then 
there. He forthwith made a call of the people at the Court-house, 
to address them on the business of his government. Tlie ship with 
the passengers proceeded further up the river to the general ren- 
dezvous or settlement. 

In the full vigour of manhood and manly beauty as Penn then 
was, he being but 38 years of age, all his actions and deportment 
among those honest foreigners were sucli as entii-ely won their love 
and regard. They forthwith besought him in most earnest entreaty 
to unite their territory also, and so become their Chief and Gover- 
nor. Fancy need not invent fiction to adorn the scene which must 
have there occurred among the rustics of the then rustic "Dela- 
ware town." The picture is already drawn to the hand, 

<' While all tongues cried, — God bless the Governor! 
You would have tliought the very vvindows spake — 
So many greedy looks of young and old 
Through casements darted their desiring eyes 
Upon his visage !" 

* The oakea capital ot Uie Pilaatre of Penn's door at Pennsbuiy is in my possesaioi, 
showing a vine and clustei- of grapes. 

+ Proud had assigned the 24th of October, as the lauding day, but on consulUng the 
record at New Castle lately, it was found to have been on the '27th of October. The 
record saying,—" On the 27 th d.<iy of October, 1682, arrived before ye Towne of New 
Castle from England, William Penn, Esqe. whoo produced twoo deeds of feofment for 
this Towne and twelve myles about itt, and also for ye twoo Lower Counties, ye Whoore- 
kills and St. Jones's— wherefore ye said William Fenn received possession of ye Towne 
ve28lhofOctobr. 1682." 



Colonial and Philadelphia History. \j 

Won by their entreaties lje was induced the sainc year to de- 
clare them united, by an act of union passed at Chester. It 
must be added, liowever, that at a later period the members of 
Assenibly from tliose counties headed by David Lloyd, a leading 
member, insisted upon, and finally procured their separation from, 
and independence of, his government. 

William Penn soon left New Castle, and went thence to hold the 
first Assembly at Upland. Nicholas Moore, a lawyer from Eng- 
land, was made Speaker. In three days, having much unanimity 
and cordiality, they passed all the laws previously constructed in 
England, consisting of sixty-one subjects, called the Great Law 
of Pennsylvania. Some of them, framed for a professedly religious 
community, and having for their object the leading into religious 
affections by civil checks and restraints, may seem sufficiently 

peculiar in our modern lax conceptions to deserve some mention 

such as, ''A law against drinking of liealths," another against 
spreaders of false news, one against clamorous persons, scolders, 
and railers; finally, these laws, intended to have been permanent' 
and to have Iiad a perpetual moral tendency, were to have been 
read as occasional reading lessons in the schools. Ah, what would 
our boys tliink of our modern statute books if read in lieu of ^sop's 
fables! Another peculiarity of the ''Frame of Laws," was, ''that 
all persons in all courts might plead by themselves or friends in 
their own way and manner freely,— the complainant to swear that 
his complaint is just, and to give it in writing into court, and a 
copy to tlie accused, (to enable him to prepare for trial,) to be de- 
livered to him or her ten days before the trial." It might perhaps 
please some, bent on simple justice, and who have seen the rapacity 
of the law in some cases, if these tokens of primitive simplicity 
were restored, <'and every man within the reacli of right !"^* It is 
not a little curious as a sequel to the whole, that none of those 
sixty-one primitive laws have now any force, being all made obso- 
lete, or superceded by other enactments in after years, f 

The Assembly aforesaid, which only sat from the 4th to the 7th of 
December, being dissolved at the close of its business by the Gov- 
ernor in person, he thenceforth proceeded on a visit to the ruling 
authorities at New York, and soon after, on the 19th of December, 
he made his visit to Lord Baltimore, to confer on the subject of 
boundary lines, &c. 

By the close of the year 1682, such had been the tide of emigra- 
tion, induced by the popularity of Penn's character as a mild, gen- 
erous, and wise Governor, that as many as 23 ships had arrived 
with passengers since the spring. None of them miscarried; all 

* At a later period it was once attempted as a refinement on the above privilege, that no 
attorney should be allowed to plead except gratuitously,— that none should " lengthen 
simple justice into trade." Such a bill was once before the Assembly but rejected, as not 
compatible with our complicated machinery of law and justice. 

t It will he seen under the article of Chester history, Uiat tlie Assembly house aod i\tt 
speaker's cUjur still remain. 

E 



18 Colonial and Philadeljihia Ifislonj. 

had sliort passages,— some of them 28 days. A few liowever, say 
two or tliree, had the affliction to have some small-pox on hoard. 
In those vessels several children were born without accident to 
themselves or mothers. Sadly inconvenient and embarrassing 
situations lor some of their descendants now to contemplate, who 
dwell in sumptuous elegance! But theii- ancestors were nen'ed 
with nndauntcd resolution to breast and brave every emergency. 
One of those sea-born accessions received the name of Sea-mercy. 
In those times the Indians and Swedes were kind and active to 
bring in, and vend at moderate prices, proper ai-ticles of subsis- 
tence. Provisions, says Penn, were good and in vast quantities. 
Wild fowl was in abundance. Wild pigeons, says another, were 
like clouds, and often flew so low as to be knocked down with 
sticks. Wild turkies sometimes were so immoderately fat and 
large as to have weighed 461bs. Some of SOlbs. sold at one shil- 
ling, deer at two shillings, and corn at two shillings and six-pence. 
They also soon got up a seine for fishing, — the waters abounded 
with fish, ^' Six allocs or rocks, says Penn, are sold for twelve 
pence, and salt fish at three farthings a pound. Six hundred of 
those allocs (rocks) have been taken at one draught!'* A similar 
display of the natural abundance of the country is exhibited in the 
letter of Mahlon Stacy from Jersey. '^ We have, says he, peachea 
by cart loads. The Indians bring us 7 or 8 fat bucks of a day. 
Without rod or net we catch abundance of herrings, after the Indian 
manner, in pinfolds. Geese, ducks, pheasants, arc plenty." Swans 
then abounded. Oysters were excellent, six inches long. 

The first Assembly ever held in Philadelphia consisted of 72 
persons, and was convened at the Friends' meeting house, on the 
10th of 1st mo. 1683, — at which place, and at several private 
houses afterwards, when their number was diminutive, they were 
accustomed to meet, until the court house was built and prepared 
for their better reception in 1707. The oidy peculiar law then 
enacted was one to prevent law suits,— one which has its voluntary 
associations to the same effect in the present day, — that is, the insti- 
tution of •' Tliree peace makers, after the manner of common arbi- 
trators, to be chosen by each county court, that they might hear 
and end all differences." At the same time the fastidious notions of 
some went so far as to move for a bill or resolution, '* that young 
men should be obliged to man-y at a certain age," and also, as a 
sumptuary regulation to repress extravagance, that "only two 
sorts of clothes should be worn; — one kind for summer and one for 
w inter." It is sufficient to say the propositions failed by the pre- 
vailing good sense of tlie Assembly ; too many of whom wen- 
then bevond the spell of the contracted feelings of the " Blue Laws." 
In this yeai' the first sheriff of Philadelphia was created, to wit: 
John Test* 

The first Grand Jury was called the 2nd of 3d mo. 1683. 1 he 

* I once knew some of his destendjints, but have lost sight of the family for many years. 



Colonial and Philadelphia Tlisiorij. 19 

Petit Jury which succeeded it. found one Pickering guilty of coin- 
ing and passing base money. He was condemned to make restitu- 
tion and to pay 40d£. towards building a court house. What a 
wretch he must have been to have connnenced such a vile employ 
at a time when honest business of every kind so well I'cwarded 
the diligent! 

The truth was as in days of yore, *' When the sons of God came 
together, Satan came also,** — for the facts of criminal cases (which 
will be shown in their appropriate places,) show that vicious per- 
sons soo)i got intermixed with the good, — " a mingled web of good 
ami ill!" Althougli the Friends and their excellent morals were 
long predominant and \\ idely diffused, yet some vile persons (prob- 
ably from the older colony of New York and from the malefactors 
of the jNIai'vland transportation list.) urged their way into the mass 
of the Piiiladelphia popuhition. Soon tippling houses and their 
consequent abuses were introduced into the caves and huts, left 
vacant by the removal to better residences of those first settlers 
^vho first constructed them. 

In tiie 3'eai* 1683-4 the emigration was very great. They came 
from England, Ireland, Wales, Holland, and Germany. Few or 
none of the French took any fancy to us, although it w as the opinion 
of Penn that they would, and that they w ould much profit liere by the 
cultivation of the grape ; w liich then every where abounded in sur- 
piising excellence and pi'ofusion. The Germans from Cresheira 
near Worms, were nearly all of them Friends, and all of them 
made their settlement at Germantown. By this emigration, says 
Sewall, they providentialy avoided the desolation of a French war, 
Nvliich soon after laid waste their former possessions. The Welsh 
made a very respectable emigration at this time. They bought 
up 40,000 acres of land, in 168£, and formed their settlements, 
after the names of their native homes, — in Merion, Haverfield, 
Radnor, Newtown. Goshen, and Uwechland. 

Penn's letter to Lord North, of 7 mo. 1683, saitli, "Twenty- 
two sail more have arrived since I came. Tliere are about 300 
farms (of the new comers,) settled as contiguously as may be. 
Since last summer we have had about si.xty sail of great and small 
shipping, which is a good beginning." To the Marquis of Halifax, 
under date of 12 mo. 9th, 1683, he says with much truth, ^'I 
must, without vanity, say, I have lead the greatest colony into 
America that ever any man did upon a private credit, and the 
most prosperous beginnings that ever were in it are to be found 
among us !" Such self-gratulation was lionest and well merited. 
Indeed we cannot forbear to expatiate a little on the superior tact 
and talent which he manifested for a founder, by comparing his 
rapid success w ith the slow progress of those who preceded him. 
For, when we consider iiow long the Swedes were in possession 
before Penn came, — say, half a century, — wc cannot but feci aston- 



20 Colonial and Philadelphia History. 

ished at the very little ability they manifested in producing any 
tiling great or important, commensurate with their opj)ortunities. 
We neither see nor hear of any public acts, by any of their leading 
men, to bring themselves or country into notice. Not unlike our 
present frontier squatters, they seem to have set down contented 
in tlieir log and clay huts, — their leather breeches, jerkins and 
match coats for tlieir men, — and tlieir skin jackets, and linsey 
petticoats for their women. But no sooner has the genius of 
Penn been enlisted in the enterprise, than we see it speak a city 
and commerce into instant existence. His spii'it animated every 
part of his colony : and the consequence was, that the tame and 
unaspiring Swedes soon lost their distinctive chai'acter and exist- 
ence as a separate race. 

Well might the city of Philadelphia, which imports brotherly 
love, be so called, aa hen we contemplate the benevolent motives of 
its founder, and the religious and good intentions of his coadjutors 
and compatriots. -'Our views (says A. Soules' publication of 
1684,) was to have fi-eedom of worship, and to live in greater 
simplicity and innocency on a virgin elysian shore, and to give 
thousands of dark souls to civilization and piety." Penn solemnly 
declares he came into his charge of the province '' for the Lord's 
sake." He hoped, under the divine aid, to have raised a people 
W'ho should have been a praise in the earth for conduct, as well as 
for civil and religious liberty. " I wanted," says he, " to afford an 
asylum to the good and oppressed of every nation. I aimed to 
frame a government which might be an example. I desired to 
show men as free and happy as they could be. I had also kind 
views towards the Indians." *^ I am night and day (says he, in 
his letter from Chester,) spending my life, my time, my money, 
without being a six-pence enriched by my greatness. Had 1 
sought greatness only, 1 had staid at home, where the difterenco 
between what I am, and was offered, and could have been there in 
power and wealth, is as wide as the places are." Under the in- 
fluence of a proper credence to such strong expressions of disiuter- 
estcd patriotism and good will, it seems impossible to avoid the 
confession that a more disinterested public servant and benefactor 
the world never saw, preceding our own great Washington. Both 
were peculiarly and emphatically the father of his country, — Pater 
Patri3P. 

Penn's views respecting his improved system of governmeni, as 
he himself intended it, is strongly expressed in his leKer of 1681, 
to R. Turner and others, saying, '* As my understanding and in- 
clinations have been much directed to observe and reprove mis- 
chiefs in governments, so it is now put into my pow er to settle one. 
For the matters of liberty and privilege. I purpose that which is 
extraordinary, and to leave myself and successors (a noble de- 
sign!) no power of doing mischief; — so that the will of one man. 



Colonial and Philadelphia Hi star if. 21 

may not hinder tlic good of a whole couiilry!''* Think of this 
moderation, ye ambitious Chiefs! Such was the worthy and noble 
spirit of him, whom we arc proud to call our generous founder! 
But the secret was, — a holy religion regulated his life ; — yea more, 
— to those who can appreciate spiritual premonitions as held among 
Friends, — he was " sky guided'' and 'Micaven-dirccted" in his 
scheme of mercy to our race, even twenty years before this govern- 
ment began ! For in tliis same letter he emphatically declares, — 
" This I can say, that I had an opening of joy as to these parts in 
the year 1661, at Oxford!" — meaning of course, that when he was 
then but a student of only 17 years of age, he had some peculiar 
and sensible intimation of this, his eventual country. In another 
letter to the same R. Turner (a year before the government be- 
gan,) he also says, *• My God, that has given it me through many 
difficulties, Avill, I believe, bless and make it the seed of a nation!'* 

General opinion has been that the proprietor of twenty millions 
of acres must have become speedily and immensely rich, — but it 
was not so. His liberal advances for Ids province, and necessary 
expenses at court, to cultivate favour for his people, made great 
inroads upon his private estate, and kept him in continual pecu- 
niary straits. He presented means to his people to enrich them- 
selves ; — but his returns from quit rents, ^c. which at first was the 
business of the county sheriffs to collect, were so tardy and so 
reluctantly given, as to have been to him a cause of perpetual em- 
barrassment and uneasiness. Many were found who justified their 
non-compliance by tlie pretext, that the quit rents should be reserv- 
ed in the country to defray the expenses of government.! 

A man like Penn, familiar witii the great, and even honoured 
Avith travelling with king James in his tour through his kingdom, 
could not be expected to live on any small revenue. And it is 
equally clear he could not leave such society at his pleasure, to 
come and dwell entirely in his province, — because of the frequent 
efforts that were made by enemies to the province, to get it all re- 
stored again to the direct government of the croAvn. This was 
even accomplished for part of two years: and Penn himself exiled 
from court, under the new reign of William and Mary. 

It is painful to generous natures, to see so noble minded a gen- 
tleman perpetually harrassed with so many cares. It might weU 
be said of him, " 111 rests the head that wears a crown." We feel 
an influence of tender sorrow when we enter into sympathy with 
his troubles, — we want to see such a great benefactor enjoy feli- 
city without alloy. But from the time he became a public friend, 
he seemed appointed to struggle through <»evil report," as well as 
through ''good report;" — as ''often cast down, but never de- 

* As late as the year 1704-5, in his letter to Judge Mompesson, then in Philadelphia, 
he declares," 1 M'ent thither to lay the foundation oi a free colony for all mankind !" 

t He was also entitled to a proportion of duties on imports and exports, as Lord Balti- 
more received, but which in a short time was withheld. 



^ti Colonial and Philadelphia Histonj. 

Htroyed." In his letter to R. Turner, and others, of 1681, he says, 
♦^ I have been these thii-teen years the servant of truth and Friends, 
and, for my testimony sake, lost much : — not only the greatness 
and preferments of this world, but 16,000£. of my estate,— -that 
had I not been what I am, I had long ago obtained:— but I murmer 
not." He was imprisoned in the years 1668-9, for his religion, 
as often as four times in London, — and in later life, whilst the 
Great Proprietor of Pennsylvania, lie was a short time on prison 
limits for debts, and actually had to mortgage his province ! '' And 
is this all ! cried Cfesar, at his height disgusted!" Who may not 
'•sigh at such success, and weep at such renown!" 

William Penn had scarcely fulfilled two years as a patriarch 
among his colonists, before he was imperiously called to return 
back to England. Lord Baltimore had made such influence at 
court against Penn's title to Pennsylvania limits, as threatened to 
impair his claim: — he therefore, in the 6th month of 1684, embarked 
in the ketch Endeavour, (another ominous name !) for England. 
In November, 1685, he succeeded with king James to have the line 
of Delaware equally divided, through the Delaware and Chesa- 
peake peninsula. His words at parting were very pathetic and 
affectionate, — saying, "and tliou Philadelphia, — the virgin settle- 
ment, named before thou wert born, — what love, what care, what 
service, and \s'hat travail, has there been to bring thee forth, and 
preserve thee from such as would abuse and defile thee ; I long to 
be with you, and hope to sec you next fall." But earnest as were 
his wishes for return, it Avas fifteen years before he could accom- 
plish the wish above expressed! — to wit, in 1699. 

While Penn remained abroad, he was perpetually engaged in 
devising schemes of kindness and benefit for his people, — at the 
same time endeavouring to make his way clear for his return, and 
to bring out his family to abide with us for life. So his people 
wished. — so his friends expected. By the year 1690, he thought he 
had at length attained his object; but jusc as he was ready to em- 
bark with a great colony, he was arrested on a groundless suspicion 
of being disaffected to the new Sovereigns, W illiam and Mary, who 
had come in by the expulsion of his old friend, king James. He 
was constrained thereupon to live two years in privacy, and his 
government two years afterwaids was given over to the rule of 
governor Fletcher, of the New York government. Penn estimated 
this damage to himself to be equal to 30,000£.— a monstrous 
sum in his day, and especially in his need ! Penn, however, so far 
from acting unwortliily, speaks the truth, when he says, " Would 
I have made my market of the fears and jealousies of the people, 
when the King (James) came to the throne, I had put 20,000£. into 
my pocket, and 100,000£. in my province." 

Penn's desire to return to his colony, and his great disappoint- 
ments from his people, are thus strongly expressed by him in the 
year 1686,--« Unkindly used a9 I .?ira, no poor slave in Turkey 



Colonial and Philadelphia History. 25 

more earnestly desires deliverance than I do to be with you." 
But one cause, wliich hindered his return, was his great expense 
for Pennsylvania. — " 1 nnist say my expenses is tiie ground of my 
present incumbrance." His quit rents, he says, "were at least 
500£. per annum, but he could not get one penny." 

I have several MSS. letters in my possession, about the above 
period of time, from Penn to his confidential friend and steward, 
James Harrison, at Pennsbury, which sufficiently evidence that 
Penn was much hindered fi-om a speedier return, by the strange 
indisposition of the colony to provide suitably for his maintenance 
as Governor: from the same cause I think I can discei'n that his 
wife was not favourably disposed to a residence among us, — she had 
probably heard so much of unkindness and ingratitude towards her 
husband, as soured the feelings of both herself and her daughter 
Lsetitia. From different letters I quote as follows, — to wit: 1685, 
" I will be with you as soon as ever I can, — I hope in the spring, — but 
if the country mil not think of considering me as Governor, I have 
little encouragement." — 1686, *' The country thinks not about my 
supply, and I resolve never to act the Governor and charge my pri- 
vate estate. If my table, cellar, and stable, may be provided for, 
with a barge and yatch for the use of the Go\ ernor and govern- 
ment, I may try to get hence : — for in the sight of God, I may say, 
I am 500oJ. and more behind hand, than ever I received or saw 
for land in the province, — and to be so baffled by the merchants is 
discouraging and not to be put up with."* "There is nothing 
my soul breathes more for, in tliis world, next to my dear family's 
life, than that I may see poor Pennsylvania again, — and my wife 
is giving up, [meaning to go, for the first time, willingly] but I 
cannot force my way hence and see nothing done on tliat side in- 
viting. It is not, that I will not come, wliatever they do there, — 
but not the sooner to be sure !" Another letter of 8th of 1 1 mo. 1686, 
final on this subject, is very energetic, saying, ''As to a supply, I 
will sell the shirt off my back before I will trouble them any more. I 
will never come into the province Mith my family to spend my 
private estate to discharge a public station, and so add more 
wrongs to my children. This is no anger, although I am grieved, 
— but a cool and resolved thought." 

Republics have been leproacTied as ''proverbially ungrateful," 
— but is there not better evidence that colonies are unthankful! Is 
it not the general history of colonies, to whine and fret like way- 
ward children ; — to give immeasurable trouble and expense to rear 
them up to maturity; — and then to reward the parental care with 
alienation ! Is it not the present history of all we know as such, 

*The case of " the merchants" is explained in Penn's letter to James Logan, 1705. 
He had indulged them, as a favour, with an exemption from duties on exports and imports, 
for a year or two while he was present ; but when he was gone, they refused compliance as 
their right. — He had required the rates as paid at New York and Maijland. His letter 
of the 8th of April, 1681, to the inhabitants, expressly says, " pay my deputy those dues 
you formerly paid to the Governor of New York." 



24 Colonial and Philadelphia History. 

who feel themselves able to begin independence for themselves! 
We speak these things as lookers-on. 

During so long a period of Penn's absence, it was impossible to 
govern by liis deputies with such weight and influence as if per- 
sonally present. His absence naturally weakened his authority, 
while it could better enforce the projects of cabals, and prevent the 
due reception of his pecuniary dues. William Markhani, his first 
deputy, was but 21 years of age when he arrived. He had an 
excellent deputy in Thomas Xtloyd, Esqr. a scholar and a christian. 
He always served reluctantly, and, in 1688, resigned his place as 
Governor, but continued in the council till his death, in 1694, at 
the age of 54 years. 

William Penn, in 1699, again set himself to embark for his pro- 
vince, after an absence of fifteen years. He came with a full pur- 
pose to make his stay permanent, and brought his family with him. 
But the voyage of the vessel (like the former names,) was ominous. 
They were three months at sea ! and when they arrived they found 
an unexpected and an unwelcome guest. Tlie yellow fever, which 
had been raging in the West Indies, had been comnmnicated, it is 
supposed, in Philadelphia. Thomas Story, the recorder and a 
public Friend, described it as a time when '' Great was the fear 
that fell on all flesh. — I saw no lofty or airy countenance, — nor 
heard any vain jesting: — but every face gathered paleness, and 
many hearts were humbled." Penn arrived in the lOtli month, 
and he and his family were received with universal joy, on account 
of his known intention to stay for life. James Logan, writing of 
that event, says, '^ Friends' love to the Governor was great and 
sincere — tliey had long mourned for his absence, and passionately 
desired his return." His arrival being on a first day, he went forth- 
with to the Meeting, thronged all the way with a crowd, where he 
spoke to the people. But desirable as was his stay, he was in time 
again compelled to leave his "wilderness retreat," after a stay of 
but two years, — never to return! While he remained, there were 
about 100 laws enacted, chiefly at New Castle, where they as often 
legislated, to please the low counties, as they did at Philadelphia. 
He also attended at Philadelphia, in 1701, a great Indian treaty, 
with forty Indian Chiefs, who came from many nations to settle 
the friendship. The same year, he had also a great Indian coun- 
cil at Pennsbui'y mansion, to take leave of him, and to renew 
covenants, &c. 

Penn's stay, for a time, seemed to promise permanency, and he 
governed with more than usual satisfaction to himself; — but there 
seemed no more of peace and repose for him than for Moses of 
old! — for perplexities were gathering. About this time the crown 
officers began to fear the colonies might grow too powerful under 
the proprietary governments, and they therefore showed desires of 
buying them out, so as to bring them more immediately under the 
direct control of government. The records of the <' Board of 



Colonial and Philadelphia History. 25 

ti*ade," it is believed, would sliow iniicli on this i^ubjcct if investi- 
gated. Tliey began to take measures to curtail their liberties; — 
and, in 1701, they brought in a bill to enable the crown to take the 
colonies into possession, for the alleged ''better regulation and 
surer defence."* At this crisis the owners of land in Pennsylva- 
nia, dwelling in England, became very importunate for Penn's 
return to prevent those measures. He therefore said "^ he must 
go back with great reluctanc y. although he desired the quietness 
of our wilderness." In liis letter of 1701, to James Logan, he 
says, " no man living can defend us or bargain for us better than 
myself." Still it maybe questioned if this necessity was really 
so absolute. In truth, the cause of his going was removed even 
before he arrived there, for king William had died, and queen 
Amie was his friend. I think I can discern domestic reasons, from 
expressions made by himself and family, (whicli probably import 
even more than was uttered,) which go to show that there wei-c 
grounds enough of personal dissatisfaction to make a residence in 
England preferable to one here, under the circumstances under 
which Iiis family was placed. In a letter which Peim wrote to 
James Logan, in July, 1701, (preserved in the Logan collection,) 
he says, ''I cannot prevail on my wife to stay, and still less with 
Tishe, I know not what to do," — and, as if fearing some would 
demur to his going, he adds, "' to all that speak of it, say, I shall 
have no need to stay (in England) and a great interest to return." 
In a letter of 1704, he says, ^' had you settled a reasonable revenue 
(on him) he would have returned and laid his bones there. — also 
his wife too, after her mother's death," then expected. From the 
whole the inference is unavoidable, that however urgent was the 
business-call of his leaving the country, and the dissatisfaction of 
the female part of his family here, he would nevertheless have 
gladly come back to us if adequate provision had been made for 
his support in the style of a public officer. 

We cannot forbear the belief, that if he, like Lord Baltimore, 
had confided his interests in England to such good agents as he 
could have employed at court, he might have raised with least 
trouble a more solid and lasting superstructure to his fame and 
profit in this province, than he could possibly have attained by a 
residence in England. It had always too much the character of 
such ill-managed business as results when principals go abroad, in 
search of novelties or pleasures, and commit their trusts to clerks 
and irresponsible agents. When the principal omits personal 
presence, all take the liberty to manage as may suit their self-in- 
dulgence. In Penn's case it surely w as not more difficult to find 

* Parson Duchc's account of Pennsylvania is very express, — he says, the persons in 
England wIjo were jealous of colonial privileges, under pretence of securing the royal 
perogative, got up a bill for that purpose in the House of Commons. Penn's friends there 
did what they could to impede its passage, and obtained an indulgence to sUty proceedings 
until Penn could return and defend himself. Penn therefore summoned his Assembly 
on the I5th of September, 1701, and declared his reasons for quick departure, &c. 

F 



i^6 Colonial and Philadelphia History. 

men Tor occ asional services in England, than it was to keep up the 
government of a whole province by agents, which served at three 
to four thousand miles from the principal. 

One of the last public acts of Penn in the province, was to pre- 
sent the city, on the 28tli of October, 1701, Avith a last charter of 
privileges. ' By this lie constituted the town of Philadelphia a city. 
Edward Shippen was the first mayor, and Thomas Story the first 
recorder. Shippen was also a judge, and, as president of the coun- 
cil, he was for a time ex-officio Governor. Although the city so 
received its charter, it appears to have had in effect the name and 
character of a city before, — for as early as 1691 it had a mayor, 
named Hiunphry Murrey, signing its official acts. 

A new deputy governor aiTived in 1704, in the person of John 
Evans, Esqr. a young man of ability — but of free life, and of such 
occasional dissipation as to give umbrage to many serious persons. 
With him came William Penn, jun'r. tlie only son by the first 
wife. Although he also was volatile, beyond his education, he was 
made a member of the council as an intended respect. Evans 
remained only five years, being removed by a petition for his 
recall. He had so little respect for Friends' principles, that it is 
rather strange that he should have been appointed at all. In 1704, 
he, for the first time known in our annals, made a call for a militia, 
by public proclamation, " to assist queen Anne." — It did not suc- 
ceed. Indeed, the very name of militia, for a long period of time 
afterwards, was a measure which quickly roused the religious 
scruples of the Friends. It would appear, however, from an inci- 
dental fact prior to this time, that there was some kind of volun- 
tary association whicli occasionally used fire arms, because we 
read in the Logan MS. jjapers, that the Governor, (Markham.) 
when he died in Philadelphia, *'was buried, by the militia, with 
the honours of war." 

It seems that govcinor Evans did not credit the sincerity of 
Friends in tlieir alleged aversion to war and war measures. He 
therefore endeavoured by stratagem to surprise them into a desei*- 
tion of their avowed pacific principles. To this end, he plotted with 
some of his friends in New Castle to send up an express, to say, 
*• twelve French vessels were arrived, and were committing depre- 
dations, and soon would be up at Philadelphia itself!" On the re- 
ceipt of this intelligence he rode through the streets with his 
sword drawn, calling on the inhabitants for defence. The panic 
w as great, especially among the women, — but none of the Friends 
resorted to arms. Plate and other valuables were cast into their 
wells. Several took to the boats and canoes, and went up the 
creeks, 6cc. This was an undignified and even cruel experiment, 
which only tended to make his rule extremely unwelcome. The 
whole scene, such as it was, might afford subject for the poet's and 
the painter's muse. Nothing like such an alarm had before dis- 
turbed the repose of the inhabitants since the false alarm of 1686, 



Colonial and Philadelphia History. 27 

^vilcn an idle talc found afflictive currency — that the Indians were 
purposing their massacre. 

It was about the year 1708 that Penn's perplexities and trou- 
bles fell upon him in more than common measure. He had received 
the petition for Evans' removal, and a successor Was imperious. 
His debts, through the mal-rcmduct of a corrupt steward, (Ford) 
became so ponderous and unnianageablc, (although he had a patri- 
mony of 1 500£. a year,) that he was obliged to mortgage his 
province for 6600£. and to give it in trust to James Logan, Isaac 
Norris, and others. There began about this time to appear a 
moi'c than common selfislincss in some of the people, even to 
cabals and factions, and to a virtual resistance, in some cases, of the 
proprietary's right. David Lloyd, Esqr. of Chester, an attorney 
and a Friend, Speaker sometime of the Assembly, was the visible 
head of the opposition. There was much bickei-ing from such 
causes between the Assembly — headed as it then was — and tlie. 
Secretary, James Logan. There was certainly a ^ cry ru(U' and 
disrespectful manner of resistance in the Assembly, and their being 
re-elected was a painful indication to Penn's real friends that the 
temporary disaffection was too prevalent among the people.* Their 
ill-natured disputations with governor Gookin, wiio had succeeded 
Evans, in 1709, (written in the plain style of Friends, which had 
hitherto prevailed in the public acts of the colony,) however pro- 
voked by the admitted strange temper of the Governor, are rather 
burlesque compositions than otherwise, to our sober jiulgments in 
this day. Under the force of their excited feelings they proceeded 
to such extremities as to impeacli and to try to arrest the devoted 
and excellent public servant, James Logan, on j)retexts w Inch he 
readily and ably refuted. The scandal of these measures reached 
England, and much use was made of them there to disparage and 
reprobate colonial proprietary governments, and to set forth by 
those opposed to Penn's interests, that sucli were not capable of 
any stable self-government and good conduct. 

All these things combining tended eventually to sap and alie- 
nate the affections and confidence of Penn to his people ; and when, 
with the i)icrease of iiis debts for his colony, and their poor returns, 
he also fell into an occasional defect of mind by a stroke of apo- 
plexy, it became more and more a measure of necessity that he 
should yield to the wish of the crown (and I might add, of his 
friends also) by selling out his province for la.OOOdC, — reservin«- 
to himself the quit rents and estates. The deed was formally 
made, and he had received, it is said, lOOOdE. in 1712, as earnest 
money :f but he never executed it, he having, in that year, so far 

*It is to the credit of the mnssof the people, when they came to know the merits of the 
case, that Uiey manifested far better feelings to the proprietary, by displacing, at the next 
election, all the former Representalivef, and supplying their places with kindlier spirits. 

tThe Lords of trade, in a letter of the 21st of July, 1719, to governor Keith, sar 
" Mr. Penn did receive part of the money in pursuance of said agreement." 



28 ColoniaL and Philadelphia History. 

lost his mental faculties as made him incapable, as was supposed 
by the law-officers, to coni'er a legal conveyance. So nearly were 
we once to losing all that connection with the Penn-family, which 
afterwards, for so many years of the rule of their sub-governors, 
united our destinies! The MSS. collections by Mrs. Logan are 
very ample in facts on this sale and aiTest of execution. 

It is but due to the honour of the founder to cite, from some of his 
letters, his own expressions of the feelings and embaiTassments 
wliich urged him thus to dissever his interests from the people 
wliom he had benefitted so essentially by the colony he had procu- 
red them. In 1710, he writes, and says, *'the undeserved opposi- 
tion I meet from thence sinks me in sorrow, and I cannot but think 
it hard measure, that while that proved aland of freedom and flour- 
ishing to them, it should become to me, by whose means it was 
made a country, the cause of trouble and poverty." Oh, what an 
inconsiderate requital ! Penn hints too, direct enough at his medi- 
tated sale, as well as at the cause of it, saying, "the opposition I 
have met with must at length force me to consider more closely of 
iny own private and sinking circumstances." 

Respecting this meditated surrender to the crown I am enabled 
to add some facts, derived from the use of the MSS. collections of 
Mrs. Logan, kindly lent to me for general use. There I ascer- 
tained that James Logan and the friends of William Penn in Phil- 
adelphia otten suggested this measure as a dernier resort. It ap- 
pears to have been made as early as the year 1701, by some of the 
crown officers, as a necessary security to the crown in case of a war. 
Penn appears all along to have deprecated and resisted this. From 
1702 to 1707 it is spoken of to Penn by his Philadelphia friends 
in their letters and in his replies. In 1 704, Penn says it Avill depend 
on the kindness of the next Assembly to him, — ''I shall see this 
winter's session, and take my measures accordingly." In 1705, 
he says, " whether I suirender or not, sliall make no difference as 
to my coming and laying my bones among you." All these, so far, 
were secret confidential views on both sides. In 1707, James Lo- 
gan is very strenuous in his advice, saying, ••* If the thing I have 
so often mentioned can carry any weight, it is (under the then 
troubles) that thou wilt get a consideration from the crown for the 
government. 'Tis what I advise ; for thou wilt really find it im- 
possible to liold the govermnent here, so refractory as things are 
conducted. Depend upon it, there is a constant plot here against 
thy interest. " 6cc. To this I might add, that Isaac Norris, in 1 7 1 1 , 
says, "I cannot be against it, — he is now old, and the best terms 
may be had in his life-time. I only hope he will make good terms 
for Friends, — on oaths, ministers' pay, and militia." Penn him- 
self, on one occasion, writes, '* I believe it repents some that they 
began it, (by requesting or urging the crown to retake it per force,) 
for now, 'tis I that pi-ess it upon good terms, as well for the 



Colonial and Philadelphia Histonj. 29 

people as self, — in the judgment of the uisest and best of my 
friends."* 

Finally, it may be seen, as tlie proper sequel to the whole, what 
moving causes of complaint and dissatisfaction Penn really pos- 
sessed, by consulting liis long and very able expostulatory letter 
*'to the inhabitants of Peimsylvania" of 27th of 4 mo. 1710 — Vide 
Proud, vol. 2, page 45. It might well be called his patriaichal 
and farewell address. It is full of pathos and sensibility, and pro- 
duced much effect in kindlier feelings from his people after its i)ub- 
lication among them, but too late expressed by them in their elections 
and public measures to prevent liis purposed bargain with the crown ! 
Every true Pennsylvanian, imbued witli due good feelings to our lion- 
oured founder, should make that paper his manual. So his real friends 
of that day regarded it ; and on page 507 of my MSS. Annals, in the 
Historical Society of Pennsylvania, is preserved one of those prim- 
itive printed letters, kept in one family '"with pious care" even 
down to the present day! ^'Itis (says he,) a mournful considera- 
tion, and tlie cause of deep affliction to me, that I am forced, by the 
oppression and disappointments which have fallen to my share in 
this life, to speak to the people of that pi'ovince in a language I 
once hoped I should never have occasion to use." — "I once had 
reason to expect a solid comfort from the sei'vices done so many 
people, and I have not been disappointed in tlieir prosperity." — 
*'Did tlie people really want any thing of me in the relation be- 
tween us that would make them liappier, I should readily grant it." 
After sliowing his grounds of grievance, he says, "' When I reflect 
on all those heads, of which I have so much cause to complain, I 
cannot but mourn the iinhappiness of my portion, dealt to me fi'om 
those of whom I had reason to expect much better ; nor can I but 
lament the unhappiness that too many of them are bringing upon 
themselves ; w ho, instead of pursuing the amicable ways of peace, 
love, and unity, which I at first hoped to find in that retii-ementv 
ai'e cherishing a spirit of contention and opposition, and oversetting 
(by party violence) that foundation on which your happiness might 
be built." Finally, he adds, ''If I must continue my regard to 
you, manifest the same to me, by showing, in a fair election, more 
than I have for some years met with : or else, without further sus- 
pense, I shall know what I have to rely on." 

This valedictory, as it in effect proved, from the good old patri- 
arch, was prompted, lam satisfied, in a good degree, by the corres- 
pondence and subsequent presence of James Logan, f When it ar- 
rived, Isaac Norris writes, that it *• extremely pleased; — it is so 

* His " good teims " for the people are afterwards declared by Mrs. Hannah Penn, in her 
letter of 1713, to have been in effect the cause of its frustration. Her letter says, " he might 
long since have finished it, had he not insisted too much on gaining privileges for the people." 

t J. Logan's letters, of 1708-9, say, " advise them, that unless Friends will take mea- 
sures to purge the Assemblies of bad men, thou wilt give them up, and struggle no longer ; 
for, certainly, David Lloyd's purpose is to throw all into confusion, and thee into a surren- 
der." Soon afterwards J. Logan visited England and saw I'enn personally. 



so Colonial and Philadelphia Mistonj. 

tender and soft where it touches others ;— it is so suitahle, that we 
wisli it public as possible. Had it arrived before the election it 
would have given great support to Friends. As it is, the party is 
lessoned, and the mask of the designers and ti-oubk'rs is half off." 
Under such a seuse of wrongs, and the su])eradded pressure of 
accumulated debts, he probahly so lar pursued his negociations for 
surrender with the ministi-y, that when tlie good news of a change 
of conduct occurred, lie had gone too far to recede. Certain it is, 
that, in 1712, he concluded his sale for 12,000£. — a sum full 4000£. 
less than liad been before expected. 

In this year his desease got so much the ascendancy of his men- 
tal faculties, that lie was deemed inadequate to any active or public 
husiness. As otlier facts concerning him, in this his last and inter- 
esting crisis, will be told in anotlier place, it may suiHce here to say: 
He still showed himself a sensible and conversable man,— His 
chief defect was found in the obliteration of his memory. Religion 
was always predominant. His very failings, in this last extremity, 
" leajied to virtue's side." In this state he continued six years, go- 
going abroad, to Meetings, &c. till 1718, when he died, — having 
probalily passed, in these last secluded years, the most tranquil pe- 
riod of his eventful, busy, care-crazed, life. — " The memory of tlie 
just is blessed ! " 

From the facts which have just passed in review, we arrive at 
the conclusion, — tJiat however Penn once saw ''an opening of joy 
as to these parts," it was but too manifest, it was such only '-for 
another and not for himself ! " However we may palliate the jea- 
lousies of liberty inherent and cherished in our forefathers, by 
which small or fancied grievances were sometimes magnified even 
by men intending honest opposition, yet, as ambition or blind zeal 
will eitlier of them mislead party leaders, and acerbity of feelings 
will excite wrong doings, we cannot but regret, that so distin- 
guished a benefactor should not have been less equivocally requi- 
ted ; so that the h.onest exertions of the best years of iiis life had 
not been rewarded with tlie carking cares of straitened circum- 
stances, by the res angusti domi, and the disheartening opposition 
of refractory children. Ah! "how sharper than a serpent's tooth 
it is to have a thankless child ! " Much we could have wished that 
his sun had set in brighter glory ;— in such as he once hoped ;— 
for which he always toiled, — '^ayo^ith of labour for an age of 
ease." Tiiis was., the reward which generous natures Mould have 
wished conferred! In the language of Burke's eulogium, we may 
join in the sentiment, tliat "'tis pleasing to do honour to those great 
men, whose virtues and generosity have contributed to the peopling 
of the earth, and to the freedom and happiness of mankind ; wh(» 
have preferred the interest of a remote posterity and times un- 
known, to their own fortune and to the quiet security of their own 
lives ! " 

Whether other men can so appreciate iiie exalted virtues and 



Colonial and Philadelphia Ilistm-y. 31 

beneficent intentions of oiir honoui-ed Ibmidor (in avIsosc just praise 
I have been led out beyond my original intentions,) I have 'ittle 
cared to consider. I saw traits in Jiis character to admire, r.jul as 
they Avon my regard and excited my feelings, I haxo occasioiially 
set them doM n. It is possible, I am aA\ are, to impute selfish mo- 
tives to the founder, by reviving (if they can be found.) the squibs 
and pasquinades of detractio.i o.ne propagated by adverse interests. 
This IS the tax which preciiiiiuMire must often pay to envy. Cotem- 
porary renown may often meet such assailants ; and posthumous 
tame is sometimes doomed to their revival for a season by the 
perverted or oblique sensibilities of some men's peculiar sympathies 
and natures:— Such may write with "just enough of candour 
thrown m to take off the appearance of illiberality and hostility, 
whilst the general impression would remain detractive. Little 
praise could be used as the means of rendering censure more i)oint- 
ed, and what was wanting in fact, could be supjdied by innuendo." 
But although an insci-utable providence had so overrnlei the 
closing events of Penn's eventful life, the reasonable expectation 
oi ciieering prosperity, so long withheld fj-om himself, fell laro-ely 
upon his posterity. His possessions in this country, as we'' all 
know, became of immense value to his succeeding generations 
>Vhen Penn made his will, in 1712, six years before his death it 
was estimated that his estate in Europe was wortli more tlian'all 
his province in point of actual product. In tiiat will he left his 
son Wilham heir of all his estate in England and Ireland This 
was his only son surviving by his first wife, Gulielma Sprin-ett 
His estate in Pennsylvania he left to his sons by his second wife* 
Hannah Callowhill, to wit: John, Thomas, Richard, and Dennis ~ 
all then minors. His wife, Hannah Penn, having been made his sole 
executrix, (a great woman in the management of business, as will 
be shown elsewhere,) she became in effect our governor, ruling us 
by her deputies, or lieutenant governors, during all tiie term of 
iier childi-en's minority. 

In tracing dow nward the succession of events, it falls in order 
tomention. that in 1717, Sir William Keith superseded governor 
ijrookm. Sir William continued in office till the year 17^6 and 
was very successful in cultivating and winning the popularity at 
which he chiefly aimed. This was quite a new thing in a denutv 
governor to accomplish. Hannah Penn, however, was displeased 
with him, because he chose rather to please tiie people by comnli 
ances of dubious propriety than to adhere to the interests and" 
wishes of his principal. His deceptive and flattering pretensions 
to young Benjamin Franklin are well known. 

Governor Gordon succeeded governor Keith in 1726, and am 

tmued in place till the year 1736. "' 

In 1732, the country was gratified with the arrival of Tliomis 

Penn, the second son by the second wife, and in 1734, his brother 

John J. enn, eldest son by the second wife, also arrived. He was 



32 Colonicd and Philadelphia History. 

called " the Pennsylvania born," and " the American, "—-having 
been born in Philadelphia at the time of Penn's second arrival, in 
1699. He never married, and died in 1746. After his death, his 
youngest brothers, Thomas and Richard, (Dennis being dead,) 
became sole proprietaries. 

In 1763, John Penn, (the son of Richard, last above named) was 
made Governor for the interests of his father and uncle Thomas. 
In this office he continued till 1775, when the war of independence 
dissevered this link of union with the founder in the person of his 
grandson. His brother, Richard Peim, was also in this country 
at that time: and not being under official obligations (like his 
brother, the Governor) to keep a seal upon his lips, he showed 
Ms wit among our whigs by telling them "they must now hang 
together or expect to be hung up by others!" 

The foregoing recitals, as the instructed reader will readily per- 
ceive, have only been designed as a brief outline-porti-ait of our 
general history. The object Avas to give some leading features, in 
their consecutive order, intended in some measure as an appropri- 
ate accompaniment to the numerous facts (wliich will follow under 
distinguishing heads) of incidents in our domestic history of 
Philadelphia and adjacent country, never before published or 

known. . ., , t i. 

In cases where authorities have not been otherwise cited, 1 have, 
in general, followed names and dates, or assumed the facts as I 
found them related in substance in Proud's Annals of Pennsylva- 
nia; or, in Smith's New Jersey. . 

To a considerate and reflecting mind it must be a matter ot just 
surprise, that Pennsylvania, and, I might add, the other colonies, 
should so rapidlv and progressively attain to riches, independence, 
and renown, notwithstanding the numerous and successive disas- 
trous events:— such as might be regarded, by the superficial, as 
quite sufficient to cripple and prevent the growth of the infant Her- 
cules. We can scarcely look into any period of colonial history, 
where we cannot find them struggling with what they deemed ad- 
verse circumstances ;— such as, low markets, want of currency, 
slow returns for debt, and loud contentions about deficiencies of 
public funds for national purposes. In New England they had In- 
dian wars to sustain. The colonies generally had to make large 
appropriations to aid the wars of the crown against the French and 
Indians in Canada and on the western frontiers, &c,— not to foi-- 
get the expensive and "glorious" expedition to Cape Breton. To 
these succeeded the waste and ravages of the war of the revolution. 
In all these measures the waste of treasure was immense : and yet 
the nation as a whole has gone on in quick and full bodily vigour 
to full-grown manhood,— even, as if none of tliose evils had ever 
existed to impede the grow th ! Nor are these all the disasters they 
encountered: — they actually lost, by depreciation, immense sums 
in a depreciated paper currency ; (for their practice was to issue 



Colonial and Philadelphia ffistory. 33 

a paper medium foi- iilmost every pressing emergency,) so tliat the 
abundance and worthlessness of continental money was itself a 
proverb. Our frequent commercial failures too, since the year 
1800, liave nearly ruined all the old and firmest houses of the 
country, and yet trade survives and flourishes, and tlie nation as a 
whole, IS in signal prosperity! Such a phenomenon migiit be im- 
puted to a special providence, resolved thus to exalt and establish 
us against probabUities and against hope! But it may not be amis^ 
to suggest sucli causes as appear to liavc been natural:— such 
as may in some good degree account for our surmounting so 
many apparent obstacles. They are generally these, to wit:— the 
seeming waste of money in furnishing supplies for the wars of the 
crown, as it never went out of the country still enriched such 
classes of the community as are usually the operatives for those 
\yho merely live to fight. Even the money often so paid was of 
the paper emission, and usually depreciated beyond redemption, 
which of course was a virtual relief of the national treasury. As 
it would never circulate abroad it afforded no means to foreio-ners 
to withdraw tliereby our substantial resources. If fortunes \'cre 
indeed lost to some by a sinking of paper money in their hands, it 
also aided otiiers to pay great purchases with small means, in the 
lorni of debts incurred. The rich sometimes sunk, and the poor 
sometimes rose. There was a change of relative condition,— but 
the usual required proi)ortio!i of the sons of toil to -he hewei-s of 
wood and drawers of water" to tlie self-indulgent and the dainty, 
was still the same. The whole transaction liaving been an entire 
tamily affair, altliough the sign of money often changed its cliarac- 
ter and produced eventful changes in the relations of the members 
ot the family, still the land and its improvements were theirs, and 
jould not he alienated from the whole as an entire people. In the 
mean tune, real substantial coin in great sums flowed into the 
country for the necessary purposes of i)aying off the crown oflicei-s 
and army, and these being expended in the country for the necessary 
commodities of the consumers, left a real wealth among us.* The 
very Indian wars too, althojigli expensive to the State, at the same 
time enriched the men who ministered to the campaigns. The 
lands too, so acquired by conquest, enriched the colonies by furnish- 
ing them the means to sell lands to the numerous emigrants arriv- 
ing with coin and substance from abroad. The constant influx of 
population as it gave a constant call for lands in the country, or 
tor lots and houses in the cities and towns for their accommodation, 
not to omit the consideration also of our own natural increase 
so it naturally tended to enhance all real estate ; and therefore, so 
many as have been holders of estates in town and country have 

aulTle^n?'^^''^^['H^"^'^ "Pennsylvania Ledger," printed at Philadelphia, under the 
auspices ot general Howe, contains m No. 122, of January 28, 1778, a detailed account ot 

No. SwITtUVi^y't'^r;"^ ''' """ '"^ "'""°^ "*■ ''"^^' «teriii.s.-. Vide Folio, 

G 



3,4 Colonial and Philadelphia Mistory. 

seen themselves enriclied from year to year even wliile they held 
onlv the same numerical quantities. The causes then, if I under- 
stand the subject, why we so rapidly rose, against so many unto- 
ward circumstances, to national and individual wealth, is chiefly 
imputable to our facilities in providing places for a rapidly in- 
creasing population, and their skill and industry in improving and 
enhancing their value by agriculture, manufactures, and traffic. 
An older country whose population was full, and whose improve- 
ments were at their utmost already, could not luive sustained our 
successive disasters, or have surmounted them triumphantly as we 

have done. ,. .^ , , p 

Those remarks, already over long, have been elicited by so ot- 
ten noticing tlie terms of despondency in which the early settlers 
of Philadelphia were accustomed to speak of their condition and 
prospects. There was a constant cry of w ant of money, where 
little existed,— of bad markets,— where heaven had most " blest 
tlieir store,"— of little value of lands and improvements,— where 
so much abounded, &c. They feared to invest capitals if they had 
them, even while the properties they actually held were progres- 
sively, though with small momentum, rising in value to their 
zenith. Thus, as late as the year 1700 to 1705, kc. we see such a 
man as Samuel Carpenter, who made the first and most numerous 
important improvements in Philadelphia and the country, selling 
them out in vexation and disappointment. James Logan's letters 
too, abound witli remarks of dissatisfaction at things as he found 
them:— especially in managing William Penn's affairs,— in col- 
lecting rents, — lUsposing of lands, — and in being deferred the pay 
for them. " They make my life (says he.) so uncomfortable, that 
it is not worth the living,"— and again, " I know not what any of 
the comforts of life are." As late as 22 years after the settlement 
(say in 1704) James Logan thus states the perplexities of things, 
to wit: *' Money is so scarce that many good farmers now scarce 
ever see a piece-of-eight of their own throughout the year,"— but 
although this could not prevent their fields to yield, and their 
cows to calve, and abundance of children to be warm clothed and 
well fed! the sad story is continued: ''What little there is of 
money is in town, and wheat for two years past has been worth 
very little." On another occasion he complains that " pay for 
land sold near New Castle to amount of 3000£. is due, and I liave 
received but 200£. and that in produce, nor will one halt of it 
ever be paid unless times should mend ; for the land, as in many 
other cases, will be cast back on our hands." ''The Susquehanna 
lands (says he) is much in tlie same state ; and I could have wished 
it had been a lake, ratlier than it should have ever been purchased 
for thee." In another place, he says, " last night W illiam Penn, 
jun'r. sold his manor on Schuylkill (now Norrington) to William 
Trent and Isaac Norris for 850^6. They were unwilling to touch 
it, for without a great prospect none will now meddle with land, — 



Colonial and Philaddphia History. 35 

but in his rase lie ^vas resolved to sell and leave the country.'* 
At the same time, William Ten)! exclaims in bitterness of soul, 
*• Oh. Pennsylvania, what hast thou cost me! — surely ahove 
30,000£. more than ever I got by thee!" But notwithstanding 
such discouraging feelings and prospects, the country, even while 
they slept, went on pi-ospering, and the interests which any 'of 
them retained in the land and its improvements, enriched their 
families. Labour produced fruitful fields, and that produced 
commerce, — these united, enriched all ; so that what was sown in 
bitterness, brought forth a fruitful and honied harvest to the rea- 
pers. 

In this was verified: '^ One hath sown and another hath reaped," 
— "Others entered into their labours!" — Yea, even we of this day 
are the happy partakers ! Seeing things so prosperous as we now do, 
— and, the march of empire siicli as we behold and enjoy, — we 
tlius apostrophise our sires, — 



■ Ye who toU'd 



Through long successive years to build us up 
A prosperous plan of state, behold at once 

The wonder done !" — — 

" Here cities rise amid th' illumin'd waste, 
O'er joyless deserts smiles the rural reign :— 
Far-distant flood tc flood is social join'd, 
And navies ride on seas that never foam'd 
With daring keel before !" 



3S 



FRAGMENTS 



« Colligltc fragmenta, ut non quid peveat ! " 

Scraps of ancient lore, he culls from ev'ry store. 

IT is intended, mthin the compass of the present article, to col- 
lect and arrange several items of a miscellaneous character, illus- 
trativc of our primitive liistory. The most of them liaving been de- 
rived fi-om Mrs. Logan's MS. selections, and now first meeting 
the public eye, will give them additional attraction. 

I take this occasion to acknowledge my obligations to my much 
valued friend for her generous indulgence, in allowing me freely to 
extract what I pleased from her valuable and voluminous selec- 
tions—in five volumes quarto— compiled from numerous files of pa- 
pers left by the honourable James Logan and by the kindred IN or- 
ris family. To the future historian of Pennsylvania they will tur- 
iiisli documents of much value ; and a grateful posterity will not 
fail to commend the kindness of the heart, and the untiring pa- 
tience of the head that has thijs usefully laboured for their infor- 
mation and entertainment. 

As most of the facts arc derived from the frankness and unrc 
serve of confidential letter correspondence, they will therefore par- 
take of the minds of the writers, and let us into the double reward 
of learning more intimately the characters of Logan, IS orris, 
Penn, iScc— for, as has been well observed, ^' there is nothing in 
general which can give a better opportunity of understanding a 
rtian's character, than those letters he never meant for the public 

eye." 

SALARIES TO OFFICERS, IN 1701. 

William Penn, in his letter of 1701, to James Logan, says,- - 
*'To colonel Hamilton, as deputy governor, give him 200£. per 
annum, of your money,— this, till I procure an approbation for 
him,— afterwards, let it be 300£. To John Moore, as the attorney- 
general- give 30£. a year. I hope the Assembly ^yill take these 
charges off my hands. Use your endeavours. Judge (J.) Guest 
experts 100£. a year;— I would give him 50i?. [James Logan 
was promised 200£, but he never took but 100£. because of Penn k 
ombaiTassments.] 



Primitive History. S7 

THE VALUE OF THE CUSTOMS. 

In William Pcnn's letter of 1701, he writes, ''This year the 
customs from Pennsylvania, for amount goods, amount to 8000£. 
Tlie year I arrived there, in 1699, it was but 1500£. — a good en- 
couragement for me and the counti-y. New York has not the half 
of it. [Tiiis is remarkahlc of a country then so murii older!] 
But oh, that we had a fur trade instead of a tobacco one. Fur is 
almost any price, — I would say, 16 shillings, — ay, 20 shillings.'* 



TOBACCO CULTIVATION. 

Tobacco was much cultivated about Philadelphia at fii'st, and 
much of it in the lower counties: — Penn's rents were chiefly paid 
in it. In 1702, eight vessels were loaded for England witli 80 to 
90 hogsheads each. 



FAIRMOUNT. 

William Penn, in 1701, in writing to James Logan, shows liis 
fancy for the scite of the present water works, and his intention to 
settle there if he returned, saying, ''My eye, though not my 
heai't, is upon Fairmount, unless the un worthiness of some spirits 
drive me up to Pennsbury or Susquehanna for good and all." He 
liad before projected and published a scheme of making another 
city and settlement on the Susquehanna. One of the Penns after- 
wards built and occupied a country-seat at Springettsbury, near 
to Fairmount. 



THE FACTION AGAINST PENN. 

These drove their opposition to Penn's interests to exti'emes. In 
1700, colonel Quarry, judge, and John Moore, advocate, of the 
admiralty, were the two ring-leaders. "The faction (says James 
Logan) had long contended to overtiirow the settled constitution of 
the government." At that time, David Lloyd, the attorney-gen- 
eral, (afterwards an opposition leader, although a Friend) defended 
the measures of Penn's administration. James Logan remarks 
on these ungenerous hostilities to their patron, that governor Penn 
*' was sometimes warm enough to inveigh highly against past pro- 
ceedings, not sparing several, in express words, that were con- 
cerned in them." Penn himself calls them "knavish and foolish 
enemies." It was a part of their regular business, as mal-contents, 
to send many idle and pernicious tales to England, and ajso to the 
government there. 



.■38 Primitive History. 

In 1702, James Logan thus writes of tliem, — '* Weare here uiir 
happily exposed to such malicious spies, wlio, sedulously to serve a 
dishonest cause, keep themselves constantly on the alert, and in 
their secret cabals dress up every trivial occurrence uito a mon- 
strous sliape of malfaisance; — the real subject of which is so 
slight, that the persons concerned scarce ever think of it more, 
until they hear it roar from some mighty court or committee 
there,'* — in England. 

In 1704-5, he says, *' Some in America, who were lost here in 
the crowd of theii* superiors, having got into power there, in 
feeling tlieir little eminency, think nothing taller than them- 
selves but their trees ! It might amend them to send them back to 
lose themselves again in the crowds of more considerable people !" 
[a cutting satire!] 

Parties and factions ran high in the time of Sir William Keitli, 
who promoted political divisions for his personal benefit. James 
Logan's letter to the proprietaries, of the year 1729, speaks of an 
intended mob or insurrection of about 200 people purposing to 
come in from the country with clubs, &c. and to be increased with 
sucli of the city as would join them, to overawe the Assembly, and 
to storm the government and council ! In the mean time, the Assem- 
bly proclaimed the riot act as in force, with the penalty of death 
annexed. Three or four score of the mob came next day near to 
the toM n's end, — but on hearing of the riot act they retired. Under 
a sense of such troubles, James Logan advises them, — even at that 
late day — to sell back to the crown ! 

In the 5th vol. of Mrs. Logan's selections is a long justification 
of 50 pages, by James Logan, of all his public measures, being in 
design a refutation of sundry malevolent accusations or insinua- 
tions prompted by the jealousy or bad motives of governor Keith. 
It is dated tiie 29th of September, 1709, and is addressed to the 
Assembly in the name of a remonstrance. It shows that much of 
the pervcrseness of David Lloyd in the Assembly, was caused by 
his personal pique against William Penn, — towards whom he acted 
apparently with much unfair dealing. It furnishes an ample por- 
trait of Lloyd's general character. =* 

In 1734, James Logan gives a general history of the state of the 
province, and of all its political divisions and cabals, it being a 
long letter of 24 pages to John Penn. — Vide vol. 5, page 174, of 
Mrs. Logan's MS. selection. It gives many characteristics of 
Andrew Hamilton, Esqr. to whom the Penns gave the Bush-hill 
estate for useful legal services and benefits. 

*In the year 1774, John Reed, of Philadelphia, published a book of 60 pages, 8vo. 
avowedly to illustrate his large map of city lots. It would seem he had hostilities to the 
Penn interest here, and intended to weaken their titles. His book is very deficient in 

Eerspicuity,even hard to be understood ; — ^but he has revived some buried scandals, taken 
•om minutes of the early Assemblies — such as reproaching Penn, — " With thy unheard of 
abuses to thy purchasers, &c. in pretending to give them a town, and then by unconscion- 
able quit rents make it worse by tenfold than a purchase ; not only so, the very land the 
town stands upon is not cleared of the Swedes' claims." 



Primitive History. i39" 

EMBARRASSMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT. 

There was, from and after Penu's departure fi'om his colony, in 
1701, a constant and violent opposition party to the administration 
of the government. It was chiefly got up and sustained hy colonel 
Quarry of the customs, John Moore, and David Lloyd, — all of 
whom had received personal favours and ohligations from the 
founder. The leading grounds of their opposition were these, — 
to wit: — an unwillingness to provide an income for governor Penn 
or his oflicers :* — creating emharrassments in the courts respecting 
oaths and affirmations ; — and making representations to the crown 
officers to induce them to put down a proprietary government, and 
to place tiiem immediately under the crown. I shall illustrate 
these positions by facts from the letters of James Logan, — premi- 
sing from liim a few words from his description of David Lloyd, 
the Friend above named, — to wit: ^' a close member among Fi-iends, 
he is a discordant in their meetings of business, — so much so, that 
he expects (in 1 707) a separation and a purging. This arises out 
of divisions in the government,— the young push for rash mea- 
sures, — the old for Penn's interest." 

In 1703, James Logan says, "Some of the opposition pretend 
to an authority from the lords of trade to inspect our actions, and 
use it to no other end than to perplex and disturb our government ; 
— and surely we are in a miserable case if no care be taken of us 
from home but for our distraction, — and none be employed among 
us but our professed adversaries. Notwithstanding their demurs 
to the oaths and affirmations made in our courts, and actually 
according to the queen's order, we shall hold our courts in sj)ite of 
all their endeavours and study to our ruin." 

On another occasion he remarks, '* We are reduced to great 
straits when all are disabled from serving the government, but 
such whose profession too much removes them from our interests. 
I believe it will be scairely possible to administer it here long un- 
der thee, unless we can find a new set of people!" 

Jonathan Dickinson, in 1715, \M'ites, that " our laws are mostly 
come back repealed, — among which was our law of courts and 
manner of giving evidence, whereupon we have no courts, nor ju- 
dicial proceedings these two years past!" Isaac Norris too, t!ius 
\M'ites, ^' Things among us pretty well, — nothing very violent 
yet, but in civil affairs all stop. We have no courts, — no justice 
administered, — and every man does what is right in his own eyes !" 
James Logan at the same time remarks, '' That the disallowance 
of the affirmation act, and repeal of the laws for courts, put a stop 
to all proceedings and so weakened the hands of the Magistrate 
that the public grew rampant, and wickedness was bold and open. 
Amobbish disposition encouraged, — and the weaker and more sober 

* Much will be seen elsewhere on this subject, as matter of strong complaint on the 
part of Penu. 



40 Primitive History. 

people affriglitetl, it is admitted, by every member of note among 
other }>ersuasions, that it is impossible to liold courts and carry 
on t!ic administration of justice without Quakers, who are s» 
numerous a part of the community." 

A sober and considerate perusal of all the papers which remain 
at this day on the subject of Penn's government, could not fail to 
convince the reader, that the structure of colonial governments in 
general must have been of the most perplexing and vexatious kind. 
They remind one of wranglesome children — perpetually plotting, 
and counterplotting against each other, — ''destroying others, by 
themselves destroyed !" — each carrying their complaints and re- 
monstrances back to the distant parents in England, — and they, 
equally perverse, rescinding and counteracting the efforts of the 
children to become their own masters ! Americans, to be now duly 
sensible of the value of their liberation from such harrassing thral- 
dom, should go back to the perusal of those voluminous paper* 
which contain the facts so constantly afflictive to our forefathers J 



CIVIL GOVERNMENT, EMBARRASSING TO FRIENDS. 

The Friends, who generally held a majority in the civil rule of 
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, found themselves more and more 
embarrassed as mixed population increased. They had difficulties 
in serving in judicial offices where oaths were required, and also in 
providing public defence against enemies. The feuds and animosi- 
ties raised against Friends in the Assembly were very high, and 
went on increasing from 1701 to 1710. War with France oc- 
cui-red in the interval. A Fi-ench privateer plundei-ed Lewes" 
town, — and several of them plundered and burnt vessels in tlie 
bay. In 1709, the city of Pliiladelphia was got into high commo- 
tion for a defence. "' The hot church party" were all in favour of 
it. The people petitioned the queen for defence, and objected at 
the same time to tlie passive principles of the Friends as unfit for 
civil rule, &c. When I have seen so much correspondence as I have, 
in that day, on that subject, and have witnessed how perplexed the 
Friends were with their unruly charge, — made up of many nations 
and many minds, — I have thought them (to use a liomely domes- 
tic figure.) not unlike the perplexed hen with her duck-dnckcns, 
which perpetually counteract her nature by taking to the water, 
and leaving her in embarrassment and distress! If they governed 
for a while, retaining therein their religious views, it was still a 
daily work of shifts and expedients to keep the approbation of 
other sects. It was, as Doctor Johnson says, *' like a dog who 
walks upon his hinder legs ; — he does not walk well, but we ai*e 
surprised he walks at all !" 

James Logan, in speaking of these facts, in 1709, says, "The 
clamours and abuses from such men to the Friends in government 



Primitive Hiatory. 41 

tires theiB aud makes tliciii weary of the load. When the qiieeu 
asks for our quota for Caiuuhi, Friends know not how to art or 
how to refuse, seeing that all the other colonies contrihute more 
than is required." 

Isaac Norris, in 1709-10, speaking of these facts, says, *' Those 
of the churcli grew very uneasy and mnieighbourly in their expres- 
sions, because of tiie defenceless situation of the place. They are 
for a coercive law, that all may be obliged to bear arms, or else 
they will do nothing. They nianage this craftily, in order to lay 
Friends aside in government, — the holding of a place in which, is 
extremely diihcult to Friends, and we can hardly judge which has 
the worst prospect, — whether to hold it under such difficulties as 
daily fall in the way, or, to resign it to some men who are of no 
honourable principles. Embari-assed and discordant as we are. 
I often think of the frogs' petition to Jupiter, and fear it must be a 
Governor immediately from the crown that nnist set us to rights. 
We are a mixed people, who all claim a right to use their own way. 
Some Friends still in places and offices that cannot be exercised 
without great difficulties and sometimes full stops, — so that a very 
great hardship falls upon the Assembly. To me it seems imprac- 
ticable to do any thing that Avill please and hold!" 

In another place, to James Logan, he saj s, '* We say our prin- 
ciples are not destructive or repugnant to civil government, and 
will admit of free liberty of conscience to all, yet, to me it appears, 
(although I get into a labyrinth when I turn my thoughts that way,) 
to be concerned in govej'nment and hold them, we must either be 
independent and entirely by ourselves, or, if mixed, partial to our 
own opinion, and not allow to otliers what we desire from them !" 

To illustrate some of the difficulties, supposed to exist in civil 
matters because of the religious objections of Friends to oaths, I 
give the following facts — to wit: 

In 1703, William Penn writes, that --tlic lords of trade spake 
to me of the insufficiency of the goverinnent of Pcnnsyh ania, — 
saying, the first of the council was not able to register ships, ad- 
minister an oath, or perform some other i'e([uisites: but I told them 
this could not hinder government, while three or four of the coun- 
cil were churchmen, and of age and experience, — and no matter 
who of the council transacted them, so that they were qualified to 
do it ; — and yet, by our constitution, our Friends were so: — besides, 
I told them it was not to be thought that a colony and constitution, 
made by and for Quakers, would leave themselves, and their lives 
and fortunes, out of so essential a part of government as juries: — 
nay more, that we would not have gone thither to be so precarious 
in our security as to be deemed incapable of being jurymen, — if so, 
that the coming of others shall overrule us who are the originals 
and made it a country.'* 

On one occasion, stated by James Logan, the Grand Jui*y being 
summoned of such as could swear, it was found the number present 
H 



42 Primiiivc History, 

were iiisuflicient. ^' On the shcrifTs calling for more out of the 
tales, one and another, heing offered the oath, declined it, some for 
one reason, and some for another. The design evidently was by 
those factious persons who contend for nothing more than our con- 
fusion. They would herein prevent all things that might take 
away occasion of complaint against us, and they hoped the delay 
of Justice might prove a great one!'* 

On another occasion it happened, that, only three of the five 
judges being present, and those only who could swear, ''they ad- 
ministered an affirmation according to law, wliich gave cause of 
many discourses among the discontented. But through these 
men's restless endeavours, it is found extremely difficult fully to dis- 
charge the duties of government incumbent on us ; — they taking 
all advantages of throwing in our way whatever may perplex us, 
by reason of oaths, and such other things as are inconsistent \vith 
the principles of most of us: — besides, that many thihgs occur in the 
administration according to the law of England, as well as immu- 
nities by our own law, which cannot well be executed by men of 
our profession. Such objections against us, being wliatthey daily 
coui't, when, by their endeavours, they by any means bring them 
to bear, they greedily lay hold of them." 

William Penn, in reply to these and similar statements, makes a 
remark, in 1704, saying, "I am grieved to think that you ever 
gave way to any other affirmation tlian that appointed by law in 
the province, by which you have given away a most tender point, 
not easily recoverable. My regard to the queen is known almost 
to partiality ; but I shall never obey her letters against laws, into 
which she may be drawn by interested persons." 

J ames Logan was never averse to measures for protection, — i. e. 
for just defensive war; and there is reason to infer that Penn him- 
self and some other Friends were of the same opinion. The idea 
gained ground as the colony increased, and therefore members 
were often found in the Assemblies, of the Friends' Society, who, in 
the opinion of '' the most straitest" of the sect, were too lax in 
their discipline of '' testimony," &c. We find, therefore, that such 
a public Friend as John Cluu'chman deems himself called to ex- 
press his disapprobation of their public callings generally, as too 
exposing, in its general tendency, for tender minds, — and about the 
same time, the year 1758, we see a warning voice from "The 
Watchman," by a Friend, in the Pennsylvania Journal, wherein 
he says, *' From the moment we Friends began to lose sight of our 
original institution, we erred greatly : for, when wc saw so much 
corruption interwoven in the aft\;irs of this world, wc were unfit to 
be concerned in them, and should have rested satisfied on a depen- 
dence on the arm of the Lord, and what protection the laws of our 
country would have given us. But we must needs have that power 
in our own hands ; and having so exceeded their native modei*ation 
and self-command, they knew no bounds, — they grasped at more. 



Primitive Histonj. 4j 

by which means the life of our old and respected friend and s;o\- 
crnor William Pcnn, was made a life of trouble. I.et us r< turn 
to our original plan, and leave the concerns of this world entirely 
to the men of this world !" 



PENN'S SURRENDER TO THE CROWN. 

It may be interesting, at this day, to possess some certain facts 
respecting Penn's intended surrender of the province back to the 
crown. Tlie following extracts will show how very i-eluctantly 
he fell upon such an expedient of relieving himself, both from op- 
posing colonists and carking creditors. It will aj)pear too as a 
measure having the previous sanction of his friends here. 

James Logan, in 1701-2, in writing to William Penn, says, 
" It is generally believed here that the war will oblige the Parlia- 
ment to carry on that act of annexing the colonies to the crown, 
for their better security and defence ; nor can I find any, even of 
thy friends, desirous that it should be otherwise, provided thou 
canst make good terms for thyself and them ; for they seem weary 
and careless on government." 

In 1702, James Logan thus remarks, " I cannot advise against 
a bargain with the crown, if to be had on good terms for thyself 
and the people. Friends here, at least the generality of the best 
informe(l, think government at this time (tiien at war.) so ill fitted 
to their principles, that it renders them very indifferent in that 
point. Privileges, they believe, such as might be depended on for 
a continuance both to thee and them, with a moderate Governor, 
would set thee much more at ease, and give thee a happier life as 
proprietor — besides, that it would exempt them from the solicitude 
they are under, botli from their own impotency and the watchful- 
ness of enemies." 

In the next year (1703) William Penn replies, "I am actually 
in treaty with the ministers for my government, and so soon as it 
bears you shall be informed of it. 1 believe it repents some [then 
there] that they began it, [as his enemies] for now it is I that press 
it upon pretty good terms, kc. But this shall never weaken my 
love to and residence in Pennsylvania ; and so I command, by will, 
my posterity, saying, ''I desire they may settle — as Jaco*b's sons 
did — in good part in America, where I leave them inheritance from 
generation to generation." 

In 1704 James Logan again WTites, saying, ''such is the confu- 
sion here, that if thou canst make a good bargain for thyself 'tis 
wliat thy best friends will advise. I see notliing here that should 
incline thee to defer good terms one hour after they are offered." 

In 1712 William Penn writes, that "the government and I have 
agreed as to the surrender, but not yet formally executed on both 
sides ; but I hope in a month or two to dispatch it." About the 



44 Primitive History, 

same time he again writes, saying, "Instead of seven years for 
20,000£, reduced to 16,000£. and I hope the Lord, T. will, at 
12,000de. in four years, pay me." 

In the succeeding year (1713)his wife writes that '^she is con- 
cerned that her liusband's health is so precarious that he is now un- 
able to new model the important affiiir of the surrender, which she 
is advised, by all her friends, to get finished and confirmed by act 
of Parliament before it is too late.'^ I purpose, says she, to get a 
copy of it for my own and friends' satisfaction." She afterwards 
says, that the answer :^he got, Avas, that her husband "might have 
long since finished it, had he not insisted too much on gaining priv- 
ileges for the people." 

In 1715, she says, that "Thomas Story has looked into that co 
py, and thinks with others there is as much care taken for keeping 
the lower counties, and confirming tlie people's privileges, as can be 
at all expected ; and therefore, all wish it could be accomplished 
on so good a footing as it was then like to be done. It is now un- 
der the consideration of chancellor West and the trustees, who are 
desirous to forward it. But as the Parliament has much in hand, 
>ve are not come to a resolution whether to lay it before them now or 
not." Thomas Story, soon afterwards, Avrites, that "the surren- 
der was passed, and things fully concluded between the late queen 
and the proprietor,— so there was not any tiling so unsettled as to 
make any legal alteration ; but tlie proprietor and government re- 
main the same still ; but it cannot now be perfected without an act 
of Parliament." — a thing of course never effected ! 



PENN'S TITLE TO THE LOWER COUNTIES. 

As the lower counties, which were once apartof Penn's province, 
resolved to secede or withdraw themselves, nolens volcns, from the 
union, I here preserve some facts respecting his claim, to wit : 

William Pemi, in 1704. says, "Thepeopleof the territories did. 
by their address to the king and duke, (of York) highly exjiress 
theii' satisfaction in me and their union witli the upper counties, 
(and whicli was indeed their seeking) returning their humble thanks 
to both for sending tliem so kiijd a landlord and so good a Gover- 
nor, and tlierefoi-e, to Quarry's foul practices and to the protection 
he brags there that he lias here, (with tlie lords) I owe that great 
defection wliich those poor people have been led into of late." 

In 1713, Hannah Penn, in behalf of her husband, writes, "I found 
a gi-ant from queen Mai-y, signed by her own hand, in which she 
declares or owns my husband to be true and rightful proprietor of 
the lower counties and New Castle — and I believe there is, or will 
he easily got, a sufficient title to it." 

In 1717, when the Earl of Southerland was endeavouring to ob- 
tain a grant of the counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, from 



Primitive History. 45 

the crown, James Logan resists his pretention by an essay to prove 
that they were always esteemed a part of New York colony. He 
refers to the statement of the claims of the two jiroprictors, Lord 
Baltimore and William Penn, saying, tliat " although the title of the 
latter is not expressly mentioned, it is there shown, from Doctor Hey- 
lin's Cosmography, (a work now in the Friends' Library) whoso 
first editions are ancient, that Nieu Noderlandt extended to the 
westward and southward of Dela\A are river and bay,— that the 
Dutch had planted the western side of it, and built two towns on it, 
VIZ. Whoorkill, now Lewes; and Sandt-hook, now Mew Castle ;— 
that this river, being taken by the English from tlie Dutch in 1665 
together with New Amstel and tbe Noord Riviere,— now New 
York and Hudson,— altogether as one country, known by the gen- 
eral name of Nieu Noderlandt, came, therefore, under the go\?rn- 
ment of the Duke of York, whose right to the western side of the 
Delaware was fully submitted to by all the Dutcli and settlers 
amongst tliem :— and, when retaken by the Dutcli, and conquered 
a second time, by tbe English, it returned to its former subiectiok 
to the Duke." [Note— - All titles to land upon the river and bay 
from Upland (now Chester) to the cape, were therefore held from 
the New York government."] 

In 1726, diligent search, says James Logan, was made amonff 
the records at New Castle, to find facts respecting the Dutch claims 
and government aforetime on the Delaware ; but they could find 
only a minute of their court, which said, tliat all the old records 
were sent to New York. At the same time he also searched the 
records of Sussex, and procured some facts. He sent his clerk to 
Williamsburgh, Virginia, to search the records tliere, cspeciallv for 
the treaty between the Dutch government and that of Virginia 
But tliey had them not,— probably because they may have^been 
burnt in the burning down of their tovni-liouse and divers old pa- 
pers, many years since, at Jamestown. The search was also final- 
ly made at New York with but little effect, although the conies 
there taken cost 30£.# He says lie is sorry the records of New 
York do not afford better proofs of the settlement of this river or 
bay by the Dutch before the year 1632,— the date of the gra«t for 
Maryland. A particular account of it is copied in governor Stuv- 
vesant's letters to colonel Nichoils, but it is solely on his word 
There was also a copy of a prohibition to the Swedes between the 
years 1630 and 1640. He thinks the Dutch were particular in 
sending home full accounts to the Company at Amsterdam, but 
careless of preserving those at home. [Those papers were all re- 
quired m the disputed case of Lord Baltimore's boundarie.s, and the 
Jacts above were ^^Titten to the proprietai-ies.] 

When New Castle and the lower counties were delivered by the 
Duke of York s agent to William Pemi, it was done formally by 



46 Primitive HiMory. 

delivery of turf and water \-2^ fit subject for an historical painting. 

The Duke's deed of sale is dated the 20th of August, 1682. 

Fenwick's island formed the outer cape, named Hmlopen, and 
the inner one was named Cornelius. An old man, in 1739, showed 
the original boundary with Lord Baltimore, it having been marked 
with b?ass nails drove into a tree, still standing on Fenwicks 



island. 



In 1708, James Logan states some reasons why New Cast e did 
not prosper as the inhabitants there wished, as rivals to Philadel- 
Dhia saying, "the unhealthincss of the place, and the disorderly 
way 'of living among the people has been tlie cause why it is;not now 
r.ch more considerable than it was thirty years ago.# To make 
that town flourish tliey fell upon the expedient to separate t^ - 
lower counties from the province, and to make it a seat of govein- 
ment;-but notwithstanding, the inhabitants below have still 
diosen to bring theii- trade to Philadelphia, rather than to stop 
?Lre or have any thing to do with it." Much of tins scheme was 
projected and conducted by Jasper Yeates and J. Coutts. A pre- 
vioTdesire to separate was expressed as early as 1702, and much 
effort was then made to that end. 

^ > 

PRIMITIVE COMMERCE. 

Isaac Norris, in a letter to William Pemi, i» !'«[' «^P' ^l^*^ 
province consumes, annually, of produce and merchandise of Eng- 
land 14 to 15,000£. sterling. The direct returns were in tobacco, 
furs and skins. The indirect arc in provisions and produce, via 
West Indtra^^ the southern colonies. In 1706, about 800 hogs- 
hlads of tobacco went from Philadelphia, and about 25 to 30 tons 

""^wlm^nPenn himself was. concerned in a great many shijimeiits 
to and from Pennsylvania. For the most part tl^^^J^f "l^^^^ 
as measures for best conducting his remittances. T^e etteis be- 
tween him and James Logan are numerous on this ^''^i^^^' J^^^"^ 
was too scarce to procure it. Penn was at first averse from m- 
^irance, saying, -I am tender (in conscience as to ms"rance. If 
the vessel arrives I shall consider it an engaging providence." In 
after times, however, he admitted his partners to insure lor him. 
In 1704, James Logan, speaking of their joint losses, says, -thy 
success 'at sea is s'o very discouraging, tl-t I should ne.^^^^^^^ 
willing to be concerned more this way:-and William Trent, mIio 
has hitherto been a partner in most of thy losses, almost protes s 
against touching with any vessel again where a proprietary holds 

"" ^S^amuel Carpenter, in a letter of 1708, to Jonathan Dickinson, 

* Edmundson's Journal speaks of being at this place (nela>yaretown) in 1 672, and th«t 
then the Dutch and Fins were very intemperate. 



Primitive Histonj. 47 

tlius speaks ol' their cmbarrassmciits of trade, saying, ** I am glad 
thou didst not come this summer, for craft from Martinico and 
several other privateers have been on our coast, and captured 
many. Our vessels here have been detained some time in fear of 
the enemy, and now by tliis conveyance to Jamaica, tliey are hurry- 
ing off 16 vessels to join convoy at the capes under the York 
(meaning from New York) man of vai*." 

It was usual then to have several owners in one vessel and cargo, 
so as to divide, as much as possible, their risks. I give here a 
specimen, from a bill of outfits of a Philadelphia vessel in 1708-9, 
in which were sixteen distinct and separate divisions of eight 
ownerships in the "ship Mary Galley," — her total expenses were 
415£. and William Poole (tlie ship carpenter, who dwelt and built 
ships at Poole's bi'idge) held a sixteenth share. I abstract the 
following prices, to wit : — negroes, for days work in clearing the 
hold, two shillings and six pence per day, — board of cook and otliers, 
per week, 8 shillings, — a barrel of pork, 70 shillings, — staves, 60 
ihillings per thousand, — wood, at 9 shillings per cord. 

CO^CLUSIOM 

We have seen from the foregoing pages, that tlie lords of trade 
had a most busy surveillance of our affairs. Their intimate 
knowledge of which, and their ample records, if now consulted, 
might cast much light upon our infant history. This idea should 
be improved by some of our future historians. That board was insti- 
tuted, in 1671, on purpose to keep up a keen insjjection and jealous 
check of all the British colonics. They therefore sustained an 
active correspondence with the several plantations, and required 
frequent communications and exposes of the events transpiring 
there. We know it to have been tlic fact in our case, that many 
secret reports, both good and ill, were made to them, — both from 
the Governors and authorities among us, and also from tlie disaf- 
fected, wlio thus laboured to frustrate tlie common purposes of the 
country. Evelyn's memoirs show, as he was a member of that 
board of trade, the kind of machinery they employed against us 
as colonies. 

Another fruitful source of facts for our history may be expected 
to be obtained, some day, of the Penn family at Stoke Pogis ; for 
I am well assured by an eye witness, that all of the primitive 
papers are regularly folded, endorsed and labelled, but not now 

permitted to be used by the present owner, John Penn, Esqr he 

alleging that he reserves them for designs of his own. 

Besides these might be added the fact, that in our own archives 
at Harrisburg are many records and MS. volumes, which mighl 
reward the diligence of a competent explorer. There are there, 
early minutes of the council, minutes of the first Assemblies, kc. 
which might amuse as well as edify. It is believed that many 



48 Frimitivc History. 

early papers and records of the city, pei-haps as far down as to the 

Revolution, are irretrievably gone. J. P. N , Esqr. and 

others, informed me they were in the possession of judge Shippen, 
and were put in his garret. After liis death, Mrs. L. his daugh- 
ter, (now in New York) regarding them as mere lumber, allowed 
them to be burnt.* 

Besides tl»e foregoing depots, where facts may one day be dis- 
closed, it is desirable tliat common readers who w ish to cherish 
an inquiring mind respecting the rise and progress of their country, 
should be apprised of the titles of numerous ancient publications in 
our City Library, and the Library of the American Philosophical 
Society, which, if consulted, might considerably enlarge their 
knowledge of our country. To many readers who never thought 
much on the subjects the very titles would awaken some concern t« 
look into them. From many I select the following 

CATALOGUE OF ANCIENT PUBLICATIONS, 

Illustrative of our early History, in the Philaiklphia Library, to wit.- 

Plain Truth ; or, Considerations on the present state of Philadelphia, 
1747. 8vo. 

An answer thereto, — is called, Necessary Truth ; or, Seasonable Con- 
siderations for the Inhabitants of Philadelphia. Philadelphia, 1748. Bvo. 

Clear and Certain Truths relating to the present crisis, as well the truly 
pious Christian as others. By a simple tradesman. Germantown, 
printed by C. Sower, 1747. _ 

A short Apology for Plain Truth, in a letter from a thu'd tradesma* 
m Philadelphia to his friend in the country. 1748. 

Proposals for Trade and Commerce in New Jersey, 1717. 4to. 
No. 465. ^ . , , . 

Strictures on the Philadelphia Meschianza ; or, Tnumph upon leaving 
America unconquered. Philadelphia, 1780. 12mo. 

A letter from Sir William Keith, Governor, to James Logan. Phila- 
delphia, 1725. 12mo. 

A serious Address to such of the Inhabitants of Pennsylvania as con- 
nived at the massacre of the Indians at Lancaster. Philadelphia, 1764. 

An Answer to an invidious pamphlet, entitled, " A Brief State of the 
Province of Pennsylvania," wherein the conduct of the Assemblies is 
considered. London, 1755. 8vo. 

A true and impartial state of the Province of Pennsylvania, being a 
full answer to the pamphlets, entitled, " A Brief State of the Province 
of Pennsylvania," and « A Brief View of the conduct of Pennsylvania." 
Philadelphia, 1759. 

Charles Reed's letter to John Ladd, Esqr. concerning the massacre 
of the Indians in Lancaster. Philadelphia, 1764. 8vo. 

A state of the case of Rebecca Richardson, respecting a house and 
lot in Philadelphia. No. 1572. 8vo. 

*Dunlap's Memoir says, Joseph Shippen, the Secretary, only gave up his books, ami 
withheld the documents of his office. 



Primitive History. 49 

Plantagenet's New Albion, in the Loganian Library, is a rare work, and 
Gontains the earhcsi facts concerning New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 
London, 16t8. 

The Flam Dealer; or. Remarks on Quaker politics. Philadelphia, 1764. 

An Address to the inhabitants of Pennsylvania, in answer to Plain 
Dealer. 

An Inquiry into the nature and necessity of a paper currency. 1729. 

Remedies proposed for restoring the sunk credit of Pennsylvania. 
1721. 

Smith and Gibbon's Remonstrance, showing the distress of the frontier 
inhabitants. Philadelphia, 1764. 

Beatty's Journal of a two month's tour, with a view of promoting reli- 
gion among the frontier inhabitants of Pennsylvania. London, 1 768. 8vo. 

An Account of the first settlement of Virginia, Maryland, New York, 
New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, by the English. London, i735. 4to. 

A Council held at Philadelphia, August, 1744, with the Uelawares. 

The History of the Bucaniersof America. Dublin, 1741. 5th Edition, 

An Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pennsyl- 
vania from its origin. London, 1759. 8vo. 

The British Empire in America, and state of the Colonies from 1710 
to 1741. London, 1741. 8vo. 

Novae Sucioe seu Pennsylvaniae in America, descriptio Stockholmise, 
1702. 4to. (in the Swedish language.) 

Histoire der Buc«aniers of Vry-buyters van America, met figuuren. 
T' Amsterdam, 1700. 4to. 

Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the Pro- 
vince of Pennsylvania, from October 4th, 1682, to September 26th, 
1776. 18 vols, folio. 

A two year's Journal in iVew York and part of its territories in Amer- 
ica. London, 1701. 12mo. 

Douglass' Summary, historical and political, of the first planting, pro- 
gressive improvements of the British settlement in North America. 
Boston, 1749, and London, 1760. 

Johnson's General History of the Pirates, from their rise and settle- 
ment in Providence to the present time, by Charles Johnson. 4th Edit. 
London, 1726. 

Sir William Keith's (Governor of Pennsylvania,) history of the British 
plantations in America, with a Chronological account of the most 
remarkable things which happened to the first adventurers. Part I. con- 
taining the history of Virginia, Sec. London, 1738. 8vo. 

The Library of the American Philosophical Society, at Philadelphia^ 
contains the following books, to wit: 

Several books, by various writers, respecting the massacre of Indians 
at Lancaster. 1763. 

MS.— Narrative, by John Watson, of the Indian Walk, being a pur- 
chase of land made of the Indians in Pennsylvania. 1756. 

MSS. — Copies of Records concerning the early settlements on the 
Delaware river.— 1st. English Records from 1614 to 1682.— 2d. Dutch 
I 



50 Frimitive History. 

Records, from looO lo 1656, — extracted from the archives of the State 
of Pennsylvania, by Redmond Conyngham, Esqr. 

MS. copies of Swedish Records, concerning the colony of New Swe- 
den, (now Pennsylvania and Delaware,) obtained from the archives of 
the Swedish government at Stockholm, by Jonathan Russell, Esqr. 
(Swedish and French.) 

MS. — The original cash book of William Penn, containing the entries 
of his expenses from 1699 lo 1703, — kept by James Logan. 

MS. — The original rough Minutes of the Executive Council of Penn- 
sylvania, from 1700 to 1716,— from the papers of James Logan. 

Extracts from the original Minutes of the Executive Council of 
Pennsylvania, from 1748 to 1758, — extracted by Thomas Sargent, Esqr 
Secretary of State. 

A brief History of the charitable scheme for instructing poor Ger- 
mans in Pennsylvania, printed by B, Franklin, 1755. 

Several pamphlets of 1764, of Philadelphia, of controversy — ^for and 
against the Quakers, whose ascendancy in the Assembly was disliked by 
some. 

The conduct of the Paxton men impartially represented. 1764. 

Besides the foregoing, there are several works, giving historical and 
descriptive accounts of America, or of particular provinces, from their 
settlement.— Several written by Europeans in the 17th and ISth centui'ies. 

In the Cambridge Library, Massachusetts, there is a German pamph- 
let, 12mo. of 44 pages, printed at Memmingen, by Andrew Seyler, 1792 ; 
the title of which is "• A Geographical, Statistical description of the 
Province of Pennsylvania, by Fr. Daniel Pastorius, in an extract, (" Im 
Auszug") with notes." It contains several facts from 1683 to 1699, 
with an account of the Indians, Sec. that would much illustrate our early 
history. Pastorius was a sensible man, and a scholar, who lived during 
the above time in Germantown, as chief Magistrate there. 

The New York Historical Society has reprinted some of Holme's 
>' New Swedeland," from the Stockholm edition. 

Graydon's Memoirs of a life of 60 years in Pennsylvania, — Ed. 1811. 
—is a book to be particularly recommended to the perusal of Philadel- 
phians. It contains much of the local and domestic history of the town 
at and after the period of the Revolution, and affords a pleasing prooi 
of good humour and good feelings of an aged gentleman, in the review 
of the incidents of his early life. The present generation know scarcely 
any thing of the past transactions which his book presents with thr 
charm of good reading. 



■^\ 



THE 



-I trace thy tale 



To the dim point where records fail. 



IT should be grateful to a contemplative and feeling mind, es- 
pecially to a descendant of the pilgrim settlers of Philadelphia, to 
revive in the imagination such picturesque and scenic pictures, as 
may give to the mind's eye the striking incidents of that eventful 
period. 

We need not resort to fiction '^to adorn our moral or to point 
our tale;" for, facts, scattered throughout the following pages, 
will amply sustain tlie primal scene herein attempted. 

We arc to transport the fancy back to tlie original scite of Coa- 
quanock, — so called ft'on» its border line, along the margin of the 
river bank, of lofty spruce-pines, rivalling in majesty the adja- 
cent common wood-land foliage of oaks and underbrush ; — thus giv- 
ing to the place a peculiarity and rarity, even in the eyes of 
the untutored savage, wliich lovers of the marvellous might now 
regard as something propitious. * There we must see the busy land- 
ing of families from tiie anchored barks, and witness tiieir chasten- 
ed joy at once more feeling theii' conscious tread on terra frma, — 
then a gravelly strand basing the front of the precipitous river 
banks. There their pious minds felt solemn emotions of gratitude 
and praise to Him. beneath whose eye their voyage had sped — 
their hearts teiulered, tliey knelt, and praised, and prayed ! f 

The beholder might then innocently smile to sec the unskilled 
efforts of men, women and children, scrambling up the acclivity to 
attain the level of the elevated platform. The river banks then, 
like the woody banks at "the Bake-house" now,— near Poquesiiik 
creek — 

« all shagg'd with wood, 

Where twisted roots, in many a fold, 
Through moss, disputed room for hold." 

* The Indians called it Quequcnaku ; which means, the " grove of tall pines." This, for 
sake of euphony, we have contracted into Coaquaiiock. Such pines among other forest- 
tpees is an admitted rarity. The Astrological signs of Philadelphia, hy Taylor, will be giv- 
en in another place. He says : 

" A city, built with such propitious rays, 

Will stand to see old walls and happy days." 

t The wife of the Governor, Thomas Lloyd, as soon as she landed, knelt down, and earn- 
estly prayed the blessings of heaven on the future colony. 



52 The Primitive Settlement. 

Such impediments overcome, they gathered heiieath the dark 
ever-greens : — there they meet tlie welcome sahitations of the red 
natives, — both in mutual wonder stand, and ruminate, and gaze. — 
Then the exploring eye, ranging on objects all around, beholds 
behind them interminable woods and hanging grape vines, &c. 
— '' a boundless contiguity of shade," — and below tliem, on the lim- 
pid stream, their own ships amid the paddling canoes of the In- 
dians. All has the air of novelty and surprise. Their spirits feel 
many stirring emotions : — joy for safe arrival, — a lively sense of 
inhaling a new and genial air, so necessary after tlie restrictions 
and sickness of sea life : — even a momentary sadness might agitate 
the bosom from the sense that they were devoid of all the wonted 
accommodations and comforts of former home and civilization; 
but the prevalent sense of escape from "woful Europe," was an 
antidote, always at hand, to repress any murmurings. 

Sustained by a predetermined courage to subdue all difficulties, 
and animated by future hopes of domestic comforts and of social 
prosperity and happiness, all join in a ready resolution to give 
mutual aid to every enterprise foi* individual or general benefit. 
Huts and caves are promptly resolved on as of paramount consid- 
eration. To this object, trees and underwood must be levelled. 
At the moment of such a beginning, we can readily imagine that 
some pious leader, like christian David at the first settlement of 
his christian community, strikes his axe into the first tree, exclaim- 
ing, •' Here hath the sparrow found an house and the swallow a nest 
for himself, even thine altars, O Lord God of Hosts!" Here in the 
^' sweet quiet," freed from the hurries and perplexities of woful 
Europe," as feelingly expressed by the founder, they could not but 
consider themselves escaped from persecution, — no longer like 
there fathers, 



-Vex'd from age to age 



By blatant bigotry's insensate rage." 

Preliminaries thus settled, the men and boys choose out their 
i^ievcral grounds for their temporary hut or cabin, called a cave. 
While some dig into the earth about tliree feet neai* the verge of 
the river bank, others apply the axe to clear away the underwood 
or to fall trees, whose limbs and foliage may supply sides and roofs 
to their humble dwellings. In other cases, some dug sods, and of 
them formed the sides of their huts. To these, chimnies of grass 
and kneaded clay were set up, — and lo! their rude house was fin- 
ished ! Meanwhile, the women, equally busy in their sphere, had 
lighted their fire on the bare earth, and having "their kettle slung 
between two poles upon a stick transverse," thus pi-epared the 
meal of homely and frugal fare for tlie repast of the diligent 
builders. With good cheer and kindly feelings, all partake of the 
sylvan feast. Thus refreshed, they speedily bear qIF their unshel- 



The Primitive Settleuieni. 53 

tercd furniture and goods to their several cabins, and feel them- 
selves housed and settled for a season, 

'• Wlierc homes ol" humble form and structure rude 
Raise sweet society in soHtucie 1"* 

In due time, the mind, devoted to better accommodation, seeks 
for its permanent settlement. Then the busy, bustling era begins! 
First, the surveyor, with much labour, by falling of trees and 
drawing off bi'usli-wood, forms a way through which to draw liis 
*' iengtiiening chain," whereby the city plot is made. Lots are 
then to be covered with houses ; and much of their material is to 
be found on the spot. Soon therefore the echoing woods resound 
Avith tiie labouring axe and the crash of falling trees. The won- 
dering population of the forest are amazed at this first break of 
their long — loiig silence, — and starting here and flying tfiere, — 
beasts and birds, — excellent for diet and a luxury to Europeans 
living under the prohibition of " game laws," — are shot down at 
frequent occasions, — even while the main design was to clear away 
the deep embarrassments of the soil.f Even the reptiles, deadly 

and venomous, here first felt tlie assault of the primeval curse, 

and •' the serpent's head is crushed!" But although the astonished 
tenants of the forest thus feel and fear the busy stir of man through- 
out the day, and find in him an enemy before unknown, we may 
suppose they were not immediately to be driven from their favourite 
haunts, but long and frequent would they linger round their 
wonted securities in the darkness and silence of night. It was 
therefore no strange thing with the primitive population to hear 
occasionally at safe distances, — '' the fox's bark, or wolf's lugu- 
brious howl." 

When buildings had thus been generally started, and the 
''clearings" and the "' burnings" of the " brushwood" and *• un- 
dergrowth," had began to mark, in rude lines, the originals of 
the present paved and stately streets, we may well imagine the 
cheerful greetings which passed among the settlers as they met, 
or surveyed each others progress. Often they must have recipro- 
cally lent each other aid in ' • raisings" and other heavy opera- 
tions requiring many hands. How busy then the brick makers, 
— what perpetual burnings of their smoking kilns, — what frequent 
an-ivals and departures of small craft from the Jersies, previously 
settled, — of boai-ds and slabs from their saw-mills, ere the Penn- 
sylvania mills began. 

We know tliere were many inequalities in the surface of the 
city plot then whicii we do not perceive now. Some hills were to 

* Some of those huts were so well consti-ucted as to last tor several years afterwards,— 
not only serving the wants of succeeding emigrants, but in several cases, used by some of 
base sort, in aftertinie, as homes good enough for low minds. 

t Pastorius' MS. in my possessit)n, expressly says, lie was often lost in the woods and 
brush in going fi-om his cave, to Bom's house, south-east corner of Chesnut and Thii'd 
Itreets, where he procured his bread. 



54 The Primitive Settlement. 

I'educe, ami scver.al low or wet and miry places to fill up or drain 
off. In many places, the most delightful rural hcauties, formed by 
arborescent cliai*ms, were utterly effaced by " clearings and burn- 
ings." Even solitary trees of sublime grandeur were not spared, 
from the then prevalent opinion, that dense foliage and shades 
would conduce to fevers. So general was the havoc in process of 
time, that none remained of all the crowded forest, save a cluster 
of black walnut trees, which, till of late years stood opposite the 
State-house on Cliesnut sti-eet, and guided the stranger to that 
once venerable edifice.* 

In that day, the greatei- part of the liouses first built lay south 
of High street, and northward of Dock creek, — then called ''the 
Swamp," because of the creek which flowed through it, having 
had near its mouth a low and swampy margin, covered witli 
swamp-whoiileberrics, i^v. The ci*eck itself was supplied by sev- 
eral springs flowing into it. j At the mouth of this creek was a 
ferry, at the Blue Anchor Inn, for convey ing passengers over to the 
opposite declining bank, called " Society Hill." It continued in 
use until they formed a "cause-way" along the line of Front 
street across the Dock creek swamp. The same inn was memora- 
ble as the landing place of the illustrious founder, who came there 
in a boat from Chester, and first set his foot ashore on the '' low 
sandy beach" then there, and long afterwards occupied as the 
'' public landing" for the general uses of the city. 

Their first biidge, and their then first means of a cart-road 
leading to the west, was a wooden structure laid across the Dock 
creek, — where the tide then ebbed and flowed, at Hudson's alley 
and Chesnut street.:!: Tlie creek at the same time traversed the 
grounds called ''a deep valley," leading to Fourth and High 
street, and on the northern side of High street, westward of 
Fourth street, it formed a great pond, filled with spatterdocks, and 
surrounded with natural shrubbery. I'his pond was a great asy- 
lum for wild ducks and geese, — " there the wild duck squadrons 
ride!" — and often they were there shot. Fish too, coming up 
with the high tides, were occasionally angled there. 

Another great duck pond lay in the rear of Christ church, and 
thence extended beyond the rear of the first Baptist-meeting. At 
that pond, as well founded tradition relates, an Indian feast was 
celebrated. On that occasion the Indians, to amuse William Penn 
and to show their agility in rimning and leaping, performed a foot 
race around the entire pond. Diverging from Dock creek, (at 
Girard's bank, once a place for small vessels,) ran a water course 
through what was afterwards called ''Beek's Hollow," near 
Fourth and Walnut street, and thence, by the African cliurch in 

* The last of these, which stood in front of J. Ridgway's office, was cut down in 1818. 
I have preserved a relic of it. 

fThe locality of several of those springs 1 have elsewhere designated. 

j The wi-iter'has now an Urn of oak, made from a piece of the butment wharf, which 
!ay there, six feet undfr the present suriace, 140 years. 



The Primitive Settlement. 55 

Fifth street^ tlirough the *' Pottcr's-field," to the scite of the pre- 
sent Doctor Wilson's chuirh, where it terminated in another w ild- 
tliick pond. 

As buildings and coniAn-ts progressed, soon tliey turned their 
attention to pid)lic edifices. The Friends-nKoting, built at the 
Centre Square, lay far beyond the verge of population, and 
often, when the early settlers were visiting it by the usual cart- 
road from the town, they saw it traversed beUu-e them by deer and 
wild turkies. Their first prison was " the hired house of Patrick 
Robinson," in Second street, a little north of Higli street ; — and 
the first that the city held in fee simple, was situated on the scitc 
of the present Jersey market, a little eastward of Second street. 
Between it and Front street was once a '^ grassy swarth, close 
cropt by nibbling slieep," retained there till slain and sold by one 
Crone from the moveable shambles set there on market days. Near 
there stood Penn's low two-story house, in Lsetitia court ; before 
which was the " Governor's gate," where the proclamations of the 
day were made by '* public out-cry." 

Edward Shippen, the first city Mayor, surpassed his cotempo- 
raries in the style and grandeur of his edifice and appurtenances ; 
for *' crossing the water" he located himself in that a enerable 
building, afterwards called "the Governor's house," and now- 
superseded by " Wain's row," in south Second street. Its scite 
was then '* on the hill" " near the towne." There he had his 
•'great and famous orchai'd." In the lawn before the house, 
descending to the Dock creek, '' reposed his herd of tranquil deer." 
The whole river scenery was then open to the view, and afforded 
a most picturesque and grateful prospect. 

Cotemporary with the structures before named rose the first 
Christ church, under the mission of the Rev. Mr. Clayton, — a 
wooden building of such declining eves that a bystander could 
touch them. Preeminent in the gi-andeur of that day, and often 
visited as a curiosity then, was the present antiquated Swedes' 
cliurch and steeple at Wiccaco, built, in 1700, to replace the former 
log church, wherein were loop-holes for fire arms in case of emer- 
gency from the Indians. 

The '^ slate house," as it was called, wherein governor Penn 
dwelt in the year 1700, still standing in humble guise at the south 
east corner of Second street and Norris' alley, was on<:e an edifice 
with "bastions and salient angles" like a fortress, and having be- 
hind it a great garden-enclosure adorned with a lofty grove of trees. 

The " Coffee-house" of that day belonged to Samuel Cai'penter 
in the neighbourliood of Front and Walnut streets ; near which he 
had also erected tlie first crane, and built the first bake-house and 
first wharves for the accommodation of ships. 

At this time the only places of "-common landing" were at the 
"low sandy beach," still open on the north side of the Draw- 
bridge. Another was at the <* penny-pot house" on the north 



56 'I'he Primitive SettlemenL 

side of Vine street. The third and last was at a great breaclf 
through the high hill at Arch street, over which an arched bridge 
extended, — thus letting carts and people descend to " the landing" 
by pas^ing under tiie arch. 

We must conceive that in the earliest days, the Indians were 
more or less consta?itly present, either as spectators of the im- 
proveuKiits thus progressing, or, as venders of their game and 
venison iVoin the neighbouring woods. New England barks too, 
were early allured to bring in their supplies of provisions. The 
Swedes and Dutch., as neighboin'S, brought their productions to 
market as a matter of course. The Frien<ls. before settled in and 
about Burlington, had already began their thrifty Jersey traffic. 

Horse mills were resorted to for grinding corn, and floating 
wind-mills on the Delaware were also used. The great mill, for 
its day, was the - Governor's mill," — a low structure on the loca- 
tion of the present Craig* s factory. Great was the difficulty then 
of going to it, they leaving to traverse the morass of Cohoquino- 
que, (since Pegg's marsh and run,) and on the northern bank of 
which the Indians were still hutted : thence they had to wade 
through tlie Cohocsinc creek beyond it.* What a toil ! Wheel car- 
riages were out of tlie question in such an expedition : and boats 
or canoes either ascended the Cohocsinc, then a navigable stream 
for such, or horses bore the grain or meal on their backs. 

How rude and rural every tiling then! — What a rus in urhe! — 
How homespun and plain in their apparel, — how hospitable yet 
frugal in their diet, — how universally acquainted and familiar, — 
how devoid of all preeminence and ostentation, — what freedom and 
frankness in their interchange of commodities, — what mutual helps 
and reciprocities in borrowing and lending, — what commutation of 
labour and services for corn and necessaries, — what certain enrich- 
ment to the ''diligent hand," to prudent mechanics whose skill 
and labour were in constant requisition. — how plain and rude 
then in their household furniture, — how free to use carts or horses 
then, for occasions which now their descendants must accomplish 
in gilded equipages ! 

" While we thus retrace with memory's pointing wand, 
That calls the past to our exact review," 

We may readily conceive that the young people of both sexes 
often formed exploring parties. Wishing to see the scenes which 
environed them, they plunged into the deep woods beyond the Dock 
creek ; thence making a great circuit, they have seen the then 
wild Scluiylkill shadowed by towering sycamores and oaks, and 
all the intermediate woods crowded with grape vines and whortle- 
berries. Being protected from surprise by their needful guns, 

* A Mrs. Smith and her horse were both drowned in attempting to cross, at where is 
now the long stone bridge. And in later times a horse and rider sunk and were lost in 
the quicksand there. 



The Primitive Settlement, 5- 

they start or shoot the rahbit, tlic raccoon, perhaps the fox, or 
the lieavy wild turkey. Perhaps they have met with a colony of 
friendly Indians, and, hent on novelty and sport, they have bar- 
gained for the use of their canoes. Into these slender vessels thev 
have huddled, and thus have made a voyage of discovery up and 
down the Manaiunk, endangered all the way by the frequent 
leapings of the reckless sturgeons.* 

Even the boys of that day had their rural exploits quite close 
to their own doors. There they could set snares and gins for 
game, and there tliey were sure of trapping rabbits, quails, &c. 
What a tramp it must have been for the urchins then to get over 
the great Dock creek, and to lose themselves in the mysterious 
wanderings of the opposite woods. There starting and pursuing 
the wild game ; sometimes chasing the fleet footed wild turkeys, 
which disdained to fly while their legs could serve their (Escape. If 
not so occupied, they found employment in gathering shellbarks, 
walnuts, filberts, or chesnuts : or eat of whortleberries, or black - 
Denies, as the season and the fruit might serve. 

" But times are alter'd,— trade has chang'd the scene," 

" ; where scatter'd hamlets rose 

Unwieldy wealth, and cumbrous pomp repose — 
And rural mirth and manners are no more'l" 

A mind fully alive to the facts which in this new land still en- 
viron him wherever he goes, can hardly ride along the highway, 
or traverse our fields and woods, witliout feeling the constant in- 
trusion of thoughts like these, to wit:— Herc'latelv prowled the 
beasts of prey,— there crowded the deep interminable woodland 
shade,— through that cripple browsed the deer,— in that rude 
cluster of rocks and roots were sheltered the American rattle- 
snake, just emhlem of our brave, which slow of entrance to a 
quarrel, is bold to sustain it. I'hese rich meadows were noxious 
swamps. On tiiose sun-side hills of golden grain crackled the 
growing maize of the tawny aborigines. Where we stand, per- 
chance to pause, rest the ashes of a Chief, or of his family; and 
where we have chosen our scites for our habitations, may have 
been the selected spots on which were hutted the now departed 
lineage of many generations. On yon path-way, seen in the 
distant view, climbing the remote hills, may have been the very 
path first tracked, from time immemorial, by the roving Indians 
themselves. Nay, it is very possible, that on the very scite of 
Coaquanock, hy the margin of the Dock creek, on which their wig- 
wams clustered and their canoes were sheltered,— on the very spot 
where Henry, Hancock and Adams since Inspired the delegates of 
the colonies (at the Carpenter's Hall) with nerve and sinew for 
the toils of war,— there may have been lighted the council-fires of 

* These were then so numerous, as says Penn, that many of them could be seen vault- 
ing into the air at once, and often they fell into and overset t-he canoes. 



58 The Primitive Settlement. 

warv Sachems, aiul there may have pealed the rude eloquence of 
Tamanend himself, --and of the Shinga's, Tadeuscund's and Gliki- 
can's of their primitive and undehauched age! In short, on these 
topics, an instructed mind, formed and disciplined to Shenstone's 
muse, could not he idle ! 

"But oft in contemplation led 
O'er the long vista that has fled, 
Would draw from meditative lore 
The shadows of the scene before !" 



FACTS AND OCCURRENCES 



" I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times." 

'' PENN'S instructions for settling the colony," dated the 30th of 
September, 1681, had long been buried among the lumber of the 
Hamilton family, and was so fortunate at length as to have been 
discovered among other papers in tlie year 1827. I herein make 
some extracts as worthy of particular notice and remembrance in 
my inquiries, to wit : 

It is addressed to three commissioners as then about to depart 
from England with people for the settlement. It refers to his cou- 
sin, William Markham, as "then on tlie spot,** acting as his deputy, 
and prepared beforehand to receive them. He speaks of their 
ability to procure supplies on the Jersey side of the river, if the 
Dutcii, Swedes or English already in the province should be im- 
moderate in their prices; thus indicating the state of previous 
population and improvement. 

He shows his expectation that the '< great towne" might be 
located at Upland, (i. e. the neighbourhood of Chester, thus agree- 
ing with the tradition,) by saying, '^let the rivers and creeks be 
sounded on my side of tlie Delaware river, especially Upland, in 
order to settle a great towne ; and be sure to make your choice 
where it is most navigable, high, dry and healtliy, and not swam- 
py. It would be well, lie says, if the river coming into the creek 
(I presume at Chester) be navigable, at least for boats, up into the 
country."* At the same time he admits the possibility of a pre- 
viously determined location, by saying, *^ should it be already taken 
up in greater proportions, in that case they are to use their influ- 
ence to have it diminished to the size in his scheme, so that a good 
design be not spoiled thereby." The bounds of a city arc not de- 
signated ; (as some have often since said f) but the Liberties contigu- 
ous thereto are recommended to comprise 10,000 acres, and to be 
apportioned among the purchasers in parcels equal to 100 acres of 
the said Liberties for every 5000 acres possessed in the country ; 

* Thus showing how well tliey fulfilled his wishes in selecting such a preferable stream 
as the Scluiylkill so near the city, even without his special ilesignation of that river. 
— surpassing tc - in advantages, the once projected scite of " old Philadelphia," near the 
'•Bake-house," the south side of Poquesink creek in B3'berij. 

tDean Prideaux's "Connexions" says he had the plan of the great Babylon in his view. 



60 Fads and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. 

and in cases where persons shall have a proportion of ten acres 
fallen to tlieir lot by the water side, tliey to abate five and take 
those five acres more backward, and so proportionably for every 
other size. If, however, they could not find a scite by the water 
side affording land enough to allow the proportion of 100 to 5000 
acres, then get wliat they can, even though it were but 50 acres to 
a share. Be sure to settle the streets uniform down to the water. 
Let the place for the store-house be on the middle of the key, which 
will serve for market and state-houses too. This may be ordered 
when he shall come in the next season.'* 

" Pitch upon the very middle of the plat of the towne, to be laid 
facing the liarboui-. Tor tlie situation of my house."' Thus desig- 
nating, as I concei\ e, the location of liis dwelling in Lgetitia court, 
and intimating his desire to have it facing the river, as '' the line 
of houses of the towne should be," and at least 200 paces from the 
river. He purposed that each house should be in the middle of the 
breadth of bis ground, so as to give place to gardens, kc. Such 
as might "be a green country towne which might never be burnt 
and might always be wholesome." Finally, he recommends his 
commissioners to be tender of offending the Indians; to make 
them presents; and in his name to buy their lands, assuring them 
that*' we intend to sit down lovingly among them." 

William Penn, in his letter of the 25th of 8 mo. 1681, addressed 
to James Harrison, then at Boulton, says, *' my voyage is not 
like to be so quick as I hoped, because the people, on whose going 
his resolutions and service in going depends, tliough they buy, and 
most send servants to clear and sow a piece of land against they 
come, not one fifth of them can now get rid of their concerns here 
till spring. Wlien they go, I go. I am like to have many from 
France, some from Holland, and some, I hear, from Scotland." 

In tlie same letter* he annexes a power for him to sell, in England, 
lands of Pennsylvania, to those who will buy. And he adds, "a 
ship with commissioners will go suddenly in five weeks." 

*'I eye the Lord in the obtaining the country, and as I have so 
obtained I desire I may not be unworthy of his love, but do that 
which may answer his kind providence and serve his truth and 
people, that an example may be setup to the nations! There may 
be room there, thougli not here, for such an holy experiment." 

William Perm's letter* of the 3d of 8 mo. 1685, to " dear Thomas 
Lloyd," says, ''I recommend the bearer, Charles De la Noe, a 
French minister of good name for his sincere and zealous life, and 
well recommended from his own country. If he is used well more 
will follow. He is humble and intends to work for his bread, has 
two servants, and a genius to a vineyard and a garden. Let him 
have 40£. worth of corn if he wants it. It will be of good savour, 
for a letter is come over (to England) from a great Professor in 

* These MS. letters are in my possession. 



Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. Gl 

France to some hero, to say there is no room (there) lor anv hut 
(Quakers." &c. 

" I pray J. Harrison to use the Frenchman* (a former one it is 
presumed) at the Schuylkill well. I hope a vineyard there (to 
have) lor all tins." ^ 

Pcnn, speaking of the Duke of Monmouth's insurrection, says 
Aoout 300 are to he luing in the towns, and 1000 to he transport- 
ed : ot whom I have hegged ahout 20 of the king." Would it not 
now be a matter of curiosity to know what degrees of credit or 
renown some ol these descendants now occupy among us' 

t^oV^hf" K""-'"''^ *''*^^''i ^'' J''^'"^-'^ Harrison, of the 4th of 8 mo. 
1685, (theii his steward at Pennsbury,) says, '' persecution is ex- 
cessively high in France,: not a meeting of Protestants is left. 
Many, and much ^^eaIth. will visit your parts." [They went 
generally to New Rochelle, near New Yo^k ] 

AVilliam Penn's letter f to his steward speaks of sending out, for 
his famuy purposes, beef in barrels, butter in casks, and candles, 
all from Ireland! Also a fishing net, bi-ickmakers. masons, wheel' 
Wrights, carpenters, kc. He asks from this country, as rarities, 
smoked shad and beef, also shrubs and sassafras. Some, he says 
come to him to be helped over on the terms he published for tlie 

Ini^nll'^f ^f ^""f " ^^; P^Pf^'' "' '''y possession, I glean the fol- 
owmg facts of arrival and landing. He arrived in 1683, and 
f;.! V f"""^f»".«f ^p^^'-^ntown. He came over with a ship-load 
trom England, in the America, captain Joseph Wasey, and were 
chased, as they feared, - by the cruel and enslaving Turks." He 
or.th'l *l? f^^^;»'^^,of the city plot: -The fortunate day of 
our arrival, on the 20th of 6 mo. 1683, 1 was as glad to land f^om 
the vessel every whit as St. Paul's shipmates were to land at 
Melita. riien Philadelphia consisted of three or four little cotta- 
ges; [such as Edward Drinker's, Sven Sener. ^ccl all the residue 
being only woods, underwoods, timber and trees, among which I 
several times have lost myself in travelling no farther than from 
W ir ^*";i't ^'^'^'^T '''^' '"'^ '^'-'^ to the house, now of our frien 
William Hudson,_then allotted to a Dutch baker, whose name 
was Cornelius Bom What my thoughts were of such a r'noX 
clJ} r\ "^ ''1?'"" 'r'"S ''''' ^^'"'«"' P'^ris, Amsterdam, 
1/ 18, when he wrote) I dare ingenuously say, viz. that God has 
^WtfL fiell"'' '" '"''"'' ^^''^"' -"d tl- Plantatiot aboutt 
William Penn's letter of the 28th of 5 mo. (July,) 1683, to the 
Earl of Sunderland, says, « I have laid out the pVovince in counties- 
six are begun to be seated, laying on the great river, and jXaS 

'^^^^^^^^'^^^tZ^ ^-^ --^^- °f Andrew Doz, a very respectable 

t These MS. letters are in my possession. 



6t2 Facts and Ucmrrences of the Frimiiive Settlement. 

about six miles back. Our town plot has a navigable "ver on 
each side,— about 80 houses are built, and 300 farms are settled 
contiguous to it. Tl)e soil is good-air serene and sweet, from 
the cSdar, pine and sassafras, witli a wild myrtle of great fra- 
grance. I have had better venison, bigger, more tender, and as 
fat as in England. Turkeys of the wood I had of 40 and 50lbs. 
weiffht. Fish in abundance, especially shad and rock. Oysters 
are monstrous for bigness. In the woods are divers fruits, wild, 
and flowers that for colour, largeness, and beauty, excel. 

William Penn's letter of the I6th of 8 mo. 1683, to the Free 
Society of Traders, says, 

I. The province in general is as follow eth, — 

II The air is sweet and clear ; the heavens serene, like the 
south of France, rarely overcast : and as the woods come by 
numbers of people to be more cleared— will refine it more.* 

III. The waters are generally good ; for the rivers and brooks 
have mostly gravel and stony bottoms ; and in number, hardly 
credible. We have also mineral waters, that operate m the same 
manner with Barnet and North Hall, not two miles from Phila- 

**'lv!'*For the seasons of the year, having, by God's goodness, 
now lived over the coldest and hottest, that the oldest liver in the 
province can remember, I can say something to an English under- 

^ First? Of the fall : for then I came in: I found it, from the 24th 
of October to the beginning of December, as we have it usually, 
in England, in September, or rather like an English mild spring. 
From December to the beginning of the month called March, w^e 
had sharp frosty weather; not foul, thick, black weather, as our 
north east winds bring with them, in England : but a sky as clear 
as in summer, and the air dry, cold, piercing and liungry ; yet I 
remember not that I wore more clothes than in England. 1 he 
reason of this cold is given, as from the great lakes, that are fed by 
the fountains of Canada. The winter before was as mild, scarce 
any ice at all : while this, for a few days, froze up our great river 
Delaware. From that month, to the mmith called June, we enj^ed 
a sweet spring ; no gusts, but gentle showers, and a fine sky. Yet, 
this I observe, that the winds liere, as there, are more inconstant, 
spring and fall, upon that turn of nature, than in summer, or winter. 
From thence to tliis present month, (August) which endeth the 
summer, (commonly speaking) we have had extraordinary heats, 
yet mitigated sometimes by cool breezes. The wind, that ruletli 
the summer season, is the south west; but spring, fall, and winter, 
it is rare to want the north-western seven days together. And 
whatever mists, fogs, or vapours, foul the heavens by easterly or 
southerly winds, in two hours time, are blown away ; the one is 
followed by the other: a remedy that seems to have a peculiar 



Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. G3 

providence in it, to the inhabitants ; the multitude of trees, yet 
standing, being liable to retain mists and vapours ; and yet not 
one quarter so thick as I expected. 

V. The natural produce ol" the country, of vegetables, is trees, 
fi'uits, plants, flowers. The ti-ees of most note, are the black wal- 
nut, cedar, cypress, chesnut, poplar, gum-wood, iiickory, sassa- 
fras, ash, beech, and oak of divers sorts, as red, white and black; 
Spanish, chesnut, and swamp, the most durable of all. Of all 
which there is plenty for tlie use of man. 

The fruits, that I find in the woods, are the white and black 
mulberry, chesnut, waliuit, plums, strawberries, cranberries, 
whortleberries, and grapes of divers soi'ts. There are also very 
good peaclies, and in gi-eat quantities ; not an Indian plantation 
without tliem ; but whetlier naturally liere at first, I know not. 
However one may have them by bushels for little: they make a 
pleasant drink ; and I think, not infeiior to any peach yon have 
in England, except the true Newington. It is disputable with 
me, whether it be best to fall to fining the fruits of the country, 
especially the grape, by the care and skill of art, or send for 
foreign stems antl sets, already good and approved. It seems 
most reasonable to believe, that not only a thing groweth best, 
where it naturally grows, but will hardly be equalled by another 
species of the same kind, that dotlj not naturally grow there. But. 
to solve the doubt, I intend, if God give me life, to try both, and 
hope the consequence will be as good wine as any of the European 
counti'ies, of the same latitude, do yield. 

VI. The artificial produce of the country is wheat, barley, oats. 
rye, peas, beans, squashes, pumkins, water-melons, musk-melons, 
and all herbs and roots, that our gardens in England usually bring 
forth. 

VII. Of liAing creatures; fisli, fowl, and the beasts of the 
woods ; here are divers sorts, some for food and profit, and some 
for profit only: For food, as well as profit, tlie elk, as big as a 
small ox ; deer, bigger than ours ; beaver, raccoon, rabbits, squir- 
i*els ; and some eat young bear, and commend it. Of fowl of the 
land, there is the turkey, (forty and fifty pounds weight) which is 
very gi-eat : pheasants, heath-birds, pigeons and partiidges, in 
abundance. Of the water. tl\e swan, goose, white and grey; 
brands, ducks, teal, also the snipe and curloe, and that in great 
numbers : but the duck and teal excel ; nor so good liave I ever 
eat in other countries. Of fish, there is the sturgeon, herring, 
rock, shad, cats-head, slieeps-head, eel, smelt, pearch, roacli ; and 
in inland rivers, ti'out, some say salmon, above the falls. Of 
shell-fish, we liave oysters, crabs, cockles, conchs and muscles ; 
some oysters six inches long ; and one sort of cockles as big as the 
stewing oysters ; they make a rich broth. The creatures for profit 
only, by skin or fur, and that are natural to these pai-ts, are the 
wild-cat, panther, otter, wolf, fox, fisher, minx, musk-rat ; and of 



64 Fads and Occurrences of the Frimitive Settlement. 

tlie water, the whale, for oil, of which we have good stoi'C ; and 
two companies of whalers, whose boats are built, will soon begin 
their work ; which hath the appearance of a considerable improve- 
ment : to say nothing of our reasonable hopes of good cod in the bay. 

VIII. We have no want of liorses ; and some arc very good^ 
and sliapely enough ; two ships have been freighted to Barbadoes 
with horses and pipe-staves, since my coming in. Here is also 
plenty of cow-cattle, and some sheep ; the people plough most with 
oxen. 

IX. Tiiere are divers plants, that not only the Indians tell us, 
but we IiaAC had occasion to prove, by swellings, burnings, cuts, &c. 
that they are of great virtue, suddenly curing the patioit ; and, 
for smell, I have observed several, especially one, the w ild myrtle ; 
the others I know not what to call, but are most fragrant. 

X. The woods are adorned with lovely flowers, for colour, 
greatness, figure and variety. I have seen the gardens of London 
best stored with that sort of beauty, but think they may be im- 
proved by our woods ; I have sent a few to a person of quality this 
year, for a trial. Thus mucli of the country. 

By some MS. papers of the Pemberton family in my possession, 
I ascertain that the Harrison and Pembertoji families (intermar- 
ried) came over together, among 50 passengers, in the ship Sub- 
mission, captain James Settle, from Liverpool. The terms of 
passage were four pounds five shillings for all persons over 12 
years of age ; for all children, two pounds tw o shillings and six- 
pence I and for all goods, thirty pounds per ton. Their conti'act 
was, ''to proceed to Delaware river or elsewhere in Pennsylvania 
to the best conveniency of freighters." It may serve to know the 
execution of such voyages, to leai'n, that by distress of weather, 
they were landed in the "Potuxen river in Maryland," whence 
they came to the place of Philadelphia, and proceeded thence to 
Pennsbury neighboui-hood, where they settled and occupied places 
of distinguished trust. 

Wlien James Harrison and his son-in-law, Phineas Pemberton, 
first entered Philadelphia on horse-back, from Choptank in Mary- 
land, the latter records that at that time (November, 1682) they 
could not procure entertainment there for their horses; "they 
therefore spancelled them, (by leatiiern hopples I presume,) and 
turned them out into the w oods." They sought them next morning 
in vain, and after two days seai-ch (think what a wide I'ange they 
must have enjoyed !) they were obliged to take a boat to proceed 
up the river to Bucks county. One of those horses was not found 
till the succeeding January ! 

We are indebted for a primitive story of much interest, to Debo- 
rah Morris, of Philadelphia, a pious lady of the Society of Friends. 
She died about 30 years ago, at about the age of 65. She having 
fine affections for the relics and the incidents of the primitive 
settlers, made the codicil of her Will peculiar by some of the memo- 



Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. 65 

rials she there perpetuated, by connecting the history with the 
gifts \\iiich she there wills to her descendants. The facts are best 
told ill her own simplicity of language and lier habitual ])ious 
feelings, — to wit: "The large silver old fashioned salver, I give 
to my nephew, Thomas Morris, was given to my dear parents by 
my mother's aunt, Elizabetli Hard, a worthy good woman, [she 
being the first orphan ever left in charge of George Fox's Society 
of Friends in England] whose sweet innocent deportment used to 
give me high esteem and I'egard for the aiicient people. She came 
from England with William Pcnn and other Friends. My grand- 
father and wife came two years before her, and settled in tlie Jer- 
sies ; but when she heard her sister designed to riiiladelphia, they 
removed thither also, and just got settled in a cave on the bank of 
the river, where is now called the Crooked Billet wharf, [so named 
from an ancient ta\ern, on tlie wharf about 100 feet northward of 
Chcsnut street, having a crooked billet of wood for its sign] when 
my dear aunt (Hard) arrived ; which she esteemed a divine provi- 
dence thus to find her sister, wliom she liad not seen for some 
years, thus ready to receive her in the cave. They there dwelt 
together until they could build. I remember, whilst writing, one 
passage among many others which she related, which I have often 
pleasingly thought of, as it has raised my hopes, increased my 
faith and dependance on that arm which never failed our worthy 
ancestors. It was with tliem supporting through all their difficul- 
ties, and many attended tliem in settling a new country. In liopes 
of its being as profitably remembered by my cousins as myself I'll 
repeat it, to wit: All that came wanted a dwelling, and liasted to 
provide one. As they lovingly helped each other, the women set 
themselves to work they had not been used to before ; for few of 
our first settlers were of the laborious class, and lielp of that sort 
was scarce. My good aunt (Hard) thouglit it expedient to help 
her husband at one end of the saw, and to fetch all sucIj water to 
make mortar of as they then had to build their chimney.* — Atone 
time, being overwearied therewith, her husbaiul desired her to for- 
bear, saying, "thou, my dear, had better think of dinner;" on wluch, 
poor woman, she walked away, weeping as she went, and reflect- 
ing on herself for coming here, to be exposed to such hardships, 
and then not know where to get a dinner, for their provision was 
all spent, except a small quantity of biscuit and cheese, of which 
she had not informed her husband; but thouglit she would try 
whicli of her friends had any to spare. Tlius she walked on to- 
wards her tent, (happy time when each one's treasure lay safe there- 
in,) but was a little too desponding in her mind, for which she felt 
herself closely reproved; and as if queried with, — "didst thou not 
come for liberty of conscience, — hast thou not got it, — also been 
provided for beyond thy expectation?" — Which so liumbled her, she 

*In that manner Carter's wife carried the hod for him when building his dwelling, on 
the south east corner of Fourth and Chesnut street, where is now Carey's book store. 
It. 



66 Facts and Occurrences of the Fnmitive Settlement. 

oil her knees begged forgiveness and preservation in future, and 
never repined afterwards." 

" When sliea rose, and Avas going to seek for other food than what 
she liad, hei* cat came into tlie tent, and had (auglit a fine large 
rabbit, whicli she thankfully received and dressed as an English 
hare. Wlien her husband came in to dinner, being informed of the 
facts, they both \^ept with reverential joy, and ate their meal, 
w hi('li w as thus seasonably pi'ovided for them, in singleness of heart. 
Many such providential cases did they partake of: — And thus did 
our worthy ancestors witness the arm of divine love extended for 
their support." [Siie lived to be 93 years of age.] 

In memory of the foregoing moving recital, the said Deborah 
Morris wills to her beloved uncle, Luke Mori'is, a silver tureen, 
(once a sugar-box, and supplied with the addition of handles) 
marked A. M. — S. M — D. M. which had once been his grand- 
fatlier's ; but made chiefly interesting to the present reader, by the 
additional fact, that it had engraved upon it the device of the cat 
seizing ujion and bearing off the rabbit, according to the preceding 
i-ecital. This silver tureen, deservedly so interesting for its asso- 
ciation of good thoughts, after descending through her nephew, 
Samuel Morris, and thence to his son, Benjamin W. Morris, who, 
having moved away fi'om Philadelphia, and from Philadelphia feel- 
ings it is presumed, so far lost sight of the words of the \('\\\, (which 
said, " I hojie and desire to keep them in the family,") that he has had 
it melted down to convert into some other vessels of more modern 
aspect! Should page of mine ever meet his eye, 1 could at least 
w ish him to feel some portion of my regrets ! 

I have heard some other facts connected with the above inci- 
dents, told to me by Mrs. Nancarro, wlio had taken soup out of 
that tureen. She had heard them among some of tiie Morris fa- 
mily descended of Anthony Morris of Peiin's day. But the story 
is already sutticiently long. 

William Penn's letter of 1683, thus describes some of the earliest 
facts of Philadelphia, to wit : Tlie names of the streets are mostly 
taken from the things which spontaneously grow in the country. 

There is a fair key of about 300 feet square, [a little above Wal- 
nut street,] built by Samuel Carpenter, to which a ship of 500 tons 
may lay her * broadside. Others intend to follow his example. 
We have also a rope-walk, made by B. Wilcox; [Mayor of the city] 
there inhabits most sorts of useful tradesmen; divers brickeries go- 
ing on: many cellars already stoned or bricked ; and some brick hou- 
ses going up. The hours for work and meals for labourers are fixed 
and known by ringing of bell. After nine at night the officers [all 
private citizens serving in turns] go the rounds, and no person, 
without very good cause, suffered to be at any public house, except 
as a lodger. 

Robert Turner, in his letter to William Penn of the 3d of 6 mo. 
1685, describing the progress of Philadelpliia, speaks thus: *<The 



Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. 6 } 

towne goes on in planting and building to admiration, both in 
front and backward, about 600 bouses in tbree years time. Br 
arc exceeding good, and cbeaper tban tbey were, say, at 16 sMl 
per tbousand, and brick houses are now as cbeaj) to build as w 
Many brave brick houses are going up with good cellars. Uumphi 17 
Murray, [Mayor] from New York, has built a large timber bouse 
with brick cbimnies." After naming several persons who have built, 
headds, "all these have balconies ; we build most houses with tliem." 

*'Last winter great plenty of deer were brought in, by the In- 
dians and English, from the country. The Germans are manufac- 
turing linen fniely." 

The first Isaac Norris was married at Philadelphia, after the 
manner of Fiiends, in a private house in Front street, a little north- 
ward of the Drawbridge. I have learnt, that when the Society was 
but small it was tlie practice of the Friends to hold their week-day 
Meetings in private houses ; from that cause Isaac Norris was so 
married. 

Colonel Coxe, the grandfather of the late Tencii Coxe, Esqr. 
made an elopement in his youth with an heiress, Sarah Eckley, a 
Friend. What was singular in their case, was, that they were mar- 
ried in the woods in Jersey by fire light, by the chaplain of Lord 
Cornbury, the then Governor of New Jersey. The meeting of tiie 
chaplain there seemed to have been accidental. The fact gave some 
scandal to the serious friends of her famil} . A letter of Margaret 
Preston, of 1707, which I have seen, thus describes her umbrage at 
the fact, saying : "The news of Sarah Eckley's marriage is both 
sorrowful and surprising, with one colonel Coxe, a fine flaunting 
gentleman, said to be worth a great deal of money, — a great induce- 
ment, it is said, on her side. His sister Trent was supposed to have 
promoted the match. Her other friends were ignorant of the 
match. It took place in the absence of her uncle and aunt Hill, 
between two and three in the morning, on the Jersey side, under a 
tree by fire light. They iiavc since proselyted her." 

In the early period of Philadelphia it was very common for the 
good livers to have malt-houses on their several ])remises for 
making home-made strong beci* : tlu re were such at J. Logans, at 
Pennsbury, and at several olhers, e\en till 60 years ago. 

Professor Kalm, the Swedish traveller who visited Philadelphia 
in 1748-9, relates what he heard of Nils Gustafson, a)i old Swede 
of91 years of age ; he said he could well remember the state of the 
country at the time when the Dutch possessed it, and in what case 
it was before tlie arrival of the English. He had himself brought 
a great deal of timber to Philadelphia at the time it was built. He 
still remembered to liave seen a great forest on the spot whej-e 
Philadelphia since stands. 

Kalm states some facts of the city of his own observation, such 
as, that whenever he walked out beyond the streets, he saw numer- 
ons grape vines grow ing in every direction near the city. 



68 Facts and Occurrences of the Priinittve Settlement. 

He speaks of the red cedar being once so abundant as that all 
*s of fences were made of it, in some places even to the very 
rails. Several of the canoes, the most common kind of boat in use, 
were sometimes made of red cedar. 

Several houses were of tiled roofs, and several of stone of a mix- 
ture of black or grey glimmer, i. e. having isinglass therein ; 
these he said did not make moist walls. Water street, in his tinie, 
i*an along the river, southward of the High street, — the northern part 
being a later work. The greatest ornament of a public kind he then 
saw in the city, was " the Town Hall, (the State house) having a 
tower with a bell." It was then greater than Christ cliurch ; (not 
then fully built up) for he says, "the two churches then in Elizabeth- 
town surpassed in splendour any thing then in Philadelphia! " 

He speaks of minks being sometimes found living in the docks 
and bridges at Philadelphia, and there destroying numbers of the 
rats. They were generally along the Delaware in the hollow 
trees. 

Many of the ancient houses which he saw still in Pliiladelphia 
had been built of stone, and had the lime made from oyster shells; 
this caused them always to have wet walls for two oi- three days 
before a rain, so that great drops of water rested on them ; they 
were indeed good hygrometers, but much complained of; they fell 
into premature decay and are since gone. 

One fact related by Mr. Kalm attaches with peculiar force to 
Philadelphia ; he was much surprised with the abundance and hard- 
ness of our laurel tree, called by the settlers and Indians the spoon 
tree, because the latter made of it their spoons, trowels, &c. Lin- 
nfeus has called it Kalmia latifolia, after the name of Kalm, who 
took it home to Sweden in the form of a spoon made by an In- 
dian ; who had killed many stags on tlie spot where Philadelphia 
now stands, — they subsisted on its leaves in the winter season. 

Old George Warner, a Friend, who died at Philadelphia in 1810, 
aged 99 years, gave a verbal description of Philadelphia as he saw 
it at his landing here in the year 1726. The passengers of the 
sliip, having the small pox on board, were all landed at the Swedes' 
church, then " far below the great towne;" there they were all gen- 
erously received by one Barnes, who treated them (such as could 
receive it) with rum, — the first Warner had ever seen. Barnes 
led them out to tlie " Blue House tavern ;" (which stood till the year 
1828, at tlie south west corner of South and Ninth streets, near a 
great pond) they then saw nothing in all the route but swamps and 
lofty forests, no houses, and abundance of wild game. 

There they remained till recovered; then lie was conducted to 
the "Boatswain and Call tavern,'* (in aforetime the celebrated 
"Blue Anchor inn") at tlie Drawbridge, northwest corner. In all 
this route he saw not one house, and the same character of wooden 
waste. At that time, he knew but of three or four houses between 
that place and the Swedes' church ; and those houses were in small 



Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. 69 

••clearings" without enclosures. Northward from the Draw- 
bridge, as high up as High street, there were but two wharves then 
built ; say, the one of Anthony Morris, and the other belonging to 
tlie Allen family in more modern times. 

In walking out High street, he much admired the very thrifty 
and lofty growtli of the forest trees, especially from beyond the 
Centre Square to the then romantic and picturesque banks of the 
Schuylkill. The only pa\ ement he then noticed, was near the old 
Court house and the then short market house, extending from that 
house westward, about half a square in lengtli. 

As this venerable old gentleman possessed his faculties to the 
last, he w ould have proved a treasure to one in my way of inquiry. 
It was indeed a mental fund to himself, to have had in his own 
person so much observation of the passing scenes he must have 
Avitnessed in such a changeful city ; conti-asting its infant growth 
with its rapid improvements as late as the year of his death ! He 
was of course in his 15th year when he arrived, — just at an age 
when the imagination is lively, and the feelings are strongly dis- 
posed to observation. 

Holmes' '• Portraiture of Philadelphia," done in 1683-4, as a 
kind of city platform, shows the localities first chosen for buildings 
at that early time. It shows about 20 cabins constructed on the 
river bank. At the " Society hill," from Pine street to above 
Union sti-eet, they had their houses and grounds extending up to 
Second street. At the little triangular '< square," at the south 
west corner of Second and Spruce streets, was the lot and resi- 
dence of their President, Nicholas Moore. On the north west cor- 
ner of Second and South streets, was a small house, on the lot of 
William Penn, jun'r. 

All lots ownel on Delaware Front street are marked as run- 
ning tlirough to Second sti'eet, and they all have the same quanti- 
ties also on Scluiylkill Front street. About six to eiglit of such 
lots fill up a square. Thase were all owners of 1000 acres and 
upwards in the country, and received their city lots as appurtenant 
perquisites to their country purchases. 

Samuel Carpenter's lot is from Front to Second street, and is 
the second lot above Walnut street. No. 1 6. Charles Pickering (the 
counterfeiter I presume) has his house on No. 22, midway from 
Chesnut street to High street. Jolm Holme, (related to the Sur- 
veyor-general) wlio ownes No. 32, at the north w^est corner of 
Arch and Front streets, has also the first house built on the Schuyl- 
kill, at the correspondent corner there. The chief of the first 
buildings marked, begin northward of Dock street, and continue 
up to Race street. Several are marked as knit on Second street, 
but only between Chesnut and Walnut streets, and they all on the 
western side of the street. In truth, the eastern side of Second 
street was regarded for some time as the back lots, or ends of the 
Front street lots. Three houses are marked on Chesnut street above 



70 Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement 

Third street, and three on Mulberry street above Third street ; on 
High street there arc none. The map itself may be consulted on 
page 372 of my MS. Annals in the Historical Society of Pennsyl- 
Yania. 

Among those wlio plotted the dethronement of king James, was 
Lord Peterborough. To conceal his purposes, he effected his 
voyage to Holland, by passing over to Pennsylvania with William 
Penn. What he says of his visit thei*c is curious.* *^I took a 
trip with William Penn (says he) to his colony of Pennsylvania. 
There the laws are contained in a small volume, and are so ex- 
tremely good that tliere has been no alteration wanted in any of 
them, ever since Sir AVilliam made them. They have no lawyers, 
but every one is to tell his own case, or some friend for him. They 
have five persons as judges on the bench ; and after the case is 
fully laid down on all sides, all the five judges are to draw lots, 
and he on whom the lot falls, decides the question. It is a happy 
country, and the people are neither oppressed with poor rates, 
tythes, nor taxes." As no mention of this visit, incog, occui's in 
any cotemporaneous papers, the probability is that his rank and 
character was concealed from the colonists. 

I heard by the late Mrs. Isaac Parrish, an aged lady, an anec- 
dote of her relative, the widow Chandler. Mrs. Chandler came 
to Philadelphia at the first landing ; having lost her husband on the 
shipboard, [probably from the small pox] she was left with eight 
or nine children. Hei' companions prepared her the usual settle- 
ment in a cave on the river bank. She was a subject of general 
compassion. The pity was felt towards herself and children, even 
by the Indians, who brought them frequent supplies as gifts. After- 
wards a Friend who had built himself a house, gave them a share 
in it. In future years, when the children grew up, they always 
remembered the kind Indians, and took many opportunities of be- 
friending them and their families in return. Among these was 
''old Indian Hannah," the last surviver of the race, who lived in 
Cliester county, near West Chester; under which head some 
account of her may be seen in these pages. 

An ancient lady, relative of the present Coleman Fislier, Esqr. 
wliose name was Rebecca Coleman, arrived at Philadelphia at the 
first settlement as a young child. At the door of her cave, when 
one day sitting there eating her milk porridge, was overlieard to 
say again and again ; "Now thee shan't again'" ''Keep to thy 
part!" &c. Upon her friends looking to her for the cause, they 
found she was permitting a snake to pai-ticipate with her out of 
the vessel resting on the ground ! Happy simplicity and peaceful- 
ness! — reminding one strongly of the Bible promise, when ''the 
weaned child should put its hand upon the cockatrice's den !" &c. 

* A friend, however, suggests that this must he metaphorically taken. He only meant 
that he visited William I'eim, and that their discourse was about his province and its 
government, &c. 



Facts and Occurrences of the Priviitive Settlement. 7\ 

The said Rebecca Coleman died in 1770, aged 92 years; of course 
I have, even now, opj)ortunities of conversing with several who 
were in her company and conversation! If she had been asked to 
clironicle all tlie changes and incidents she had witnessed, wliat a 
mass of curious facts she might have left for my present elucida- 
tion and use! 

Mrs. D. Logan told me of her having been informed by the 
honourable Charles Thomson, that he often in his younger days 
used to see persons who had been cotemporary with AVilliam Penn. 
It was his pleasure to ask them many questions about the primi- 
tive settlement ; but as he kept no record of them, many of them 
have no doubt been lost. He remembered, he said, conversing 
with a lady whose name was Mrs. Lyle. She had come out in 
the first expedition. She related to Mr. Thomson that after they 
had come to at Chester, the a\ iiole collection of vessels w ent on up 
to Burlington. The vessel she sailed in, being the dullest sailer, 
was left behind the others, so that at eventide, they had reached 
the present Pliiladelphia, and not being willing to proceed farther 
by nigiit in an unknown channel, and finding there a bold shore, 
they made their vessel last to a large limb of a tree, there to pass 
the night.* The next morning their Captain went ashore to make 
his observations, and being pleased with the situation, pursued his 
walk and investigations until he reached the river Schuylkill. 
When he came back he spoke of the place with raptures, as a fine 
location for a town. This being reported to the colonists when 
they arrived at Burlington, several of the leading men, with Wil- 
liam Penn at the head, made a visit to the place, and eventually it 
became Philadelphia. 

This same Mrs. Lyle was asked why her husband, wlio had the 
choice of places before him, had chosen to locate himself on the 
Dock creek, (street) and she replied it was because of its convenient 
and beautiful stream, which afforded them the means of having 
vessels come close up under theii' bake-house, tlien located there 
below Second street. 

An ancient MS. letter of the year 1693, in my possession, from 
S. Flower of London to his son, Henry Flower, settled at IPhila- 
delphia,! is strongly expressive of that religious excitement in 
Europe, which so powerfully conduced to supplying this country 
with population as a place of refuge from impending judgments. 
Among many other things, it says, " Here w as a friend, a Quaker, 
came lately to London from the North, near Durham, witli a mes- 
sage from an inward power or command, and has been to declare 
it in most or all the Quaker Meetings in London, tliat sword, 
famine and pestilence is at hand, and a dreadful earthquake to 

• It may be observed that much of this story is like that before imputed to the Shield of 
Stockton, and perhaps both growing out of the same facts; and this, if so, the most direct 
to us. If the stories are different ones, they show smgular coincidence. 

t Vide original, page 336 of my MS. Annals in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 



72 Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. 

come within many months, that will lay great part of the city and 
suburbs into rubbish and ruins ! The Lord grant a repentance to 
prevent it ; if not, to give us hearts to be prepared against the day 
of tribulation to come upon us." To many who fully confided in 
such messengers in England and Germany, it was but a natural 
consequence to sigh for an escape '^ from woful Europe" and for 
*< peace and safety on our sylvan shore." Such could feelingly 

say, — 

" Oh for a lodge in some vast wilderness 
Some boundless contiguity of shade 
Where rumour of oppression and deceit, — 
Of unsuccessful or successful war 
Might never reach !" 

The original inequality of the surface of Philadelphia was once 
much greater than any present obsei-ver could imagine, and must 
have been regarded, even at the time of the location, as an ob- 
jection to the scite. But we can believe that its fine elevation, 
combined with its proximity to the then important water of Schuyl- 
kill river, must have determined its choice where we now have it. 
The Delaware front must have been a bluff" of 25 feet elevation, be- 
ginning at the Navy yard and extending up to Poole's bridge. If 
that was desirable, as it doubtless was, 'Ho have it high and dry," 
besides the supposed conveniency of natural docks for vessels to 
be wintered from the ice at Dock swamp, Pegg's swamp, and Co- 
hocsinc mouth or swamp, we cannot but perceive that no place 
like it was to be found below it to the mouth of Schuylkill, and 
none above it, after passing Kensington, until you approach the 
Bake-house, near Poquesink creek; and there the water was too 
shallow. Therefore Piiiladelphia was chosen on the very best spot 
for a city, notwithstanding it had so irregular a surface then ; evi- 
dences o'f which I have shown elsewhere. The probable debates 
of that day, which must have occupied the minds of those who deter- 
mined the location, might now make a curious fancy work! The 
Penn ideas, (which we know) as compressed into few words, are 
strongly expressed, viz. '• It seemed appointed for a town, because 
of its coves, docks, springs, and lofty land!" 

My aged correspondent, Samuel Preston, Esqr. formerly of 
Bucks county, on pages 488 and 500 of my MS. Annals in the 
Historical Society of Pennsylvania, has given some long details 
from the recollections of his grandmother, who died in the year 
1774, at the age of 100 years, in full mind and memory. When 
she was married, (at or near Pennsbury) William Penn and sun- 
dry Indians were present. He was very sociable and freely gave 
them friendly advice. She described him as of short stature, but 
the handsomest, best looking, lively gentleman, she had ever seen. 
There was nothing like pride about him, but affable and friendly 
with the humblest in life. 



Facts and Occurrences of the Frimitive Settlement. r3 

After their marriage they went to Wiccaco: her husband there 
made up Irocks, trowsers and moccosins of deer skins, lor the 
ijwcdes,&c. there; after a time, tlie little settlement was burnt 
out, by being surroumled by lire in the woods. They went the.i, 
on the invitation of friendly Indians, to Hollekonck, in Bucking- 
ham. Both her and her husband, Amos Preston, spoke Indian 
readily. She even served as interpreter at an Indian treaty at 
Hollekonck. "^ 

She said, at the news of Pcnn's arrival in the province, she liad 
gone down from JNeshainny creek (where she then lived^ with 
others to get to sec him: t!ie Indians and Swedes also went along. 
1 hey met with him at or near the present Philadelphia. The Indians, 
as well as the whites, had severally prepared the best entertain- 
ment tlie p ace and circumstances could admit. William Penn 
made himself endeared to the Indians by his marked condescension 
and acquiescence in their wishes, lie ualked with them, sat 
with them on the ground, and ate with them of their i-oasted acorns 
and homony. At this they expressed their great delight, and soon 
began to show how they could hop and jump : at which exhibition 
William Penn, to cap the climax, sprang up and beat them all! 
We are not pi;epared to credit such light gaiety in a sage Governor 
and religious Chief : but we have the positive assertion of a woman 
of truth, who said she saw it. There may have been very wise 
policy in the measure as an act of conciliation, worth more than a 
regiment of sharp-shooters. He was then sufficiently young for 
any agility ; and we remember that one of tlie old journalists among 
the Friends speaks of hiin as having naturally an excess of levit? 
of spirit for a grave munsteiv AVe give the fact, however, as wc 
got it.*= It IS by gathering up such facts of difficult belief, that we 
«onietimes preserve the only means of unravelling at some later day, 
a still greater mystery. Sometimes an old song or legendarv tale 
confirms the whole. - A peasant's song prolongs the dubious 

said Phr""" Samuel Preston says of his grandmother, that she 
hwo hlo P^ Pemberton surveyed and laid out a town, intended to 
tZi? ^^"^^^^^ P'^^^; "P ^t Pennsbury, and that the people who 
I. If nTtr ''TK'T''*^''^f* '''^^' *'^" ^''^"S^- 0" my expressing 
ve^nLf M '' i'""':"^S she may have confused the case of Chester 
lemoval, Mr. Preston then further declared, that having, nearly 
40 years ago, occasion to hunt through the trunks of surveys of 
John Lukens, Surveyor General of Bucks county, he and Lukens 

Pemb?!" ^r""' ""'V'' " ?'y "*" P'Hladelphia signed Phineas 
Pemberton, Surveyor General, that fully appeared to have been in 
Pennsbury manor; also another for the present town of Bristol, 

M 



74 Fads and Occurrences of the Primitive Seltlemenf. 

then called Biickingiinm. He also asserts, tliat from old titles 
^v!ucll he lias seen, there was a place called therein '' Old Phila- 
delphia," being on the bank of the river, next below Pottequessing 
creek, i. e. Poqucsink creek, being the bank northward of the 
ancient "Bake-house," now Morgan's place. The same name, 
'' Old Philadelphia,*' I have heard there from the old landholders. 

Items nf Uw Olden Time, extracted from the Minutes of the Assembly 
of Fennsylvania. 

1594. 3 mo. 24th. — A committee of eight members being appointed 

to inspect the aggrievances of the inhabitants of this government, report : 

1st. That the person commissioned to be clerk of the market, hath 
committed several misdemeanors. _ _ 

2d. That there is not an ordinary appointed m each respective county 
for the Probate of Wills. c i n -n 

4th. That there is not more than one ferry allowed over Schuylkill, 
near this town. . , • , , v ^ 

5th. That seizing, or taking away the boat belonging to the inhabitants 
of Haverford, Radnor, Merioneth, and Darby, is an aggrievance, and ot 
ill-tendency to the inhabitants of this province.* 

1695.— 7 mo. 9th.— The house chose Edward Shippen, Speaker, 
whereupon it was moved, that three members should treat with Sarah 
Whitpant for to hire her room to sit in. 

1696.— The Assembly met at the house of Samuel Carpenter,^ in 
Philadelphia. 

1698—3 mo. 12th.— Daniel Smith was chosen Messenger, and at- 
tested to keep secret the debates of this house, and the door in safety. 

A petition was read from some of the inhabitants of Philadelphia, 
praying to put down pewter and lead farthings ; referred for further 
consideration. , , . , r u • 

3 mo 27th.— The hou.se met at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, being 
prevented from meeting at the time appointed by reason of a great fire, 
which happened in the town this morning. , . , , 

3 mo. 31st.— Ordered that Jonathan Dickinson have for bis labour 
and attendance as clerk of this present Assembly, 5^.— that Daniel 
Smith be paid 50s. as door-keeper and messenger, and that James 1-ox 
satisfy for the rent of the house where the Assembly was held. 

1699 12 mo. 6th.— Adjourned to Isaac Norris' house, by reason of 

the extreme cold, for an hour. 

Thomas Makin, voted to be clerk for this Assembly, at 4s. per day. 
THe was Latin teacher of Friends' Academy.^ 

- Twenty-one pounds was voted as a provincial charge tor damage 
done by privateers plundering the town of Lewes. 

* The original paper, T.y V. Robiuson, concerning that affair, may be seen on page 314 ot 
my MS. Annals in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 

Robert AVhitpane's great house .vas recommended by W.lham P^nn's letter of 1687 
to be used for the office! of Slate. It was on east side ot I-ront street, below Walnut 
street, and being built of shell lime, fell into premature decay. Walnut .;f reel 

t Sanrael Carpenter's house was situate, I presume, m Water street, above W alnut street. 



Facts and Occurrences of the FrimUive Settlement. 75 

1700. — 4 mo. 6th. — Ailjourncd till 8 o'clock precisely to-morrow 
morning ; and he that stays beyond the hour to pay ten pence. 

1701. — 10 mo. 15th. — Governoi-'-s I\Tessage to the ^.isemblij.* 

Friends, — Your union is what I desire ; but your peace and accommo- 
dating of one another, is what I must expect from you : the reputation 
of it is something; the reality much more. I desire you to remember 
and observe what I say. Yield in circumstances, to preserve essentials ; 
and being safe in one another, you will always be so in esteem with me. 
Make me not sad, now I am going to leave you ; since it is for you, as 
well as your friend and proprietary and Governor, 

WILLIAM PENN. 

1705. — 10 mo. 19th. — Ordered, that notice of the time and place of 
receiving quit rents be given, by affixing notes or advertisements on the 
door of every public meeting-house for religious worship in each county. 

1 1 mo. 3d. — The petition of Thomas Makin, complaining of damage 
accruing to him by the loss of several of his scholars, by reason of the 
Assembly's using the school-house so long, — the weather being cold, — 
ordered, that he be allowed the sum of three pounds, over and above 
the sum of twenty shillings this house formerly allowed him, for the 
same consideration. 

12 mo. 22d. — Resolved, by a majority of voices, that the comity out 
of whose representatives the Speaker happens to be chosen, shall pay 
his whole salary of ten shillings per day. 

1706. — 10 mo. Uth. — The house met; the Speaker together with all 
the members present, took and subscribed the declarations and profes- 
sions of faith prescribed by law. 

[Note. — The last paragraph of the declaration reads thus, viz. " And 
we, the said subscribing representatives, and each of us for himself, do 
solemnly and sincerely profess faith in God the Father, and in Jesus 
Christ, his eternal Son, the true God, and in the Holy Spirit, one God, 
blessed for evermore. And wc do acknowledge the Holy Scriptures 
to be given by divine inspiration."] 

[John Churchman, a public Friend, in his Journal, says, " I have un- 
derstood that it was formerly a common practice for them (the Assem- 
bly) to sit in silence awhile, like solemn worship, before they proceeded 
to do business." — He wrote in 1748.] 

Minutes of the City Council, from 1704 to 1776. 

The original Minutes of Comici], from which the following are 
(Jxti'acts, wei'c unexpectedly found about a year ago by William 
Meredith, Esq. in the garret part of his house, at the south-west 
corner of Tenth and Walnut streets. It had before been the resi- 
dence of Edward Burd, Esq. Prothonotary, and they had probably 
been once in his possession, and lost sight of after his death. The 
whole were comprised in several small MS. hooks, — since hound 
together and placed in the office of the City Council. The whole 
extracts, as originally prepared for me by my friend J. J. S. may 

* This letter of rare brevity, presents a surprising contrast to modern messages. 



76 Fads and Occnrreiwes of the Primitive ^^ettlemeni. 

be seen together in my volume of MS. Annals, in tlie Historical 
Society of Pennsylvania, with notes of elucidation, from pages 475 
to 482. In what follows, only such facts are mentioned as are 
not elsewhere cited in other parts of this work, — to wit: 

At a meeting of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council, at the 
house of Herbert Carey, of this city, Imiholder, the third day of Octo- 
ber, 1704, 

Present, Anthony Morris, Mayor, ? Aldermen and Council. 
David Lloyd, Recorder, ^ 

The above said Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Council, 
pursuant to the business of the day, proceeded to the Election of a 
Mayor for the said City, for the year ensuing, and Alderman Griffith 
Jones is elected Mayor, Nemine Contradicente, of which he accepted 
and moved that the ^20 fine laid upon him, for refusing to accept of 
tlie Mayoraky the last year, may be remitted him, and it is granted, and 
the said fine is hereby remitted and forgiven. 

At a Common Covmcilatthe Coffy House, the 1st day of December, 
1704, present, Griffith Jones, Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen. 

Richard Pruce, John Till, Widow Bristow, Myles Godforth,, Christo- 
pher Lobb, Philip Wallis, Sec. persons who keep teems within the city, 
being sent for, now came and are admonished, (that mischief being lately 
committed by some of them) to take care how they drive their carts 
within this city, for that an ordinance will be immediately made for their 
regulation. 

It is ordered, that John Budd and Henry Badcock do winter the Two 
Town Bulls, until the 1st of June next, and that they shall have ^4 a 
peace for the same,' to be paid them out of the public stock of this city, 
Avhich they undertook to do. 

(Ordered and agreed that a Watch-house shall be built in the Mar- 
ket-place, 16 feet long, and 14 wide. 

Mem. That an ordinance be considered to prevent boyling tar into 
pitch, heating pitch upon the wharf, or within 20 feet of any building or 
hay stack. 

Ordered, that the Mayor, once in every month, goe the rounds to the 
j'espective bread-bakers in this city, and weigh their bread, and seize all 
such as shall be deficient in weight, and dispose of the same as the law 
directs. 

At a Common Council held at the Coffy House, 15th Dec. 1704, 
present G. Jones, Mayor, &c. Sec. 

2nd Feb'y. 1705. — Alderman Wilcox, Carter, &c. who where appoint- 
ed by an order of the last Common Council to divide the city into wards, 
and to report the same to this Council, report that they have divided 
this city into wards, and have returned the same under their hands. 

It being moved in this Council that that part of the city between Broad 
street and Delaware be grub'd and clean'd from all its rubish, in order 
to produce English grass, whicli would be of great use and advantage 
to the inhabitants keeping cattle therein. It is ordered that some proper 
method be thought upon for the doing thereof by Alderman Shippen, Sec, 

It is ordered that the Cryer take an account of all the inhabitants of 
this city, keeping cows, and give an account of their names, and num 
\tcr of cows, they keep upwards of two years old. 



Fads and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. 77 

9 April, 1705. — James Bingham is this clay admitted a freeman, pay- 
ing for the same 31. 2s. 6d, Avhichhc accepted and signed. 

Samuel Savage is admitted a freeman, and paid for the same ll. 2s. 6d. 

Matthew Robinson is admitted a freen\an at 2s. 6d. 

(Similar notices are of constant occurrence.) 

1st June, 1705. — Alderman Masters, Alderman Jones, Tho's. 
Pascall, Sec. Sec. not appearing at this Council, are fined 3s. a piece. 

It is ordered that Alderman Carter k John Parsons do oversee the Re- 
pairs of the Old Cage, to be converted into a Watch house for present 
occasion. 

29 DecV. 1705. — A petition from Job. Cropp, for an Ordinance, 
to encourage him for setting up a public Slaugliter House — and settling 
the rate for Killing Cattle, Sec therein was read. 

Ordered, that the Treasurer pay to Solomon Cresson 10s. for the ma- 
king of 12 Watchmen's Staves Sc 2 Constables Staves; Sc also Ss. to 
Enoch Story for the painting of three Constables Staves. 

Ordered, that the Beadle collect from the Inhabitants of this city, the 
sum of 6d for every Milch Cow by them kept, 8c pay the same to the 
Treasurer. 

1st October, 1706. — Aldemian Story, refusing to accept of the office 
of Mayor, therefore, he is fined by this Conmion Council, the sum of 
Twenty pounds. 

This Council p'ceeded to another Vote for the Election of the Mayor, 
and Alderman Nathan Stansbury was elected by a Majority of Votes, 
who accepted thereof. 

13 Jan'y. 1707. — Wm. Carter, Thos. Masters, Joseph Yard, 8c John 
Redman, are appointed to view the Hollow in the head of Chesnut st. 
Crossing the fifth street, Sc take the best methods for making good the 
same, Sc giving the water a free passage. 

1 1 Feb'y. 1 708. — T. Masters, Mayor. Ordered, that this Corporation 
do treat the Govr. as usual upon the Arrival of ye sd. Governour, and 
that the Treasurer defray the charge out of the publick money. 

22 July, 1712.— Sam'i Preston, Mayor. Thomas Griffiths, Thomas 
]ledman, and Samuel Powel, are appointed regulators of the Partition 
walls within this city. 

Ordered that an ordinance be drawn, grounded upon a law of this 
Province, for the Ascertaining the Dimensions of casks, and for true 
Packing of meats for Transportation, and Alderman Hill is desired to 
think of a fit person for that office. 

1 4 Aug't. 1 7 1 3. — Jonathan Dickinson, Mayor. It being very Dificult to 
Convict such as sufler their Chimneys to take fire contrary to a law of 
this Province. It is therefore ordered that if the offender will pay the 
fforfiture without further Trouble, he shall have Ten Shillings aba- 
ted him. 

30 Sept. 1713. — William Hill, the Beadle of this city, having lately 
in a heat broke his Bell, and given out that he would continue no longer 
at the place, but now Expresses a great Deal of Sorrow for so doing, and 
.Jmmbly Desires to be Continued therein During his Good Behaviour. 
And the Premises being Considered, And the Vote put, whether he 
Should Continue the Place any Longer or No, It past in ye affirmative. 

2 5 Oct. 171 4. — Geo. Rock, Mayor. Ordered that the Mayor, Recor- 
der, Aldermen and Common Council wait upon the Governour on Wed^ 



78 Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. 

nesday next, at the houre of Twelve in the forenoon, in order to proclaim 
the King, and afterwards present the Mayor Elect to the Governour to 
be Qualified. 

8 Novr. 1714. — Ordered that an Ordinance be drawn to oblige the 
sellers of Meal and grain in the Market, to Expose their Meal under the 
Court House, by opening their sacks mouths, That the Inhabitants may 
see what they buy. 

It is ordered that the sum of Fifteen pounds, and teii shillings. Expen- 
ded in the entertainment upon the Proclaiming the King, beyond the 
Slim of Fifteen pounds, the Mayor voluntarily expended out of his own 
Pocket, be repaid the Mayor out of the stall rents. 

14 Sept. 1716. — The price of Indenture for Apprentices Avithin this 
City being now \mder Consideration. It is agreed and order'd that three 
Shillings be paid to the Town Clerk for ye Indenture, and one Shilling 
and sixpence to the Recordr fr the Inrolment. 

29 Deer. 1718. — Samuel Powel being i-equired to Pay his stall rents, 
prays a discount, he being considerable out of pocket in Building of the 
Bridge over ye Dock in Walnut St. It is the opinion of the Board that 
such discount may be inconvenient. 

15 July 1719. — Edward Flowel is appointed to Clear the Square at 
the ffront of the Court House, for which he is allowed iForty shillings p. 
ann. to be paid quarterly. 

14 Deer. 1719. — Wm. Fishbourne, Mayor. William Pawlet exhibits 
an acct of 2s. 6d. for a Bell Rope, 2s. for a Key for a Padlock, 2s. 3d. for 
smith 8c Carpenters work about ye Bell, & 4s, for a Double Bell Rope, 
Avhich is allowed, and the Treasurer ordered to pay him. 

The Mayor and Aklerman Hill, in Conjunction with the Regulators, 
are requested to Imploy Jacob Taylor to run out the Seven Streets of 
this City, and that they cause the same to be staked out, to prevent any 
Incroachment that may happen in building, for ye want thereof. 

11 May, 1720. — Wm. Fishbourne, Mayor. — The draught of the in- 
tended bridge to be built over the Dock in the Second street, being laid 
before ye Board by Alderman Redman, And whether a Bridge of the 
width of Second street, or one of seventy five foot in the clear, would 
be most convenient. A majority of the Board Inclined to the latter, 
whereupon the Mayor, Alderman Hill, S:c. are requested to agree with 
the workmen for the doing thereof, and report the same at the next 
Council. 

28 Novr. 1720. — The Mayor, Recorder, Alderman Logan, Alderman 
Carter, are desired to Treat with James Henderson, who Now petitions 
to be a Publick Chimney Sweeper of this City, in Relacon to his Terms 
and his Capacity of performing itt. 

Feby 4, 1722. — Jas. Logan, Mayor. Schuylkill fferry being now 
again under consideration of the Board, It is the unanimous opinion that 
application be immediately made to Assembly for an Act to Vest ye 
said Ferry in ye Corporation, and to have sole Management and Direc- 
tion thereof. It is Ordered that the Mayor, Recorder, Alderman 
Hill, 8cc. prepare and present a petition for that purpose without 
delay. 

Aug. 19, 1723. — J. Logan, Mayor. Ordered that Mary Whitakerbe 
paid two shillings pr week for sweeping the Court House and Stalls 



Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. 79 

twice a week for ye time past, and such further time to come as she 
shall continue the same. 

The Mayor desires ye company of the Board to a Public Dinner with 
him now provided at the Plume of Feathers. 

Sept. 30, 1723. — Alderman Fishbourne, Geo. Fitzwater and John 
Warder, are requested to Iniploy persons Immediately for the Opening 
of the High street to the New Ferry. 

25Sept. ir27.--C. Read, Mayor. William Chancellor applying to 
this Board for the sum of thirteen pounds ten shillings, due to him for ma- 
king the fflag Presented to the Gov'r by this Corporation, the Mayor is 
desired to pay him for the same out of the Moneys in his hands belon- 
ging to the Corporation. 

6 Feb'y. 1728. — T. Lawrence, Mayor. A motion being made that a 
fflag staff should be Erected on Society Hill, the old one being rotten 
and taken down, and there being a necessity for ye same to be done im- 
mediately. Ordered that one be provided upon this emergcncic at the 
charge of the Corporation. 

22 March, 1728. — Richard Armitt Represented to this Board that ma- 
ny Hucksters in this City buying provisions in the Market, and often 
meet the people coming to Markett at the ends of the street, and then 
buy up provisions, which might be prevented by appointing an Hour 
both Winter and Summer, for the Ringing the Bell. The JBoard took 
the same into consideration, and order that Ordinance of this city should 
be forthwith put in execution and published for suppressing the sd 
practice, 

16 May, 1728. — The Board having heard that a Lottery was Intended 
to be Erected by Samuel Keimer in this city, during this present Fair, 
he having sett fforth several printed papers for that purpose, the Board 
sent for the sd Keimer, who came and having lieard what he had to 
say in behalf of the sd Lottery. Ordered that no Lottery be kept during 
the said ffair. 

7 Oct. 1729. — The Keeping of a Tavern in the Prison being under 
the Consideration of this Board, they are of opinion that the same is a 
great Nuisance and ought to be suppressed and that the Remova! 
thereof be recommended to the Magistracy. 

28 Sept. 1730. — Edward Nicholls now applying to the Board for leave 
to make a Vaultt before his house at a corner of Chesnutt street, the 
Board upon the sd application do allow the sd Edward Nicholls to make 
a Vault paying Twelve pounds p ann. as a rent or acknowledgment to 
the Corporation. 

Isaac Norris and Daniel Radley are desired to get the common shore 
near the Bridge in Second st. Immediately repaired. 

17 AprU, 1732.--C. Hasel, Mayor. The Board taking under Consid- 
eration the frequent and tumultous meetings of the Negro Slaves, espe- 
cially on Sunday, Gaming, Cursing, Swearing and committing many 
other Disorders, to the great Terror and Disquiet of the Inhabitants of 
this city. In order not only to prevent such Meetings and Disorders for 
the ffuture, but also to prevent Children and white Servants meeting in 
such great numbers on the sd day to play Games and make disturban- 
ces and noise in the City, It is by this Board thought necessary that an 
ordinance be forthwith drawn and prepared to prevent the same. 



80 Fads and Occurremes of the Friinitive Settlement. 

3d July, 1738. — A Draught of an Ordinance for the better regulation 
of the more Effectual suppressing Tumultuous meetings and other dis- 
orderly doings of the Negroes, MuUatos, and Indian servts. and slaves 
■within this City and Liberties thereof was read and several amendments 
made and ii was ordered to be left to the further Consideration of the 
Board at their meeting. 

18 June, 1741. — C. Hasel, Mayor. The Board having taken into 
Consideration the Currency of the English Half pence and the Disquiet 
that is among the Inhabitants, occasioned by some persons refusing to 
take them thought proper that a Declaration should be made publick 
by the Board, that the sd halfpence shd be taken at fifteen to the shilling, 
which is adjudged to be nearest to such value, as might discourage too 
gi-eat a quantity being Imported, and at the same time prevent iheir be- 
ing carried away, and a Proclamation for that purpose was ordered to be 
drawn, and that the same should be published in the City by the Beadle. 
17 Aug.1741. — C. Hassel, Mayor. Frequent complaints having been 
made to the Board that many disorderly persons meet every ev'g. about 
the Court house of this city, and great numbers of Negroes and others sit 
there with milk pails, and other things, late at night, and many disorders 
are there committed against the peace and good government of this City. 
The Board having taken the same into consideration, Do order that all 
persons depart thence in half an hour after sunset, and that the Constables 
of the s'd city be charged by the Magistrates to disperse all persons that 
shall meet there after the time aforesaid, and if they refuse to depart, to 
bring all refusing before any of the Magistrates of this city, to answer 
their refusal and misbehaviour. 

The Board having taken into consideration the great danger the Inhabi- 
tants of this city are in by means of Carts and Carriages driving thro' the 
streets at the Market Place on Market Days, to prevent the mischief that 
may Ensue, It is ordered that proper Iron Chains be provided to stop 
the passage of Carts and Carriages through the Market Places, which 
chains are to be put up on Market days, at Sun Rise, and continue till Ten 
o'clock in the Summer and I'^leven in the Winter in the fforenon. 

4 May, 1743. — William Till, Mayor. Complaints being made that 
several Persons have Erected stalls in the Market Place with Merchants' 
goods on Market Days, and very much Incumber the Market, It is order- 
ed that ye clerk of the Market remove all such stalls, who shall vend 
such goods, that the Market place may be kept free and open. 

23"Octr. 1744. — E. Shippen, Mayor. The Board haVing taken into 
consideration the Defenceless state of this City in case of an Invasion by 
the Enemy, Are of opinion that a Petition to the King be forthwith pre- 
pared, Setting forth the defenceless state of the said city, and requesting 
His Majesty to take the defenceless condition of the Inhabitants into con- 
sideration and to afford them such relief as his Majesty shall think fit. 

A petition to his Majesty being ready prepared was offered to the 
Board by the Recorder, which was read and considered, which petition 
was approved of. 

1st October, 1745. — Alderman Taylor, refusing to serve the office of 
Mayor, is fined the sum of thirty pounds; and the Board proceeded to a 
new election, and chose Joseph Turner by a majority of votes, who hav- 
ing also refused to execute the said office, was fined the sum of thirty 



Facts and Occurrences of the Pnmitive Settlement. si 

pounds; and then the Board proceeded to a new election, and Alderman 
Hamilton was elected by a Majoritv of votes. 

October 7, 1746.--. James HamiUon, Esq. Mayor, represented to the 
Board, that as it had been customary for the mayors of this city at their 
going out of office, to s^ive an entertainment to the gentlemen of the cor- 
poration, he intended in lieu thereof to give a sum of money equal at 
least to the sums usually expended on such occasions, to be 'laid out in 
something permanently useful to the city, and proposed the sum of one 
hundred and fifty pounds towards erecting an Exchange, or some other 
public building. 

1 8th Sept. ^747.^W. A . Attwood, Mayor. It was represented by the 
Mayor to the Board, that as the time of election of a Mayor for ^hc en- 
sumg year is at hand, and of late years it has been a difficulty to find ner- 

ft^t^n^ /"V^A'VS^"'^*- °^.'^'^-"'"^^°"^^^h^ S'^'^' t™"ble which 
attends the faithful Execution of it. He therefore moved, that for the fu- 
ture, some allowance be made to the Mayor of this city, out of the slock 
ot the corporation, for the support of the dignity of that office, and as 
some compensation for the trouble. The Board taking the same into 
consideration, the motion was approved, and the question beinp- put, 
whether one hundred pounds per annum should be allowed, and paid 
out of the corporation stock, for these purposes for three years to come. 
It passed in the affirmative. ' 

thJ^M^''* 'If' ^- ^•■"^'^' ^- ^"™^^' ^^^>'°^'- Alderman Morris, 
the Mayor Elect, not bemg present, Charles Willing, and Saml. Rhoades 
were appointed to wait on him to acquaint him the Board had chosen 
him Mayor for the year ensuing. 

The two members appointed' to acquaint Alderman Morris that he 
was elected Mayor, returned and informed the Board they had been 
Tomi '''^''^ ^"'"^ ^^ ^"' daughter that he was gone out of 

9 Oct. 1747.--Charles Stow being call'd in and sworn, said That he * 
had been at the Dwelling House of Alderman Morris and read the no- 
tice he was sent with to his wife and would have delivered it to htr but 
she refused to receive it and said her Husband was from home and she 
believed he would not return till Saturday night. 

The Board then considering that since the'Mayor Elect did not appear, 
wJ.v'^? . ' r '"^ °?^^ T^ '^^^ '"^ subscribe the usual Qualifications 
Within the time limited by Charter: Altho' the proper means had been 
used to give him Notice of his Election, it was necessary to proceed to 
a new choice, and thereupon Wm. Attwood was chosen Ma/or for the 
year Ensuing by a Majority of Votes. 

nrlL^r: ■'^'^^TV't u^^^^"' P^-^POsed to the consideration of the 
Board that since the Inhabitants of the City seem now generally anpre- 

knowlV'' ?' Tr'^' f °"' "^^"^ ^"^ ^°""^^y' eneLraged'byTel 
knowledge of our defenceless state have formed a design of attacking us 

JudL?fl-'"T.' '"''''' " '^'^'' "°' ^^ P'°P^'' *^ Petition the Honble. 
Judges of this Provmce to send over a number of cLnnon for Erecting a 
feoTl' '? sucha quantity of Arms and ammunition as to them shall 
neh^nn^ ^^^ "'^J'^'^y °^*^^ ^°^^^ b^'"g of opinion that such a 

next Sh-'' f^f ^''>^' ^"i^hat the same ought to be forwarded by the 
next bhip to London, a Draught thereof was brought in and read at 
N 



82 Fads and Occurrences of the Fnmitive Settleinenf. 

the Board, and being approved of, it was ordered to be ingrossed and 
sisjned by the Mayor in order to be transmitted accordingly. 

May 23 1 748 —Ordered that the Recorder be repaid 53^ expended 
in soliciting a Petition to the King for putting the Country in a state ot 

^ iT July ir4S —It was agreed in lieu of an intended entertainment to 
Cant Ballet of the Otter Sloop of War, thatthey present hmi a handsome 
present towards his Sea Stores, say I Pipe of Wine, 20 Galls, of Rum 

'"rOcT"4Wrhe Mayor, W.Attwood, offered 60 J to the Trea- 
sury, in lieu of an Entertainment from him,— accepted unanimously. 

3 Oct 1749.— C. Willing, Mayor, offered 100^ in lieu of an Enter- 
tainment, which was preferred and accepted by the Board 

2 Feb 1753— Tho' Shoemaker, Mayor, presented 75^ to the build- 
ing fund in lieu of giving his Entertainment,— also Alderman btrettle 

'^SsTlay, 1733— Danl. Pettit, (i. e. Pettitoe) public whipper, prays 10^ 
per ann. for his services,— which was granted. . 

23d July, 1753.— Charles Stow now praying the Board to make h m 
some allowance for Fire Wood and Candles, supplied by him at the 
Mayor's Court for Two and Twenty years past. The Board agreed to 
allow him seven shillings and sixpence p. annum for the said hie and 
Candles and Plis trouble relating thereunto it?;m,,,v^ 

31 Au£-'t. 1754.— C. Willing, Mayor. George Lee and Richaid 
Davis petitioning this Board to remit the Fines imposed on ^hemior as- 
vaulting the Watch, they not being of ability to pay the sanie. f\f^^J 
that thf said Fines be remitted,provided they enter on ^°-^;^ His Majest es 
Sloop of War, now in this Harbour, at the time of her sailing ^'^^J"^'/' 
24 Nov'r 1755.-W. Plumstead, Mayor. The Mayor produced the 
Draught of a Remonstrance proposed to be sent from this Board to the As- 
sembfy of this province, on occasion of the Extreme ^^-^f - ^;;-|J^Xs 
the People by the Inroads of our Indian Enemies, and the C^uelMuu^rs 
and Devastations committed by them, and Earnestly requestrng the As- 
sembly to take some speedy t id effectual measures for the Defence of 
the Inhabitants by raising a sum of money and passing a reasonable Law 
for well regulating a Militia. , a ir. ti.r. 

4 Dec ?75S.--T. Lawrence, Mayor. It being represented to the 
Board, that several Persons who have been a considerable time pnsoners 
among the French at Canada, are come to this City in their way to the r 
Sever?! Homes, and being destitute of every thing "^^^^f^T^ support 
them in their iourney,~many of them living at a great distance fiom 
home,~it is proposed thatthis Board should contribute something. 

Dec. 1, 1759.— A Dinner entertainment is ordered for the New Lt. 
Governor, James Hamilton, Esq. at the Lodge. 

Feb 16, 1762.-The Board is specially called to consider the bad 
state of the Streets and to represent that the surplus money fro^tjie rents 
of the public were inadequate for their repairs, &c. A beam and Scales 
at a Cost of 22^ is bought for the use of the Meal Market. 

Oct. 1763.- Money is ordered for completing the Bridge over the 

^Oct'"3tT763;-The board agreed to give an entertainment to the 
Hon'bie. John Penn, Esq. the newly arrived Governor. 



Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. 8.3 

Nov. 23, 1763. — Paid the lixpcnce of the said Entertainment — 203^. 
50^ is ordered to be paid for a lot at the No. East corner of the State 
house Square on which to erect ''a City Hall." 

Jan'v 30, 1764. — It is ordered that Steelyards be not used for weighing 
in tine Markets ; To this 5 butchers presented complaints, but the Scales 
were adhered to. 

Dec. 4, 1 767.— It is ordered that a bill of ^ 1 59 be paid for the expence 
of an entertainment Given to Gener'l Gage, the Comdr. in Chief, on his 
arrival in the city. 

Dec. 22, 1767. — An answer is sent to the Select men of Boston, who 
had recommended measures to restrain the consumption of superflui- 
ties, &c. The answer says, we desire to diffuse a spirit of industry 
and frugality; but they decline to take their public measures as not 
necessary. 66 Stalls in the Market west'd rented for I98=g and 26 east 
at 4^ each and 20 at 3^ each. 

July 21, 1768. — 25^ is allowed to the late Sheriff as the expence of 
shipping off four notorious felons. 

Nov. 1769,- — A committee is appointed to look into the state of the 
" New Market on the Hill." [Southwark.] 

29 June, 1773. — A Petition was rec'd from Friends earnestly re- 
questing that the building of more Stalls in High St. might be suspended. 

The minds of the People being much agitated it was agreed to. 

3 March, 1774. — The bushel measure of the City, made of Copper, 
a New standard was ordered of Brass. 

3 April, 1775. — The Committee to find out a place for a City Hall, 
reported and they recommend tliat the money formerly bestowed by se^ 
veral Mayors for the building an Exchange or other public Edifice, be 
now used to this object. 

Mayors of the Citij of Philadelphia^ 

Anthony Morris, — October, 1704. Griffiths Jones,— Novemb. 1704. 
Joseph Wilcox,— 1705. Nathan Stanbury, — 1706-7. Thomas Mas- 
ters,— 1708-9. Richard Hill,— 1710. William Carter,— 171 1. Sam- 
uel Preston, — 1712. Jonathan Dickinson, — 1713. George Rock, — 1714. 
Richard Hill,— 1715-16-17. Jonathan Dickinson,— 1718. William 
Fishbourne, — 1719-20-21, James Logan, — 1722. Clement Plumsted, 
— 1723. Robert Assheton, — 1724. Isaac Norris, — 1725. William 
Hudson, — 1726. Charles Read, — 1727. Thomas Lawrence, — 1728. 
Thomas Griffiths,— 1729-30-31. C. Hasell,— 1732. Thomas Griffiths, 
— 1733-34. Thomas Lawrence, — 1735. William Allen, — 1736. C. 
Plumstead, — 1737. Thomas Griffiths, — 1738. Anthony Morris, — 1739. 
Edward Roberts,— 1740. S. Hasell,— 1741. William Till,— 1742. B. 
Shoemaker, — 1743. E. Shippen, — 1744. J. Hamilton, — 1745. W. 
Attwood, — 1746-47. C. Willing,— 1748. Thomas Lawrence, — 1749. 

W. Plumstead,— 1750-51. Robert Shettell,— 1752. B. Shoemaker 

1753. C. Willing,— 175 1.. W. Plumstead,— 1755-56. A. Shute,— 
1757. Thomas Lawrence, — 1753-59. John Stamper,-^ 1760. B. Shoe- 
maker, — 1761. Henry Harrison, — 1762. T. Willini?. — 1763. T.Law- 
rence, — 1764-65-66. Isaac Jones,— 1767-68-69. S. Shoemaker, — 1770, 
J. Gibson,— 1771-72. W. Fisher,— 1773-74. S. Rhoade,— 1775. 

The above list is ascertained from the minutes of the City Council. 



84 Fads and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement. 

Gabriel Thomas'' Account of Philadelphia and the Proxince to the 
year 1696. 

jin hist07-ical descrifition of the fir ovine e of Pennsylvania; including 
an account of the city 0/ Philadelphia. Extracted from the history 
luritten in the year 1697. and dedicated " To the moat noble and ex- 
cellent Governour Friend William Penn," by Gabriel Thomas, 
nvho came from England in the year 1681, in the shifi John and 
Sarah, 0/ London, commanded by Henry Smith, atid resided in Penn- 
sylvania about fifteen years. [This work, which belongs to the Li- 
brary Company of Philadelphia, was printed in London, in the year 
1698.] 

Pensilvania lies between the latitude of forty and forty-five degrees : 
West-Jersey on the east, Virginia on the west, Maryland south, and 
New-York and Canada on the north. In length three hundred, and in 
breadth one hundred and eighty miles. 

The natives of this countrey are supposed, by most people, to have 
been of the ten scattered tribes, for they resemble the Jews in the make 
of their persons, and tincture of their complexions ; they observe new 
moons, they offer their first fruits to a Maneto, or supposed Deity, where- 
of they have two. one, as they fansie, above (good ;) another below (bad;) 
and have a kind of feast of tabernacles, laying their altars upon twelve 
stones, observe a sort of mourning twelve months, customs of women, 
and many other rites. 

They are very charitable to one another, the lame and the blind living 
as well as the best; they are also very kind and obliging to the Christians. 

The next that came there, were the Dutch, (who called the countrey 
New Neitherland) between fifty and sixty years ago, and were the first 
planters in those parts ; but they made little improvement, till near the 
lime of the wars between England and them, about thirty or forty years 
ago. 

Soon after them came the Sweeds and Fins, who applyed themselves 
to husbandry, and were the first Christian people that made any con- 
siderable improvement there. 

I'here were some disputes between these two nations some years : the 
Diitcii looking upon the Sweeds as intruders* upon their purchase and 
possession. These disputes were terminated in the surrender made by 
John Rizeing, the Sweeds govt rnour, to Peter Stuyvesant, governour for 
the Dutch, in 165 5. In the Holland war about the year 1665, Sir Robert 
Carr took the countrey from the Dutch for the English, and left his cou- 
sin, captain Carr, governour of that place ; but in a short time after, the 
Dutch re-took the country from the English, and kept it in their posses- 
sion till the peace was concluded between the English and them, when 
the Dutch surrendered that countrey with East and West-Jersey and 
New -York, to the English again. But it remained with very little im- 
provement till the year irsi, in which William Penn, Esquire, had the 
countrey given him by king Charles the second, (in lieu of money that 
was due to his father. Sir William Penn) and from him bore the name 
of Pensilvania. 

Sii-co that time, the industrious inhabitants have built a noble and 

*Thus showing the Swedes were not thus early regarded as the pi-imiliYe settlers. 



Facts and Occurrences of the Pnmitive Settlement. 85 

ieautiful city, and called it Philadelphia, or Brotherly-love (for so much 
the Greek word Philadelphia imports) which contains a number of hou- 
ses all inhabited; and most of them stately, and of brick, generally three 
stories high, after the mode in London, and as many several families in 
each._ There are very many lanes and allevs, as first, Huttons-Iane, 
Morns-lane, Jones's-lane, wherein, are very good buildings ; Shorters- 
alley, Yowers-lane, Wallers-alley, Turners-lane, Sikes-allcy, and Flnv- 
ers-alley. All these alleys and lanes extend from the Front-street to the 
Second-street. There is another alley in the Second-street, called Car- 
ters-alley. Ihere are also, besides these allevs and lanes, several iiae 
squares and courts within this magnificent city ; as for the particular 
names of the several streets contained therein, the principal are as fol- 
k)ws, VIZ. Walnut-street, Vine street, Mulberry-street, Chesnut-street, 
Sassafras-street, taking their names from the abundance of those trees 
tiiat formerly grew there ; High-street, Broad-street, Delaware-street, 
1-ront street, with several of less note, too tedious to insert here. 

It hath in it three fairs every year, and two markets every week. 
1 hey kill above twenty fat bullocks every week, in the hottest time in 
Summer, besides many sheep, calves, and hogs. 

This city is situated between Schoolkill-river and the great river Del- 
aware, which derives its name from captain Delaware, who came there 
pretty early : ships of two or three hundred tuns may come up to this 
city, by either of these two rivei-s. Moreover, in this province are four 
great market-towns, viz. Chester, the German-town, New-castle, and 
Lewis-town, which are mightily enlarged in this latter improvement 
between these towns, the water-men constantly ply their wherries ; like- 
wise all those towns have fairs kept in them ; besides there are several 
countrey villages, viz. Dublin, Harford, Merioneth, and Radnor in Cum^ 
bry ; all of which towns, villages and rivers took their names from the 
several countries from whence the present inhabitants came. 

1 he corn-harvest is ended before the middle of July,* and most years 
they have commonly between twenty and thirty bushels of wheat fo- 
every one they sow. Their ground is harrowed with wooden tyned 
harrows, twice over in a place is sufficient; twice mending of their 
plow-irons m a years time will serve. Their horses commonly go with- 
out being shod ; two men may clear between twenty and thirty acres of 
land in one year, fit for the plough, in which oxen are chicflv used 
though horses are not wanting, and of them good and well shaped Of 
such land, m a convenient place, the purchase will cost between ten and 
htteen pounds for a hundred acres. Here is much meadow ground 
Poor people both men and women, will get near three time's more 
vvages for their labour in this countrey, than they can earn either in 
England or Wales. 

What is inhabited of this countrey, is divided into six counties, though 
there is not the twentieth part of it yet peopled by the Christians : it hath 
in It several navigable rivers for shipping to come in, besides the capital 
Delaware ; there are also several other small rivers the names of them 
are, Hoorkill-river, alias Lewis-river, which runs up to Lewis-town, the 
chieiest m Sussex county ; Cedar-river, Muskmellon-river, all takine 
Uieir names from the great plenty of these things growing thereabouts ; 
* Meaning in old style. 



ua Fiicts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement 

Mother-kill alias Dover-river, St. Jones's alias Cranbrook-river, where 
one John Curtice lives, who hath three hundred head of neat beasts, be- 
sides great numbers of hogs, horses, and sheep ; Great Duck-river, 
Little buck-river. Blackbird-river, these also took there original names 
from the great numbers of those fowls which are found there in vast 
quantities; Apequinemy-river, where their goods come to be carted 
over to Maryland ; St. George's river, Christeen river, Brandy-wine- 
tiver, Upland alias Chester-river, which runs by Chester-town, being 
the shire or county-town, Schoolkill-river, Frankford-river, near which, 
Arthur Cook hath a most stately brick-house ; and Nishamany-river, 
■where judge Growden hath a very noble and fine house, very pleasantly 
situated, and likewise a famous orchard adjoyning to it, wherein are con- 
tained above a thousand apple trees of various sorts ; likewise there is 
the famous Derby-river, which comes down from the Cumbry by Derby- 
town, wherein are several fulling-mills, corn-mills, &c. 

There is curious building-stone and paving-stone ; also tile -stone, with 
which latter, governour Penn covered his great and stately pile, which 
he called Pennsbury-house ; there is likewise iron-stone or oar, (lately 
found) which far exceeds that in England, being richer and less drossy; 
some preparations have been made to carry on an iron-work : there is 
also very good lime-stone in great plenty, and cheap, of great use in 
buildings, and also in manuring land, (if there were occasion) but nature 
has made that of itself sufficiently fruitful ; besides here are load-stones, 
ising-glass, and (that wonder of stones) the Salamander-stone, found 
near Brandy-wine-river, having cotton in veins within it, which will not 
consume in the fire, though held there a long time.* 

As to minerals or metals, there is very good copper, far exceeding 
•urs in England, being much finer, and of a more glorious colour. 

Not two' miles from the metropolis, are also purging mineral-waters,t 
that pass both by siege and urine, all out as good as Epsom : and I have 
reason to believe, there are good coals also, for I observed the runs of 
water have the same colour as that which proceeds from the coal-mines 
in Whales. 

There are an infinite number of sea and land fowl of most sorts, and 
there are prodigious quantities of shell and other fish. There are also 
several sorts of wild beasts of great profit and good food ; I have bought 
of the Indians a whole buck, (both skin and carcase) for two gills of 
o-unpowder. All which, as well beasts, fowl and fish, are free and 
common to any person who can shoot or take them, without any lett, 
hinderance or opposition whatsoever. 

There are also" several sorts of wild fruits, as excellent grapes, which, 
upon frequent experience, have produced choice wine, being daily culti- 
vated by skilful vinerous ; they will, in a short space of time, have good 
liquor of their own, and some to supply their neighbours, to their great- 
advantage ; as these wines are more pure, so much more wholesome ; 
the brewing trade of sophisticating and adulterating of wines, as in Eng- 
land, Holland (especially) and in some other places, not being known 
there yet, nor in all probability will it in many years, through a natural 
probity so fixed and implanted in the inhabitants, and (I hope) like to 
.<j-ontinue. Wallnuts, chesnuts, filberts, hickery-nuts, hurtlebei'ries, mul- 

* The Asbestos. t Springs— raiuQrai 



Faets and Oceiirreuees af the Primitive Settlement. 8f 

berries, rasberries, strawberries, crambcrries, plumbs and many other 
wild fruits, in great plenty, which are common and free for any to gather. 

The common planting fruit trees, arc apples, of which much excellent 
cyder is made, and sold commonly for between ten and fifteen shillings 
per barrel. Pears, peaches, 8cc. of which they distil a liquor much like 
the taste of rumm, or brandy, which they yearly make in great quanti- 
ties : there are quinces, cherries, goosberrics, currants, squashes, pump- 
kins, water-mellons, musk-mcUons, and other fruits in great numbers. 
There are also many curious and excellent physical wild herbs, roots, 
and drugs, of great vertue, which makes the Indians, l)y a right appli- 
cation of tliem, as able doctors and surgeons as any in Europe. 

The names of the counties are as followcth : Philadelphia, Bucks, 
Chester, New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex. 

And now for their lots and lands in city and countrey, since they were 
first laid out, which was within the compass of about twelve years : that 
which might have been bovight for fifteen or eighteen shillings, is now 
sold for fourscore pounds in ready silver ; and some other lots, that 
might have been then purchased for three pounds, within the space of 
two years, were sold for a hundred pounds a piece, and likewise some 
land that lies near the city, that sixteen years ago might have been pur- 
chased for six or eight pounds the hundred acres, cannot now be bought 
under one hundred and fifty, or two hundred pounds. 

Now the true reason why this fruitful countrey and flourishing city 
advance so considerably in the purchase of lands is their great and ex- 
tended traffique and commerce, both by sea and land, viz. to New-York, 
New-England, Virginia, Mary-land, Carolina, Jamaica, Barbadoes, Nevis, 
Monserat, Antego, St. Christophers, Barmudoes, New-foundland, Ma- 
deras, Saltetudeous, and Old England ; besides several other places. 
Their merchandize chiefly consists in horses, pipe-staves, pork and beef, 
salted and barrelled up, bread and flour, all sorts of grain, peas, beans, 
skins, furs, tobacco, and pot-ashes, wax, &c. which are bartered for 
rumm, sugar, molasses, silver, negroes, salt, wine, linen, lioushold- 
goods, 8cc. 

Great encouragements are given to tradesmen and others, I shall in- 
stance a few— carpenters, both house and ship, brick-layers, and masons 
will get between five and six shillings per day constantly. As to journey- 
men shooe-makers, they have two shillings per pair both for men and 
womens shooes : and journeymen taylors have twelve shillings per week 
and their diet. And weavers, have ten or twelve pence the yard for 
weaving : wool-combers, have for combing twelve pence per pound. 
Potters have sixteen pence for an earthen pot which may be bought ia 
England for four pence. Tanners, may buy their green hides for three 
halfpence per pound, and sell their leather for twelve pence per pound. 
And curriers have three shillings and four pence per hide for dressing; 
they buy their oyl at twenty pence per gallon. Brick-makers have 
twenty shillings per thousand for their bricks at the kiln. Felt-makers 
will have for their hats seven shillings a piece, such as may be bought 
in England for two shillings a piece ; yet they buy their wool commonly 
for twelve or fifteen pence per pound. And as to the glaziers they will 
have five pence a quarry for their glass. The butchers, for killing a beast, 
have five shillings and their diet ; and they may buy a good fat large 



as Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement 

cow for three pounds, or thereaboiits The brewers sell such beer as 
is equal in strength to that in London, half ale and half stout, for fifteeit 
shillings per barrel ; and their beer hath a better name, tha( /.s, is in 
more esteem than English beer in Barbadoes, and is sold for a higher 
price there. And for silver-smiths, they have between half a crown 
and three shillings an ounce for working tlieir silver, and for gold equiva- 
lent. Plasterers have comivionly eighteen pence per yard for plastering. 
Last-makers have sixteen shillings per dozen for their lasts. \nd heel- 
makers have two shillings a dozen for th^ir heels. Wheel and mill- 
wrights, joyners, braziers, pewterers, dyers, fullers, comb-makers, wyer- 
drawers, cage-makers, card-makers, painters, cutlers, rope-makers, car- 
vers, block-makers, turners, coopers, bakers, button-makers, hair and 
wood sieve-makers, bodies-makers, black-smiths, gun-smiths, lock- 
smiths, nailers, file-cutters, skinners, furriers, glovers, patten-makers, 
watch-makers, clock-makers, sadlers, collar-makers, barbers, printers, 
book-binders and all other trades-men, their gains and wages are about 
the same proportion as the fore -mentioned trades. 

Of lawyers and physicians I shall say nothing, because this countrey is 
very peaceable and healthy ; labouring-men have commonly here, be- 
tween fourteen and fifteen pounds a year, and their meat, drink, wash- 
ing and lodging ; and by the day their wages is generally between eigh- 
teen pence and half a crown, and diet also ; but in harvest they have 
usually between three and four shillings each day, and diet. The maid 
servants wages are commonly betwixt six and ten pounds per annum, 
with very good accommodation. 

Corn and flesh, and what else serves man for drink, food and rayment, 
is much cheaper here than in England, or elsewhere ; but the chief rea- 
son why wages of servants of all sorts is much higher here than there, 
arises from the great fertility and produce of the place; besides, if these 
large stipends were refused them, they would quickly set up for them- 
selves, for they can have provision very cheap, and land for a very small 
matter. They have constantly good price for their corn, by reason of the 
great and quick vent into Barbadoes and other islands ; through which 
means silver is become more plentiful here than in England, considering 
the number of people. They pay no tithes and their taxes are incon- 
siderable ; the place is free for all persuasions, in a sober and civil way; 
for the Church of England and the Quakers bear equal share in the 
government. They live frieiully and well together ; there is no perse- 
cution for religion, nor ever like to be. I shall add another reason why 
womens wages arc so exorbitant ; they are not yet very numerous which 
makes them stand upon high terms for their several services; moreover, 
they are usually married before they are twenty years of age, and, when 
once in that noose, are for the most part a little uneasie, and make their 
husbands so too, till they procure them a maid servant to bear the bur- 
den of the work, as also in some measure to wait on them too. 

The city of Brotherly-love far exceeds her namesake of Lydia,* and 
will, in all probability, make a fine figure in the world, and be a most 
celebrated emporeum. Here is lately built a noble town-house or guild- 
hall, also a handsome market-house and a convenient prison. 

The laws of this countrey, are the same with those in England ; our 

* Thirty miles from Smyrna. 



Fads and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlment. 89 

aonstltution being on the same foot ; many disputes and differences are 
determined and composed by arbitration ; and all causes arc decided with 
great care and expedition, being concluded at furthest at the second court, 
unless they happen to be very nice and difficult cases. Under forty shil- 
lings any one justice of the peace has power to try the cause. Thieves, 
01 all sorts, are obliged to restore four-fold after they have been whip* 
and imprisoned according to the nature of their crime ; and if they be 
not of ability to restore four-fold, they must be in servitude till it is satis- 
K fi /pS' ,'^'''; .^"^'^o"^ wharfs, as also large and fine timber yards 
both at Philade phia and New-castle, especially at the metropolis, before 
liobert 1 urncr s great and famous house, where are built ships of con- 
siderable burthen ; they cart their goods from that wharf hito the citv of 
piladelphia, under an arch, over which part of the street is built, which 
is called Chesnut-street* wharf, besides other wharfs, as Hi^^h-street 
wharf. Mulberry-street wharf, and Vine-street wharf, and all those are 
common wharfs ; and likewise there are very pleasant stairs, as Trus 
and Carpenter-stairs, besides several others. There are above thirty 
carts belonging to that city, four or five horses to each. There is like- 
j'lsc a very convenient wharf called Carpenter's- wharf, which hath a 
fine necessary crain belonging to it, with suitable granaries, and store- 
houses. And there are other wharfs which front the city all along the 
river, as also a curious and commodious dock with a drawbridge to it 
for the convenient reception of vessels. In this famous city of Philadel- 
phia there are several rope-makers, who have large and curious rope- 
walks, especially one Joseph Wilcox ;t also three or four spacious 
nialt-houses, as many large brew-houses, and many handsome bake- 
houses for pubhck use. 

In the said city are several good schools oflearning for youth, in order 
to the attainment of arts and sciences ; as also reading, writing, &c . 
Were is to be had, on any day in the week, tarts, pies, cakes. Sec. We 
have also several cooks-shops, both roasting and boyling, as in the city 
ot London ; happy blessings, for which we owe the highest gratitude to 
our plentiful Provider, the great Creator of heaven and earth. The 
water-mills are made by one Peter Deal, a famous and ingenious work- 
man, especially for inventing such like machines. 

All sorts of very good paper are made in the German-town ; as also 
very tine German linen, such as no person of quality need be ashamed 
to wear ; and, m several places, they make very good druggets, crapes, 
camblets, and serges, besides other woollen cfoathcs, the manufactu4 of 
all which daily improves ; and in most parts of the countrey there are 
many curious and spacious buildings, which several of the gentry have 
erected for their countrey houses. t. / ^ 

henTuUnW A'^^ri f ^t"^'^" ^T ^^'^ ^'^ generally well favoured, and 
beautitul to behold ; I never knew any with the least blemish. 

1 here are very fine and delightful gardens and orchards in most part* 

hL .n """T 7 ' i""' ^.^^""^''^ •^'"PP'^y (^^'^^ "^^^ "^^^ the capital city) 
has an orchard and gardens adjoyning to his great house that equalizes 
any I have ever seen, having a very famous and pleasant summer-hous.? 

isttm !SC* '"'"^ '' ^ mistake,-he meant Mulberry street, >vhere Turner's hoa.e« 
tHe was Mayor in 1706. 



90 Fads and Occurrences of the Primitive /Settlement. 

erected in the middle of his garden, abounding with tulips, pinks, carna- 
tions, looses, (of several sorts) lilies, not to mention those that grow wild 
in the fields. 

Reader, Avhat I have here written, is not a fiction, flam, whim, or any 
sinister design, either to impose upon the ignorant, or credulous, or to 
curry favour with the rich and mighty ; but in mere pity and pure com- 
passion to the numbers of poor labouring men, women and children in 
England, that are wandering up and down looking for employment, who 
need not here lie idle a moment, much less vagabond or drone it about. 
Here are no beggars to be seen, nor indeed have any here the least 
temptation to take up that scandalous lazy life. Jealousie among men 
is here very rare, nor are old maids to be met with ; for all commonly 
marry before they are twenty years of age. 

The wav of worship the Sweeds use in this countrey, is the Lutheran ; 
the English have four sorts of religious meetings here ; the Church of 
England, who built a very fine church in this city in the year 1695 ; the 
Anabaptists ; the Presbyterians ; and two sorts of Quakers, (of all the 
most numerous by much) one party held with George Keith ; but 
v/hether both parties will joyn together again in one I cannot tell. He 
gave strict charge concerning plain language and plain habit, and that 
they should not be concerned in the compelling part of the worldly gov- 
ernment ; that they should set their negroes at liberty after some rea- 
sonable time of service ; and that they should not take advantage of the 
law against one another, as to procure them any corporeal punishment. 
These instructions were given foi'th, in the year 1693, by the meeting 
lield by George Keith, at P. James's house in Philadelphia. He shortly 
after went to England, where he now,* in this year 1697, keeps a meet- 
ing, at Turners-hall, London, on Sundays in the afternoon. 

What I have delivered concerning this province, is indisputably true ; • 
I was an eye witness to it all, for I went in the first ship that was bound 
from England for that countrey, since it received the name of Pensilva- 
nia. I saw the first cellar, when it was digging, for the use of our 
governour William Penn. And now, Reader, I shall take my leave of 
thee, recommending thee, with mine own self, to the directions of the 
spirit of God in our conscience. 

William Fislibourne^s Narrative of Philadelphia EventSj 
to the year 1739. 

In the year 1739, William Fishbourne, Esq. a Friend, a native of 
Philadelphia, and resident of many years, was induced to write a narra- 
tive of events concerning Philadelphia, and the settlement of the State 
to that time, in 9 folio pages of cap paper, which I have seen, from 
which I have made such extracts as I thought pertinent to my main 
design. [William Fishbourne was Mayor of the city during the years 
1719-20 and 21, and was at one time Treasurer of the colony.] 

He entitles his MS. *' Some few and short hints of the Settlement of 
the Province of Pennsylvania, to the year 1739." 

" These hints (says he) appear not only abrupt but imperfect, for 
want of proper helps therein, and the matters relating to government, and 

* NtfW mplies that he wrote "this in 1697. 



Facts andr Occurrences of the Primitive Settkmenl, 9\ 

the settlers, and tlie settlements may appear too much intermixed; yet it 
is hoped that all matters of fact are truly and briefly related. It is to be 
wishe* that some person or persons of skill would think it worth their 
while, care, and pains, from sufficient proofs that may still be procured, 
to form a just historical account of the low beginning, and great increase 
of this province ; and above all, (to show) how God, by his divine provi- 
dence, in and through the whole, has most miraculously preserved and 
blessed the inhabitants with peace and plenty to this day. 

Such a history doubtless would not only be very serviceable, but de- 
lightful and pleasant to succeeding generations. [So the present transcri- 
ber also has thought !] Some ancient men of the first settlers, who are 
now deceased, had this much at heart, and some essays have been made 
thereof, [How happy we should be to see them !] and, it is a great pity 
that such an undertaking should be either delayed or declined. '[And yet 
no professed historian arose till Proud gave us his volumes !*] The 
English have a great advantage over the present Indians, who can only 
communicate by traditional speeches ; whilst we can communicate and 
recommend any past occurrences to future generations by writing ! 
[" The preserving art of all arts !"] 

William Penn, Esq. a judicious and wise man, religiously inclined, 
being desirous to retire to some other parts, for the more free liberty 
and exercise of his religious persuasion, and from some hardships and 
oppressions, which he and others suffered in England ; by some proper 
measures, he obtained a grant from king Charles II. of the province, 
which he called after his own name Pennsylvania, [i. e. Penn, and Syl- 
vania, meaning a country covered Avith Avoods.] 

Having divided it into three counties, to wit : Philadelphia, Chester, and 
Bucks, and laid the plan of Philadelphia city, he invited and encouraged 
those of his persuasion, and others, to acco'mpany and settle the same; 
whereupon several readily agreed. He also framed an excellent form 
of government, and suitable schemes for such an undertaking. 

Sometime after, he, with many more, chiefly Quakers, hired ships, 
and transported themselves and families ; but when they came to the 
province they found little or no conveniencies for their reception, nor 
much probability of getting sufficient food and other necessaries of life, 
but a large wilderness for some time without inhabitants,! save a few 
families of Swedes settled on the Delaware, and the Indians, who very 
providentially were helpful and not hurtful ; but peaceably permitted 
the English to settle among them. 

Want of proper conveniencies and necessaries, at first view, must of 
course strike a great damp upon them, who had known and left good 
habitations, he. (for most of those, who had first come over, were not 

*I have had in my possession .1 MS. Iiistory of Pennsylvania, never niiblished, by 
bamuel Smith, (the author of New Jersey History to 1721) which bears many n.arks of 
Having been seen and used by R. Proud. The first volume has long been lost. It would 
seem, trom a remark in Cough's History of the Quakers, that he must have had it, or at 
least seen it. Wiiat I have had relates not to civil history, but to Priends. 

tin 1677, William Edmundson, a public Friend, iraveJling somhward from New York, 
says he travelled all day with a Fin from the Falls of D^'laware, (soulhuard) without seein<i 
a soul; and from Middlctown Point coming to Delawaic river althou'-h witli an Indian" 
they could not find the way all day, and were obli-ed to go back, su as^'to find the Karitan 
river at any point, and thence to follow its margin until they could find a small landing 
trom New York," and thence to follow a sma^l path to Delaware Falls, and by this 
means only, ihey found their way. He says, " We £a^v no tame animals in all the wav." 



9^ Facts and Occurrences of the Fiimitive Settlement. 

people of low circumstances, but substantial livers) notwithstanding 
Avhich, being animated with their first good design and intention of pro- 
moting religion, far beyond any worldly gain or profit, they unanimously 
fell to an honest industry to provide for themselves the best they could, 
(which ought never to be forgot !) and they made caves in the bank of 
Delaware, where the city is now laid out, and cut down timber, to make 
huts and conveniencies to live in ; depending on providence for other 
necessaries, which for some time proved hard to get, (the western divi- 
sion of New Jersey near them being then but thin settled) however, some 
of the neighbouring colonies hearing of a people come to settle, came 
with such necessaries as they could spare, which was very scanty for the 
number of persons, which wanted them, and they^took money for them; 
for they w^erc not empty handed. 

These hardships and difficulties continued several years ; and having 
spent their money and other necessaries they brought with them, it 
seemed hard for some to bear ; and they would often condole with one 
another, saying, they believed it would not do to stay, and they must 
seek some other place 1 But as they continued their industry, in a few 
years (having several artificers and tradesmen among them, which 
was their riches in fact !) they had got some few tolerable good houses 
in the city, and lands cleared for plantations, whereon they sowed and 
planted provisions, which was more plentiful every year, notwithstanding 
people continued coming in to settle ; for the land being good and 
fertile, produced plentifully of excellent wheat and almost all other sorts 
of grain, with roots and fruits, and they got a stock of cattle, horses, 
sheep, and hogs ; and in less than ten years [still a good long while to 
wait, to persons accustomed to comfortable livings] the country produce 
became considerably more than the inhabitants wanted for their own 
consumption, although they were very much inci-eased in numbers; 
[Little could they in their actual need foresee the wonderful present im- 
provements on the same soil !] so that they began to manufacture their 
wheat by bolting (having some few water-mills to grind the corn) which 
made excellent flour of several degrees. The first they sold for exporta- 
tion ; the other sorts made good bread and biscuit, and the bran made 
hearty food for working creatures. 

By this time a report had reached the West Indies that a number of 
people had settled a new country which produced great plenty of provi- 
sions, on which they sent several vessels to trade with them, [It has not 
been heretofore understood that the West Indians began the commerce ; 
yet in this way came the Norris', Dickinson's, and other families from 
the West Indies to settle in Philadelphia to pursue commerce,] and they 
brought quantities of coined silver and gold, besides the produce of 
those islands, to purchase provisions. By this means cash was plenty, 
for the number of people, and the inhabitants were enabled to build 
[thereby] vessels and to trade to sea. 

Thus pmvidence caused the country to increase in wealth, peace and 
plenty from year to year ; so that the first 40 years it was the admira- 
tion of all people, who saw or heard of its flourishing condition, in lands, 
improvements in building houses and shipping, manufactures of many 
kin<ls, increase in plenty, commerce and trade, the great number of in- 
habitants, the soil producing plentifully with their industry. [What a 



Facts and Occurrences of the Primitive Settlement 93 

time to make fortunes, when lands and lots were cheap, and money 
abovmded ! and therefore we have seen all the original industrious and 
frugal inhabitants become in fact the nobility of the country. If they 
then admired to sec their progress so sudden and so great ; we also 
have had a time, even now, of admiring at our eclipsing of late years 
all that they thus did !] i- o / 

Considerable numbers of shipping came yearly, besides vessels built 
not only for the inhabitants, but many others in remote parts, who readily 
disposed of their cargoes and procured their full loading of the produce 
•t this province, which was transported to the English plantations, and 
©ther foreign nations, by which means, all useful necessaries they had 
©ccasion for, were imported amongst them ; and in every sense, the 
country still increasing more in settlements and improvements ; many 
thousands of foreigners and others came hither and settled, whereby the 
produce of almost all kinds were much more increased, as well as com- 
merce and trade both at home and abroad ; and much good harmony 
continued amongst the inhabitants considering what a large number of 
mixed people Avere got together. 

And it must be noted, that for many years, there subsisted a good 
concord and benevolent disposition amongst the people of all denomina- 
tions, each delighting to be reciprocally helpful and kind in acts of 
friendship for one another, and (as it is said) there was no difference in 
forms of worship ; for the Quakers, having built a large Meeting house 
about the centre of the city, [meaning I presume, the corner of Second 
and High streets, and not the real centre Meeting house at Broad and 
High streets,] all came there, until a mischievous man, who had im- 
bibed vile notions of sacred things, and had more learning than sincerity, 
and wanting to form a particular sect of his own, [meaning Georcr^ 
Keith s schism,] so divided the people, that they separated into different 
bocieties ; but at length he confounded himself and many of his adherents. 

The proprietor's first and principal care was to promote peace with 
all ; and accordingly he established a friendly correspondence, by wav 
of treaty with the Indians, at least twice a year, [This is worth noticing,! 
and strictly enjoined the inhabitants and survevors, not to settle any 
land to which the Indians had a claim, until he had first, at his own cost, 
satisfied and paid them for the same. [This peace lasted 80 years ll 
Which discreet method so effectually engaged their friendship, that they 
entirely loved him and his people,— when at the same time, several of 
the neighbouring colonies were at war and in great distress by the Indians. 

The proprietor, being called home to meet some grievous complaints 
and false insinuations, did not return till the year 1700, when he came 
with his family, to the great joy of the inhabitants in general, with inten- 
tions (as It was hoped) to settle therein ; and often expressed his great 
pleasure of once more coming again, and seeing the flourishing and 
happy state of the province, where he greatly desired to continue. But 
his stay was short, for his enemies at home were still unwearied against 
him, and he embarked himself and family on board a mean ship in the 
winter season, and arrived safe in England, where he still retained his 
interest at court. 

These complaints and troubles, not only proving very fatiguing but 
'Expensive, gave liim such uneasiness, that in the reign of queen Anne 



94 Fads and Occurences of the Primitive Settlemenf, 

he proposed to sell his right of Pennsylvania to the crown, on tenns 
securinf^ the people's rights. Yet, some would insinuate he had not 
regarded the people therein, which would be doing that worthy man'& 
memoi-y and integrity great injustice ! 

As the chief part of the inhabitants were Quakers, they, with others, 
were and are concerned in acts of government ; but as the province in- 
creased and prospered in every respect, many of other persuasions 
came and settled here with worldly views ; who have formerly attempted 
to wrest the civil power out of the Quaker's hands, as it is very probable 
they may, and will again. As they politically begin to think and observe, 
the country in its increased wealth and commerce cannot be safe under 
the conduct of men, who from their principles [of religion] would con- 
tinue it in a defenceless state and leave it an easy prey to any enemy. 
Thus not legarding [the fact of] the peaceable introduction and con- 
tinuing from the first settlement, both in time of peace and war." 

Jlstrological Signs of Philadelphia at its Birth. 

When Astrological science was much countenanced, Jacob 
Taylor, a good mathematician, who from keeping a small school 
near Abington, came to be the Surveyor General of the province, 
calculated the aspect of the planets when the city of Philadelphia 
was founded, and expressed the result in the following lines — 
wi'itten in the year 1723, to wit: 

" Full forty years have now their changes made, 
Since the foundation of this town was laid ; — * 
When Jove and Saturn were in Leo join'd 
They saw the survey of the place designed. 
Swift were these planets, and the woi-ld will own, 
Swift was the progress of the rising town. 
The Lion is an active regal sign ; 
And Sol beheld the two superiors join. 
A city built with such propitious rays 
Will stand to see old walls and happy days. 
But kingdoms, cities, men in every state 
Are subject to vicissitudes of fate. 
An envious cloud may shade the smiling morn, 
Though fates ordain the beaming Sun's return !'' 

Numerous other facts illustrative of the early history of Phila- 
delphia could have been connected with the present article, but 
as they had also some direct bearings on places, characters, kc. 
intended to be specially described under theii* appropriate head?> 
they are less necessai'y in this place. 



95 
THE 



UM^ 



(^PRIMITIVE RACE.) 

" Proud of thy rule, we boast th' iiuspicious year-^ 
Struck with thy ills, we shed a gcn'rous tear." 

Business Concerns of miliam Penn. 

THESE facts concerning William Penn were derived from the 
perusal ofhis letters, from 1684 to 1687, to his chief steward or 
agent, J. Harrison, at Pennsbury, to wit : 

In 1684, he says he '' hopes the Lord will open his way this fall. 
1 should be sorry to think of staying till next spring." 

1685,— he says, I am sorry my 40 or 50£. chai-ge of the sloop 
Js flung away upon oyster shells. I hoi)e it will not continue to be 
so spoiled. He also says, " Captain East charges you all with 
letting tiie ship lay three or four months by the wall, to his and my 
detriment ; and he protested, and made a profitable voyage of it 
ti-uly I have no prospect yet of returning, hut as soon as I can 
1 will ; lor I should rejoice to see you face to face again. Pm sor- 
ry you have drawn upon me here, when I am here \mon their er- 
rand, and had rather have lost 1000£\ than have stirred from Penn- 
sylvania. The reproaches I hear daily of the conduct of things 
bear hard upon my spirits. I wonder you had no wampum of 
mine, for Ilett about 20 or 25£. worth that came from New York, 
as part of the goods I paid so dear for there. I hear my sloop has 
been ill-used by captain Dore, and is now laid up in the Schuylkill. 
I have disposed of her to Richard Song, the bearer. If she be not 
ht, then hire him a sloop for his turn. I send rigging by him 
which preserve if not wanted for him. He is to be loaded with 
pipe staves on my account, or any others that will freight to Bar- 
badoes. Let him have one of the blacks of Allen.—two of which 
are as good as bought,--such a one as is most used to sea ; and if 
George Enilen will go with him liire him. He will return to thee, 
by way of Saltitudoes. If George Emien be settled, [he was want- 
ed as mate] pick out an honest, true man to go with Richard Sonff. 
1 have sold the Gulielmina for 40£._so great is my loss. I have 
lost 500^. by that vessel. The trees I sent are choice and costly 
things, and if I live, and my poor children, I shall have want enough 
to transplant to other plantations. Receive 40£. of the bearer for 
a lady m England that intends to go over soon with her family ; 
and many considerable persons are like to follow. She has bouglit 



96 The Venn Family. 

5,500 acres, and her first 300 must be cliosen on the river, nexd 
(above) to Arthur Cooks. She wants a house of brick, like Han- 
nah Psalter's in Burlington, and she will give 4 0£. sterling in mo- 
ney, and as much more in goods. Francis Collins or T. Matlack 
may build it. It must have four rooms below, about 36 by 18 feet 

large, the rooms 9 feet higli, and of two stories height." In 

another letter he calls her a relative, and says he sends money from 
Plymouth by Francis Rawlc on the 24th of 2 mo. 1686. [Such 
facts may be deemed too minute for preservation, but who can fore- 
see that even such facts may not be requisite to illustrate other 
needed points of information : — For instance, in the above the price 
and value of buildings then are given,— the names of two respect- 
able families now are given as first settlers at Burlington,— and 
the ancestors of the Rawle family is given, and the date of his em- 
igration. It is by such incidental facts that more important one« 
are sometimes explained.] 

He writes from London, 1686, saying, he sends for his family 
(to go to Pennsylvania) twenty-five barrels of beef, some hundred 
pounds of butter and candles from Ireland, and 30£. for my com- 
ing over,— meaning as a prepai-ative for such a visit. In mean- 
time, cheer the people ; my heart is with you ; expect a net by 
first ship, and some powder and shot. The king is now courteous 
to F'riends before imprisoned, but pinching to the Church of Eng- 
land ; and several Roman Catholics get into places. To you I say, 
be wise, close and respectful to superiors. 

In another letter he says, ''The Lord has given me great cil- 
trance with the king, though not so much as is said. Pray stop 
those scurvy quarrels that break out to the disgrace of the province. 
All good is said of the place and but little good of the people. 
These bickerings keep back hundreds,— 10,000£. out of my way» 
and 100.000£. out of the country." In 1687, he says, ^'I expect 
to see you this summer, though preferment I may have. I choose 
ray lot among an untliankful people." 

Penn, the Founder. 

Pemi. the founder, was once, in the province, called Lord Penn, 
and it was ordered to be discontinued by an act of the Council at 
Philadelphia. From its minutes we learn, that on the 9th of 1 1 mo. 
1685, the Secretary reported to the Council, that in *'the clirono- 
logie of the Almanack sett forth by Samuel Atkins of Philadelphia, 
and printed by William Bradford of the same place," there were 
these offensive words, to wit : "the beginning of government here 
by Lord Penn." The words ''Lord Peiin'' were ordered to be struck 
out, and the Printer was charged not again to print any thing 
which had not the '' lycence of the Council." Tliis fact of course 
indicates an Almanack of two years earlier date than the one of 
1687, wkich I have preserved. 



The Penu Family. 97 

Character of the Penn Familij. 

The following are personal notices and facts concerning some of 
the members of that family, as tliey were found incidentally men- 
tioned in the pages of Mrs. Logan*s MS. selections, — kindly lent 
to me for gleaning what 1 might deem pertinent to the present 
work, to w it : 

Isaac IS orris, sen'r. in iroi, thus writes respecting it, saying, 
<'The Governor is our pater patrise, and his worth is no new thing 
to us. We value him highly, and hope his life w ill be preserved 
till all things are settled here to his peace and comfort and the peo- 
ple's ease and quiet. His cxcellejit wife, — and she is beloved by 
all — by all in its fullest extent. — makes her leaving us heavy, and 
of real sorrow- to iier friends, — being of an excellent spirit, it adds 
lustre to her character. She has carried under and through all 
with a w onderful evenness, humility, and freedom. Her sweetness 
and goodness has become her character and is indeed extraordi- 
nary : In sliort, we love her, and she deserves it. Their little 
son (John) is a lovely babe." [The •"conduct" of Mrs. Penn refers 
<'to the unhappy misunderstanding in some and unwarrantable 
opposition in others."] 

William Penn^s Second Arrival, — 1699. 

James Logan writes, in 1700, to William Penn, jun'r. and says, 
^'The highest terms I could use would hardly give you an idea of 
the expectation and w elcome that thy father received from the most 
honestei" party here. Friends' love to the Governor was great and 
sincere. They had Jong mourned his absence and passionately de- 
sired his return. Directly from the wharf the Governor went to 
his deputy, paid him a sliort formal visit, and from tlience, w ith a 
crowed attending, to Meeting, it being about 3 o'clock on First-day 
afternoon, w here he spoke to the people, and praying concluded it ; 
from thence to Edward Shippen's, where we lodged for about a 
month." 

Causes of TVilliam PenrCs Return Home, in 1701. 

William Penn, in writing to James Logan, in July, 1701, says, 
*^ I cannot prevail on my w ife to stay, and still less with Tishe. I 
know not what to do. Samuel Carpenter seems to excuse her in 
it, but to all that speak of it, say, I shall have no need to stay (in 
England) and a great interest t<j retui-n. All that I liave to dis- 
pose of in this world is here for daughter and son, and all the issue 
which this wife is like to bring me ; and having no more gains by 
government to trust to for bread, I must come (back) to sell, pay 
debts, and live and lay up for this posterity, as well as that tliey 
may see that my inclinations run strongly to a country and propri- 
etary lifr, whicli then I sliall be at liberty to follow, together with 
P 



^S The Fenn Family. 

her promise (his wife's) to return wiienever I am ready.'* A little 
time befoi-e the above letter he said, "No man living can defend 
us or bargain for us better than myself." He calls it also "tho 
necessity of going." 

Peiinh Design in Founding his Colony. 

In ir04-5, Pcnn thus expresses his noble design to Judge Mom- 
pesson. a gentleman then resident here, saying, "I went thither 
to lay the foundation of a free colony for all mankind, more espe- 
cially those of my own profession ; not that I would lessen the 
civil liberties of others because of their persuasion, but screen and 
defend our own from any infringement on that account. The 
cliarter I granted was intended to shelter them against a violent 
or arbitrary government imposed upon us ; but that they shoulil 
turn it against me, that intended their security thereby, has some- 
tlung very unworthy and provoking in it. But as a father docs 
not use to knock his cliildren on the head w.hen they do amiss, so 
I liad rather they were corrected without due rigour." 

Causes ofFcnn's Pecunianj Emharrassments. 

Ill the year 1705, he says, '-I too mournfully remember how- 
noble a law I had of exports and imports, when I was first in 
America, that had been worth by this time some thousands a year ; 
which I suspended recei^ ing for a year or two, and that not with- 
out a consideration engaged by several merchants. But Thomas 
Lloyd, very unhappily for me, my family, and himself, compli- 
mented some selfish spirits with the repeal thereof, without my 
final consent, which his commission required ; and that has been 
the source of all my loads and inabilities to support myself under- 
the troubles that have occurred to me on account of settling and 
maintaining the colony. I spent upon it 10,000je. the first two 
yeai's. My deputy governors cost me much,— and vast sums I 
iiave melted away here in London to hinder much mischief against 
us, if not to do us much good. I can say that Lord Baltimore's 
revenue is far transcending w hat I can hope for, although he never 
took him one hundredth of my concern." 

Penn-s Mal-trculmenlfrom the Fords. 

Philip Ford of London, a merchant, holding the profession of j^ 
Friend, had been Penn's steward and general agent there, and 
proved deeply ti-eaclierous to him, by ti-umping up an enormous 
account. Pcnn, in a moment of w ant and of misplaced confidence, 
gave him, unknown to all his friends, a deed of sale in absolute 
^rm, for all his province of Pennsylvania, taking thereon from 
ford a lease of three years. In process of time Ford received 
17,000^. and paid out but 16,000^. yet claimed a balance of Pen Ji 



The Pcnn Family. 99 

•f 10,500.€. produced by a compound interest account and exces- 
sive commissions, &c. Ford died, and liis son, stimulated by l»is 
motber Bridget, altliougb a bed-ridden woman, and a professed 
Friend, woubl come to no compromise, but on tbe contrary, in tlic 
11 mo. 1707-8, actually arrested William Penn, wliile at tbe 
iFriend's Meeting! IVnn, to bafUe tbeir extortion, by tbe advice of 
all bis friends, preferred to go to tbe Fleet prison, \\bcrc be was 
sure to negotiate better terms for bimself. The case came up be- 
fore the Lords in Chancery and in Parliament, cScc. but nothing 
was settled till Penn's friends resolved to help bim out of bis dilli- 
culties, by making terms witb tbe Fords. They gave about 5000£. 
Penn*s friends i)i London raised by subscriptions 3000£. in Bris- 
tol 2000£. and in Ireland 2000£. more, taking securities on bis 
estates to repay tbemselves. While at the prisoji, Penn was mucb 
visited by Friends, witb whom be held Meetings. Isaac Norris 
who visited bim there, says bis lodgings were commodious and 
comfortable at tbe Old Baily, and bimself well and clieery. 

Tbe Fords, while be was there, had the presumption to petition 
queen Anne to put them in possession of Pennsyhania! — Prepos- 
terous claim for a debt less than SOOOiJ ! It was of course disre- 
garded. Peini, while thus ^'^in durance vile" for a few montiis, 
conducted his correspondence &c. as usual. His mind was still 
free. — "The oppressor bolds tbe body bound, but knows not what 
a flight tbe spirit takes!" Isaac Norris writes of l.im, that *'be 
seems of a spirit fit to bear and rub through difliculties, aud bis 
foundation (in truth) still remains. He verifies the palm in t!ie 
fable, — *' The more he is pressed the more he rises!"* 

Fenn-s Letters. 

Penn's letters to James Logan (especially from Pcnnsbury) arc 
often diverting, — they are so intermixed v, itb civil business and 
domestic affaii-s, or sometimes with a little religion.f Potts, ket- 
tles, candles, or t\A o or three lbs. of coflec-berrics, if to be sold in 
tbe town! or, proclamations of »'• nervous force," assemblies, sher- 
iffs, and customs, — all abruptly jumbled together! In his mani- 
fold affairs James Logan became his necessary fac-totmn. One 
cannot but be surprised at tbe large proportion of civil affairs of 
all kinds wliich he has to notice. It seems so incompatible with 
his known diligence and mucli time consumed in bis religious 
public engagements. He perhaps explains this matter incidentally 
in some expressions to James Logan, saying, as advice to him, that 

* Isaac Nbrris says, the Fords offered to sell him the coimtiy for 8000 sterling ! Philip 
Pord the elder, was then dead; his widow Bridget Tord and his son Philip" were his 
Executors. James Logan regretted that his patron had so long kept him a stranger to his 
embarrassments with this ungrateful and extoi-tionate family. 

t This necessarily happened from the situation of the infant colony, with evei-y thing to 
attend to as well as affairs of government. Only take a momentary view of the multitudi- 
nous subjects which must have occupied the mind of William Penn at this time, and theu 
you will not -wonder that he rapidly passed from one to the other. 



100 'The Penn Familtj. 

" Religion, -Nvliile in its gTowth, fits and helps ns above all other 
tilings, even in things of this world, clearing our heads, quicken- 
ing our spirits, and giving us faith and courage to perform." 

Penn's letters are vigorous in thought and sententious in ex- 
pression: — so much so, that the frequent elyptical form of his sen- 
tences make them quite equivocal to modern ears. Some of them 
by clianging the punctuation could be made now to contradict 
themselves. He wrote rapidly, and with a ready command of 
words. His wife Hannah too, wrote very like him in business 
style. Tbe coi-respondence. as preserved by Mrs. Logan, between 
.Tames Logan and William Penn, is very well adapted to display 
the mind and characters of tlie writers. 

William Venn's lllnesfi and death. 

Governor Penn's illness began in tlie siuumer of 1713, at Lon- 
don. It began in the form of a "lethargic fit," and at six months 
afterwards he had a second fit at Bristol. Just before the latter 
he began and left unfinished his last letter to .Tames liOgan. It 
was sent as it was, and is now at Stenton, in almost illegible 
characters. After this he left Bristol, intending to go to London 
*'to settle some affairs, and ^o get some laws passed for the pro- 
vince, but finding himself unable to bear the fatigue of tlie journey 
he just reached Ruscumbe,* when he was again seized witli his 
two former indispositions," &c. After this, at times, fond hopes 
were entertained of his partial recovery ; but they eventually 
proved but the delusions of fond hope. At intervals, ^' when a lit- 
tle easy, he had returning thoughts still alive in him of Pennsylva- 
nii»." &c. In the next year (1713) he had "recovered a great 
degree of health ajid strengtli, but not his wonted strength in ex- 
pression, nor was he able to engage in business as formerly," yet 
he could sometimes go out to Meeting at Reading, " which he bore 
very comfortably, and expressed his refreshment and satisfaction 
in being there ;" indeed, •' he frequently expressed his enjoyment in 
the Lord's goodness to him in his private I'ctirements, and fre- 
quently expressed his loving concern for the good of his province," 
although not so well as to digest and answer particulars in let- 
ters relating to business in Pennsylvania. 

In 1714, his wife further speaks of his having had two or three 
little returns of his paralytic disorder, but that "they left him in 
pretty good health, — not w orse in his speech than for some months 
before," and when she "keeps the thoughts of business from him 
he was very sweet, comfortable and easy, and cheerfully resigned, 
and takes delight in his children, his friends, and dome^ftic com- 
forts." His state then, says she, is a kind of translation! The 
company of his wife became an essential part of his comforts ; so 

* At this place he remained till he died. Why do none of our travelling PcnnsjlvaniAtiE 
never visit and describe the remains of his mansion ! 



^^ 



^WilLjLIx^M IPM^I^o 



The Penn Family. 101 

much so, that '^he is scarce ever easy with or without company, 
imless she was at his elbow," and if she then took occasion *'t(» 
write about liis affairs in his sight, it so renewed his cares therein, 
and made him so uneasy and unwell, that slic was obliged to write 
by stealth," &c. Sometimes, " he desired to write on his Ibrmer 
business, but his writing being as imperfect as his speech" made 
his wife interfere to prevent it. 

In 1715. he is spoken of as still going to Reading to Meetings, 
and as walking about his gardens and commons daily. He con- 
tinued thus for the two succeeding years, " enjoying much serenity 
of mind [a thisig so unusual when in his perplexities and full 
health!] and continued incomes of the love of God," — a virtual 
*' translation" to him ! 

On another occasion (in 1717) she says, '^hehas all along de- 
lighted in walking and taking the air, when the weather allows, 
and when unfit, diverts himself from room to room, which is one 
reason for retaining so lai'gc a house at an inconvenient expense." 

In the succeeding year. 1718, this great and good man yielded 
to his infirmities, and went to join that lioly society of '\just men 
made perfect," with wiiich it was his delight while on earth to 
occupy his thoughts. At tlie annunciation of his death in Penn- 
sylvania, it pleased the Governor. (Keith) incongruously enough, 
*' to set it forth according to a military performance!" But his 
wife more appropriately solemnizes it in a feeling letter to James 
Logan, saying, " the full satisfaction I have in that loss, is the 
great and unspeakable gain of him, w ho was dearer to me tlian life 
itself. Tiic loss itself has brovtght upon me a vast load of care, 
toil of mind, and sorrow." 

So closed the eventful life of the christian and the sage ! — 

" With equal goodness, sound integrity 
A firm, unshaken, uncorrupted soul 
Amid a sliding age, and burning strong, 
Not vainly blazing, for his country's weal !" 

William Pernios Portrait. 

The original and true likeness of "William Penn. or the best and 
only one existing as such, is a bust in the Loganian library, 
which was first tiiken by Sylvanus Bevan, acknowledged by the 
best judges to be a very capable and extraordinary hand in that 
line, to whom, in his young years, William Penn was a familiar 
acquaintance, friend and patron. 

A note of Robert Proud's* says, *^ The likeness is a real and 
true one, as I have been informed, not only by himself, (S. B.) 
but also by other old men in England, of the first character in i\\(3 
Society of Friends, who knew him in their youth." 

^ * In the year 1750, Robert Proud dwelt with Sylvanus Bevan in London ; of course he 
had there good opportunitits to hear of the likeness, The portrait given in this work 15 
copied from the bust. 



X02 The Penn Family, 

Mrs. Hannah Penn, 

Tliis lady was not less extraordinary for her endowments of 
mind as a woman, than was her husband's among men. She was 
a true wife, in that she was "an help-mete" for such a man as 
Penn. During her husband's long illness, and for some time after 
his death, she conducted the correspondence with tlie colony in her 
own proper hand ; and with such ability of style as to be so far tlie 
representative of her husband, that her letters might readily be 
read as his own. 

While she modestly speaks of herself as a *'poor helpless wo- 
man having her hands overfull of family affairs and troubles," we 
find lier "stepping up to London for the relief of the colony, and 
there conferring with men of competent judgments to enable her 
the better to make the choice of a new Governor ; for she would 
have gladly consented to tlie present Governor's continuance had 
liis conduct been answerable to his trust." 

In short, her numerous letters in the Logan collection manifest 
a mind strangely competent to write with much good sense and fit- 
ness of style on every branch of the colonial government to which 
her husband's attention (if ^^ ell) would have been required. Such 
a modest, unassuming, and difddcnt female, conducting such a na- 
tional concern in the midst of her proper household avocations, 
with such complete but unpretending ability, is probably without 
a parallel. Let good wives read them, that they may instruct 
themselves and teach their daughters to emulate her usefulness in 
like cases of family bereavements or extremities. 

" From the force of brig;ht example bold 
Rival her worth, and be what they behold 1" 

Let husbands too, from her example learn that good wives can 
often profitably assist them in their common concerns if duly in- 
trusted with the charge ! 

Mrs. Logan well remembers to have seen in her youth a por- 
trait of Hannah Penn at the mansion of James Hamilton, at Bush- 
hill. Where is it now ? 

William Penn, jmi'r. 

As this son was regarded in the colony as the probable heir of 
the founder, he being the only son by the first wife, it will afford 
additional interest to glean such notices of his character, as may 
serve to exhibit the habits of liis mind and the causes which pre- 
vented his being looked to as a future acceptable Governor. 1 no- 
tice the following intimations respecting him in the correspon- 
dence between the father and James Logan, &c. 

In 1701, William Penn intending to send him out to the colony 
thus describes him, saying, "He has witt. pretends much to honour, 
has kept the top company, is over-generous by half, and yet sharp 



The Penn Family. 103 

enough to get to spend. Handle liini with love and wisdom. He 
is conquered that way." He was named also as to bring with him 
two or three couple of hounds ; some of them for the chase of 
wolves. 

In 1703, the father thus directs respecting him on liis arrival, 
saying, *^ Immediately take him away to Pennsbury, and there 
give him the true state of things, and weigh down his levities as 
well as temper his resentments, and inform his understanding since 
all depends upon it, as w ell for his future happiness as in measure 
the poor country's. I propose the best and most sensible for his 
conversation. Watch him, out-witt him, and honestly over- 
reach him, — for his good." — [Even as did St. Paul himself, <' who, 
being artful, caught them with guile ; if by any means he might 
win some."] 

On another occasion the fatlier writes, saying, his son goes 
out *'to see how^ he likes the place, and if so, to return and fetch 
his family. He aims to improve his study tliis winter with thee, 
as well as to know the laws and people. Use thy utmost influence 
upon him to make him happy in himself and me in him. Qualify 
his heats, inform his judgment, increase iiis knowledge, advise him 
to proper company, he being naturally too open. In short, keep 
him inoffensively employed at those times that he is not profitably 
concerned.* Entreat our friends to gain him all they can, and 
never speak or repoi't any thing to his disparagement behind his 
back, but tell him of it, and he has that reasonableness and temper 
to take it kindly. Be as much as possible in his company for that 
reason, and suffer him not to be in any public house after the al- 
lowed hours." 

The preceding may be deemed a remarkable premonition, con- 
sidering how very soon after his arrival he fell into an affray, in 
such a snare! The facts will presently be told; and as they will 
be found to drive him from friends and to make the after members 
of Penn's family churchmen, it may well be said of him in the pre- 
sent case, — *»Tliere are moments in the progress of time, which 
are the counters of whole ages !" 

It may be remarked too, that friends did not seem to get much 
influence over his conduct; for one of them WTites, that "he goes 
to no worship, and sometimes comes to Meetings. He is good na- 
tured and loves company, — but that of friends is too dull!" 

James Logan in speaking of him to the father says, "I hope his 
voyage hither will prove to the satisfaction of all. It is a great 
stock of good nature that has led liim out into his youthful sallies 
whentoo easily prevailed on; and the same I hope, when seasoned 
with the influence af his prevailing better judgment, w ith which he 
is well stored, will happily conduct him into the channel of his 
duty to God, liimself and thee." 

* All this good conduct to proceed from James Logan, himself but a young and single 
Man, shows the great confidence that was reposgd in his exeroplaty morah and good sense. 



104 The Fenn Family. 

It would seem that young Penn liimself liad had some intimation 
hcfore his coming to Philadelphia, that his hahits were not well spo- 
ken of there ; for, in his letter to James Logan of 28th Feh. 1703, 
he says, "'Villanous reports I know have been industriously by 
some brought over (to you) against me. The Lord forgive them 
as I do. in the fall, if I am well, I will be with you. 1 give my- 
self a great deal of satisfaction every day in considering of the 
pleasures of Pennsylvania and the benefit I shall reaj) in your con- 
versations and in the books I design to bring over with me, &c." 
Perhaps you may think I write too gravely to be sincere, unless 
you know me well enough to believe that hypocrisie was never my 
talent." He also says, ''I'm told the churcli party are very desi- 
rous of my coming over, as not doubting but to make me theii* pro- 
perty, but they will find themseh es as much mistaken as others 
have been that have thought me a churchman, which, I thank God, 
I'm as far from as you can wish or desire." 

In the year 1704, while he was in Pliiladelphia, he took such of- 
fence against some Friends as to declare liimself virtually absolved 
from all connection with the Society. Although he was then a mar- 
ried man he appears to have hcen lavish of expense and fond of display 
and good living. For instance, J. Logan says he much exceeded 
his fathei's limit in expenses, kept his kennel of hounds, and, be- 
cause " the whole town did not afford a suitable accommodation for 
the Governor's son, as a boarder," James Logan took William 
Clarke's great house ; (afterwards Pemberton's in Chesnut street) 
where James Logan, William Penn, jun'r. Judge Mompesson, 
Governor Evans, ^tc. kept house enfamUe, — none of them having 
wives there. It was even supposed that he had become too free 

with a Miss , in Bucks comity ; so much so, that James Logan 

writes, '"Tis a pity his wife came not with him, for her presence 
would have confined him within bounds he was not too regular in 
observing." 

With such dispositions he got into a fray one night at Enoch 
Story's inn, in Coombc's alley, quarrelling with the watch there 
(respectable citizens then serving in their turns) about the militia, 
then newly organized in thi'ee counties as volunteei-s. The affair 
was presented by the Grand Jury, and came into court to the inten- 
ded exposure of the young Governor ! 

In 1704, 7 mo. the Grand Jury present them for an assault on 
James Wood, constable, and Jan^es Dougli, watch ; the names pi-e- 
sented were William Penn, jun'r. John Finny, sheriff, Thomas 
Gray, scrivener, and Joseph Ralph, quondam friend of Franklin. 
As the fracas progressed, other persons presented — Penn called for 
pistols to pistol them, but the lights heing put out one fell upon 
young Penn and gave him a severe heating. Cross actions were 
brought by several of tlie parties. Governor Evans, who was him- 
self a gay fellow, so much favoured the escape of Enoch Story, the 
host, who joined Penn's party attlietime. he reversed the proceed- 



The Penn Family. 105 

ings of the court against him. In the Logan MS. at Stenton, 
there is some correspondence between Evans, Penn, and Logan, 
concerning the affair. 

James Logan seems to have regarded this as incensing and derog- 
atory in the Grand Jury, and therei'orc palliates him, saying, '• llie 
indignity i)ut upon the son of the founder is looked upon by most 
moderate men to be very base, [tliey besides gave him some hearty 
knocks !] and by himself and those concerned in the government is 
deeply resented ; thy son therefore liolds himself no longer obliged 
to keep up appearances, and tlirows off all of the Quaker, altho' he 
still professes a tender regard to his lather's profession, but he has 
resolved to leave us and go home in the Jersey man of wai' from 
New York." Probably, however, the explanation offered by Isaac 
Norris, sen'r. at that time, is nearer the truth, to wit : " William 
Penn, jun'r. is quite gone off from Friends ; he, being with some ex- 
travagants that beat tlie watch, was presented with them ; whicli un- 
majmerly, disrespectful act, as he takes it, gives him great dis- 
gust, and seems a waited for occasion ; I wish tilings had been bet- 
ter, or he had never come.'* 

It is probable from the influence of this first-born son of the foun- 
der, that the subsequent race of the Peinis have been led off from 
Friends ; a circumstance, wliich one, although no Friend, may re- 
gret, because it entirely destroys their identities and even sympa- 
thies with their much honoured progenitor! 

William Penn, speaking of that affair, says, <'See how much 
more easily bad Friend's treatment of him stumbled him from the 
ti'uth than those he acknowledges to be good ones could prevail 
to keep him in possession of it, from the prevailing ground in him- 
self to what is levity more than to what is retired, circumspect and 
virtuous ; I justify not his folly and still less their provocation." 

''Their provocation" probably alludes to such acts as these, 
among others, to wit : David Lloyd, the speaker, who. althougli a 
Friend, was inimical to the father, expressed liimself tlius offen- 
sively, saying, " This poor province is brouglit to jjoor condition 
by the revels and disorders M'hich young Penn and liis gang of 
loose fellows are tbund in here, to the great grief of Friends and 
others here." 

The better to enable him to return home and pay debts here 
he sold out the manor, since Norrington, to Isaac Norris and 
William Trent for 800£. 

When in England he much added to his father's expenditures 
by free living ; the fatlier, thus expressing his regrets thereat, 
saying, his "son with his young wife of united sentiment in expen- 
sive living beyond their means, they are much expense and grief 
to him for many years and many wajs." He writes also, "he in- 
tends going into tlie army or navy." Afterwards he is spoken of 
as putting up for Parliament, and losing it, as was sus(iect»*d, b\ 

Q 



lOG The Penn Family. 

bribery; Avherefore bis father "wishes be would turn his face t» 
privacy and good husbandry." 

After this we hear nothing of this bead-strong son, save his join- 
ing himself to the communion of the church of England, until after 
the death of bis honoured father. He tiien. in opposition to bis 
mother who was executrix, affected to assume the government o^ 
the province and to re-commission governor Keith, tlie council, Ace. 
in his own nanje,*- saying, "' I am, as his heir, become your proprie- 
tor ar.tl Go\er5ior, and 1 take this occasion to declare to you my 
intentions of strictly adliering to the interests of Pennsylvania. 
I intend to be of no party, but am resolved to shake hands with 
all honest men. Aitiiough I am of the cburcli of England, and trust 
I shall die in his comniunicm, I solemnly promise the Quakers that 
I will on all occasions give them marks of my friendship, *'&c. 

But alas, poor man 1 he had for some four or live years before this 
event given himself too much to intemperance ; for, about the 
time his affectionate and anxious fatlter had lost his ability to 
govern, (by bis sickness,) b.is son, who should have stood in his 
stead, proved himself an unworthy scion of the parent stock, and 
could not be intrusted. He wandered abroad and left his wife and 
children with the parent family at lluscombe. He died in 1720, 
(two years after his father) at Calais or Leige in France, of a deep 
consumption induced by his own indiscreet living, and deeply 
'"regretting the wrongs he bad done!" ''Tlie way of the trans- 
gressor is hard !" 

He left three children, viz. Springett, Gulielma Maria, and 
William. — Tlie latter when be grew up was offei-ed 10,000 acres 
of land near the forks of the Delaware as a present from the Indians, 
who, in lovp of his grandfather, desired him to come over and live 
in tlie country. None of them however came to the country. One 
daughter, Gulielma, married Charles Fell, Esq. as her second hus- 
band. Springett died young ; and the Irish estate passed through 
the daughter of William, who married Gaskill in 1761, to the pres- 
ent Philadelphiau family of that name. > 

John Penn. 

This was the eldest son by the second marriage. He was quite 
an amiable man, and in the esteem of James Logan his favorite ot 
all the proprietor's children. He was besides born in Philadelphiay 
and v»'as called therefore •' the American ;" — be was born in 1 699, 
and died in 1746, unmarried. He had been brought up in Bristol 
in England with a cousin as a merchant in the linen trade, — a situa- 
tion in which " he gave bis parents much satisfaction." He 'Visited 
Pennsylvania in 1734 ; be was a churchman; but I have observed 

* As this appointment so made was without the consent of the crown, the question was 
made by Keith to the Lords Justices, which brought out an order from the Lords of trade 
of 21 July, 1719, availing themselves of the pretext of that informality to claiiu back the 
ijrovince under the half formed Sale of surrcndcv. 



The Penn FaTnihj. 10.7 

he wrote to James Logan, as late as 1719-20, in the style of a 
Friend ; so also did Thomas Penn as late as 1726. The service of 
plate bestowed hy John Penn to the church at Lcwistown is still 
tliere. 

William Auhrey and Lcetitia his wife. 

He appears to have heen a pressing man of business as a mer- 
chant, — pretty roughly quarrelling both with William Penn anil 
James Logan about his wife's portion, in an unreasonable manner. 
It appears that he would have come over to Pennsylvania, but thai 
^'his wife's regards for tiic country was at low ebb.'' They never 
had any children. 

I have seen acopy of the certificate, granted by the female part 
of the Friends' Meeting in Philadelphia to Lsetitia Penn, dated the 
27th of 7 mo. 1701, which reads in part thus, to wit : 

** These may certify tlia,t Lfetitia Penn, 6cc. has for good order 
sake desired a certificate from us, and we can freely certify to all 
whom it may concern that she hatii well bcliaved herself here, 
very soberly and accoi'ding to the good instructions which she hath 
received in tlie way of trutli, being well inclined, courteously car- 
1 iaged, and sweetly tempered in her conversation amongst us, and 
also a diligent comer to Meetings, and hope, liath plentifully 
received of tlie dew whicli hath fallen upon God's people to her 
settlement and establishment in the same." It also set forth that 
she was under no marriage engagements to the best of their 
knowledge and belief.* 

The natural disposition of Lajtitia was gay and sportive. As 
an instance of her girlish spirits, when she was with her father at 
Evans' place at Gwynned, seeing the men at threshing, slic desired 
to try her hand at the use of tlie Hail, which, to iier great surprise^ 
brought such a racket about her head and sliouldei-s, she was 
obliged to I'un into the house in tears and expose her playful freak 
to her father. 

She li^ ed a widow several years after the death of Mr. Aubrey, 
and had often occasion to correspond with James Logan, upon her 
landed concerns remaining in this country. 

*I,ietitia, while a girl in Pliiladclphia, was clnimed as pledsied to him by "William Masters ; 
— it was denied ; but in time afterwards, it occiirri-d tliat a governoi.- Penn married a Mi'SC 
Miisirrs, a descendant. 



'£he Venn Family. 
Penn Genealogy, by J. P. J\'}}rris, Esq. 



DENNIS PENN, 

ob. Infans. 



— PENN, 

lupt. James Clayton, I77i.^- 



RICHARD PENN,... 

nupt. — Lardner, 
ob. 1771. 



■■ MARGARET PENN,., 
iiupt. Thomas Freame. 



RICHARD PENN, .? 

nupt. Mary Masters, ? 

ob. 1811,etat77. '"' 

Mary ob. 1829, eta t 73. 

JOHN PENN, 
nupt. Ann Allen, ob. 1795. 

Philad. Hannah Freame, 

nupt. T. Dawson, Viscount 

Cremoine of Ireland. 

ob. 182C, etat 86. 

THOMAS FREAME. 



5 I HANNAH PENN, 

S ob. Infans. 



0^ * THOMAS PENN, I 
1 nupt. 1751, Lady J.Fermer,..j 
5 ob. 1775. J 

j Lady Julianna, w ^? 

? ob. 1801. I 

"-* « JOHN PENN, I 

ob. 1746, s. p. wi? 

nat. 1699. ? 

^ 'I SPRINGETT PENN, ? 
5 ob. 1696, 8. p. f.. 



PENN, 

nupt. Doct. Stewart, 
Primate of ail Ireland,! 796.^, 

PENN, 

nupt. William Baker, 
ob. 1773. 

GRENVILLE PENN. 



HENRY, 

nat.1804. 



^»« William. 
I nat. 1798. 



JOHN PENN, 



.^i'f M.Julianiia, 
nat. 1797. 
nupt.T.Knox. 



MARY PENN, 

ob. Infans. 



HANNAH PENN, 

ob. Infans. 



LiETITIA PENN, 

nupt. William Aubrey, 
ob. s. p. 



■■ WILUAM PENN, 2d | 

nupt. Mary Jones, ; 
ob. 1720. w ; 



' ii. Gulielma Maria Penn, j 

5 nupt. A. Thomas, p. m. 
? Charles Fell, s. m. 

.1 SPRINGETT PENN, 
ob. in Ireland, Infans. 
1731. 



^^Chr.GuI.Penn, 
; WILLIAM PENN, 3d. f"^*' I''33--njJPt- 

jj nupt,p.ux. . Forbes,... J_ 1761, Gaskill. 

►-J s. ux. Ann Vaux, *Springet Penn, 

^ ob. 1746. nat.174l-ob.1762. 

Note — Ann Penn survived her husband, and married Alexander Durdilii— 1767. lu WU* 
liam 3d the male branch by his first wife became extinct. 



The PeMH Family. 109 

The Penn Family of the Royal Tudor-Race. 

As a sequel to the foregoing genealogical table I here anne » 
some facts, derivi?d from Hugh David, an early emigrant, which 
go to show that William Penn said his house was descended of that 
royal race. 

Hugh David came into this country with William Penn about 
the year 1700, and lived in Gwynned, a place settled principally by 
emigrants from Wales ; lie related an anecdote of the Penn family, 
perhaps known only to few, as follows : 

They, being both on board the same ship, often conversed togeth- 
er. William Penn, observing a goat knawing a broom which was 
laying on the ship's deck, called out : Hugh, dost thou observe the 
goat ? see, what hardy fellows the Welsh are, how they can feed on a 
broom : however, Hugh, I am a Welshman myself, and vnll relate 
by how strange a circumstance our family lost their name : My 
grandfather* was named John Tudor, and lived upon the top of a 
hill or mountain in Wales ; he was generally called John Penmun- 
nith, wliich in English is John on the top of the hill ; he removed 
from Wales into Ireland, where he acquii'ed considerable pi'operty. 
Upon his return into his own country he was addressed by his old 
friends and neighbours, not in their former way, but by the name 
of Mr. Penn. He afterwards removed to London, where he con- 
tinued to reside, under tlie name of John Penn ; which has since 
been the family name. 

These relations of Hugli David were told by him to a respecta- 
ble Friend, who gave them in MS. to Robert Proud ; and withal 
they are confirmed by the fact of Mr. David's declaring it again 
in some MS. lines of poetry prepared as a compliment to Tliomas 
Penn on his arrival in 1732, and now preserved in my MS. Annals 
in the City Library, page 187, with some elucidatory remarks. 

Hugh David- s verses addressed to Thomas Penn. 

For the love of him that now deceased be 
I salute his loyal one of three. 
That ruleth here in glory so serene — 
A branch of Tudor, alias Thomas Penn. 

From Anglesie, an Isle in rich array. 

There did a prince the English sceptre sway ; 

Out of that stem, I do believe no less. 

There sprung a branch to rule this wilderness. 

May Sion's King rule thy heart, — amen! 
So I wish to all the race of Penn, 
That they may never of his favour miss 
Who is the door to everlasting bliss. 

* Robert Proud, in MS. says it was probably his great grandfather, for his grandfather's 
name appears to haye been Giles Penn. 



PENN'S DESCENDANTS. 



THE following facts concerning several individuals of the Venn 
family, descended of the founder, are such as I occasionally' met 
with in various readings, — to wit: 

1^24 — Mrs. Gulielma Maria Fell, granddaughter of the famous 
Quaker, Sir William Penn, wa.s puhlicly baptised in the parish 
church of St. Paul, Covent Garden, in October last.— iondoM 
Gazette. 

1732 — This year one of the proprietaries, Thomas Penn, matle 
his visit to Pennsylvania, and was received witli much pomp and 
state, — probably in such manner as to give liim some personal 
embarrassment. His former habits, for some years, had not been 
accustomed to ride aloft amidst the hozanna's of the people ; for 
both he and his brother, after the death of their father, and the 
difficulties of their mother, had been placed with a kinsman, a 
linen draper, in Bristol. 

I found tlie following description of his arrival and reception in 
1732, in the " Caribheana," a Barbadoes publication of Kreimer's, 
It purports to be a letter from a young lady to her father in Bar- 
badoes. I have extracted as follows, viz: 

"^ He landed at Chester, when our Governor, having notice of it, 
went to meet him, and carried so many gentlemen with him, and 
80 many joined them on the road, that they made a body of 800 
horse. They paid him their compliments and staid till he was 
ready to set out." 

''The poor man, who had never been treated but as a private 
man in England, and, far from expecting such a reception, was 
so surprised at it, that he was entirely at a loss how to behaie; 
and I was told, when he took a glass of wine in his hand he 
trembled so, lie was scarcely able to hold it. At length he re- 
covered himself and returned their compliments. He reached here 
at four o'clock in the afternoon. The windows and balconies 
[mark, the houses then had them,] were filled witli ladies, and the 
streets with the mob, to see liim pass. Before he arrived a Iwy 
came running and cried the proprietor was coming oii horseback, 
and a sceptre was carried before him in the Governor's coach ! [It 
was a crutch of a lame man therein ; and the person on horseback 
was probably the servant behind the coach !] When arrived, he 
was entertainpd at the Governor's house, where he stays ever 



112 Penn^s Descendants* 

since. The ships at the wharf kept firing, and the bells ringing, 
all the afternoon. At the night bonfires were lighted.'* 

"The Assembly and Corporation feasted him afterwards: the 
Cliiefs of the five nations being present, rejoiced to see him, and, 
to renew treaties. The fire engines played all the afternoon and 
diverted the Chieftains greatly." 

From the minutes of the city council of the 18th of August, 
1732, it appears that the Mayor acquainted the board that the 
lionourable Thomas Penn, Esq. being lately arrived in this city, 
lie thought it the duty of this board to give him a handsome wel- 
come by providing a decent collation at the expense of the Cor- 
poration ; to which the board unanimously agreed, and fixed the 
time for Monday next, at the court house, &c. 

Mrs. Nancarro told me she well remembered hearing her father, 
Owen Jones, the colonial treasurer, describe the arrival of Thomas 
Penn as Governor, in 1732. That it gave great joy to the people, 
to have once more a Penn among them. The people were of course 
very anxious to behold bim ; and although he had shown himself 
from the balcony of the old court house, they urged him to another 
exhibition, at the vestibule of tlie ^* old Governor's house," s» 
called, in south Second street below the present custom house. 
He, however, soon became unpopular, and when he retired from 
us, (on his return,) some of the grosser or more malignant part of 
the people actually raised a gallows over a narrow pass in the 
woods by which he had to pass. It was not, however, countenanced 
by any of the better part of society. 

Hugh David who was a respectable Welshman, that had come 
over with William Penn, in his second visit in 1700, came from 
his home at Gwynned in 1732, to make his visit of respect to 
Thomas Penn, then lately arrived ; for that purpose he had pre- 
pared some verses to present him, complimentary to him as - de- 
scended of William Penn, who w as himself before descended of the 
royal house of Tudor, — ^* a branch of Tudor, alias Thomas Penn.'* 
The intended verses were however withheld, and have fallen since 
into my hands, occasioned by the cold and formal deportment of 
the Governor ; for, as Hugh David informed Jonathan Jones, of 
Merion, in whose family I got the story and the poetry, he spoke 
to him but three sentences, which were, — ''How dost do?" — 
•'Farewell," — "The otlier door." 

It would seem, however, he was sufliciently susceptible of softer 
and warmer emotions, he having, as it was said, brought with him 
to this counti'y, as an occasional companion, a person of much 
show and display, called "Lady Jenks," who passed her time 
♦'remote from city," in the then wilds of Bucks county; but her 
beauty, accomplishments and expert horsemanship made her soon 
of notoriety enough, to make every woman, old and young, in the 
country, her chronicle ; they said she rode with him at fox-huntinga 
and at the famous "Indian Walk," in men's clothes, (meaning 



Penn*s Descendants. 113 

without doubt, their simple conceptions of the masculine appear- 
ance of her riding liabit array) garbed, like a man in petticoats. 

Old Samuel Preston, Esq. to whom I am chiefly indebted for 
facts concerning her, (often, however, confirmed by others) tells 
me it was well understood there, that she was the mother of 
Thomas Jenks, Esq.* a member of Friends, — a very handsome, 
highly esteemed, and useful citizen, who lived to about the year 
1810, and received his educatioji and support through the means 
supplied by his father, Thomas Penn. Indeed, Thomas Penn was 
so niucli in the style of an "English gentleman," says my infor- 
mant, that " he had two other natural sons by otlier women, which 
he also provided for, and they also raised respectable families." 
From the great age at which Thomas Jenks died, (said to have 
been near 100 years) I presume he was born in England, and from 
his bearing the name of his mother, she must have first arrived as 
the widow Jenks and son. When E. Marshall, who performed 
the extraordinary Indian walk, became offended with his reward, 
'*he d d Penn and his half-wife" to their faces. 

In 1734, October, John Penn, (called the *' American," because 
the only one of Penn's children born here,) made his landing at 
New Castle, and came on to Pliiladelphia by land. At his cross- 
ing the Schuylkill he was met and escorted into tlie city, and *'the 
guns on Society Hill" and the ships fired salutes. It states, the 
escort consisted of a train of several coaches and chaises. The 
Governor and suite alighted at his brother Thomas' house, where 
an elegant entertainment was given. Their sister, Mrs. Margaret 
Freame, and husband, also arrived with him. This of course 
brought over all the then living children of Penn, save his son 
Richard, then youngest. 

In 1751, November, Thomas Penn, aforenamed, was announced 
as marrying Lady J. Fermer, daughter of the Earl of Pomfret. 
He died in 1775, and she lived to the year 1801. 

In Weems' Life of Penn, he is extremely severe on the cupidity 
and extortion of the Penn family. I am not able to say where he 
finds his pretexts. Complaints were made about the year 1755-6 
by Tedeuscung, at the head of the Delaware Indians, that they had 
been cheated in their lands, bought on one and a half day's walk: 
along the Neshamina and forks of Delaware, back 47 miles to the 
mountains; and I have seen the whole repelled in a long MS. 
report to governor Dennie, by the committee of Council, in which 
all the history of all the Indian treaties are given, and wherein 
they declare that till that time (1757) the Penn proprietaries had 
more than fulfilled all tlieir obligations by treaties, &c. — paying 
for some purchases, to different and subsequent nations, over and 
over again. The paper contained much reasoning and arguments 
to justify the then Penns. If they indeed, " bought low, and sold 

* His s»n, Thomas Jenks, was a Senator at the time of the formation of the State Coa- 
stitution, — a very smjo-t man. 

R 



114 Penn^s Descendants. 

liigh,'" ^v!lo, without sb? in this way, '*may cast the iirst stone!" 
In the statute sense, the land was their* before they bought it. It 
was their ancestor's by grant of the SoAereign, and as good as the 
Baronies of Englar.d by the grant of the Conqueror. Yet I plead 
not for such assumptions. — 1 relate the facts. 

Having bad the perusal of several letters, written by Thomas 
Pcnn in England to his Secretary, Richard Peters, dated from 
1754 to 1767. I was constrained to tiie impression that they were 
honourable to the proprietaries, as showing a frank and generous 
spirit, both in relation to sales and c()llections for lands. They 
were mild too, in remarking upon unkindness to themselves from 
political parties and enemies. They, in short, (and in truth,) 
})reathed a spirit very free from sellishness or bitterness. In them, 
Thomas Penn showed great affection for church principles — offer- 
ing 50J2. per annum, out of his own funds, to continue Mr. Barton 
as a missionary at New Castle 6cc. In 1755, he proposes to allow 
any disappointed lot holders upon Schuylkill a privilege to ex- 
change them for Delaware lots near tiie Centre Scpiare. In 1760, 
he is very solicitous to have Jolm Watson of Bucks county, (whom 
Logan also commends,) to be induced to accept the olHce of Sur- 
veyor General. He speaks of an intention to write to Hannah 
Watson, whom he knew when a little boy. 

It is sufficiently known, however, that Thomas and Richard 
Penn rendered themselves quite unpopular, by instructing their 
Ixovernors not to assent to any laws taxing their estates in com- 
mon with the people. This induced Franklin to wi'ite the Histori- 
cal Review of Pennsylvania, as published in 1759, he estimating 
their estates then as worth 10 millions sterling. 

One of Thomas Penn's letters, of 1767, speaks of the government 
manifesting an inclination to buy him out as proprietary, saying, 
•• It is the illnatured project of Benjamin Franklin," then in Lon- 
don as agent for the colony. " They would agree (says he) to 
give us, by tiie hints of the minister, ten times the money they of- 
fered our father. I ha^'e declined, and intimated we are not to be 
forced to it, as Mr. Franklin would wish it." 

1763, November, John Penn and Richai'd Penn, brothers, and 
• sons of Richard, before named, are announced as arrived in the 
province — tlic former, being the eldest, is. called the Lieutenant 
Governor. His commission as Lieutenant Governor is read from 
the balcony of the old court house as usual. Their father, Richard, 
was then alive in England, having lived till 1771. 

Owen Jones, Esq. told me he remembered to have seen Richard 
Pemi land at Judge Allen's house, in Water street below High 
street, corner of Beck's alley, and thence go in procession to the 
old court house, and, standing out on the balcony there, made an 
address to the people in the street. 

The present aged Mrs. Speakman tells me that when John Penn 
landed at High street, there was a strong earthquake, as he stept 



Fen /I's Descenda nis. 1 1 1) 

iislioi'e ; when he went home, a dreadful thunder-stonn arose : and 
when he next returned as proprietary, a fierce hurricane occurred! 

In 1767, died in liOndon, Sprinij;ctt Penn. grandson of William 
Penn h y his first Wife, — heini^ as tiie Gazette stated, the last male 
issue by that lady. 

My friend J. P. N. describes tliose gentlemen thus, viz: Jolin 
Penn, son of Richard, owner of one thir<l of the province, was twice 
or thrice Governoi' ; he mariied a daughter of Judge Allen, of 
Philadelphia, — was in person of tlie middle size, reserved in his 
manners, and very near-sighted. He was not popular, — died in 
Bucks county in 1795, aged Cr years. He was buried in Cbrist 
church ground, and afterwards was taken np and carried to Eng- 
land ; thus adding to the strange aversions which the members 
of the Penn family generally shov,ed to remaining among us, eitlicr 
living or dead. He built liere the i)lace called Land>;down House. 

Richard Penn, his brother, was Governor a little prior to the 
Revolution, — a fine portly looking man — a bon vivant, very popu- 
lar, — married our Miss Polly Masters, — died in England in 1811, 
at the age of rr years, and left several children. His wife died 
August, 1829, aged 73 years. 

John Penn, the eldest son of Tliomas, and who had two thirds 
of the province, was in Philadelphia after tlie Revolution. He had 
a particular nervous aflTection about him, sucli as v,as sometimes 
distressing to himself and others ; he was besides near-sighted. 
He built the place called Solitude, over Scliuylkill. He is still 
alive, and has written to me on Pbiladelpliia subjects occasionally. 
He has in his possession a great collection of his grandfather's, 
(William Penn) papers. Tliese v, ill some day be bi'ought to ligiit 
to elucidate family and civil history. He is now the wealthy pro- 
j)rietor and rcsidciit of Stoke Pogis park iu the country, and of 
the mansion house at Sj)ring Garden, London. 

When J. R. Coates, Esq. was lately iu England, i)i 1826, as 
he informed me, he there saw that all tbe cabinet of original papers 
of the founder were in fine preservation, all ivgularly filed and 
endorsed. Some brandies of the family had applied, it is under- 
stood, to Jobn I'enn to have their use, to form some history from 
them; but tbe proprietor declined to give them, alleging he pur- 
pQsed some day to use them lor a similar purpose himself. It is 
gratifying thus to know that there are still existing such MS. 
materials for our early history. His lettei* to me of 1825 says, he 
would very freely communicate to me any thing among them in 
)ny way, as he may come across them. 

John Penn Gaskiil, of Philadelphia county, who married in 
Montgomery county in 1825, became in 1824 the rich proprietor 
of the Pejin Ii-ish estate. On his visit to that counti'y, to see it, 
and to possess it, he was re<:eived with all liie pomp and circum- 
stances of Lordship, which a numerous tribe of tenants and mansion 
house menials coiild i-onfer. 



117 



THE LANDING OF 

PENX AT CHESTER. 

[itLVSTRATED BY A PLATE.] 



THERE are several facts of interest connected witli the aucicut 
town of Chester ; none more so, than the landing there of William 
Penn, and the hospitable reception himself and friends received at 
the '* Essex house," then the residence of Robert Wade. His house, 
at which the scene of the landing is laid, stood about two hundred 
yards from Chester creek, near the margin of tlie Delaware, and on 
a plain of about fifteen feet above tide water. Near the liouse by 
the river side stood several lofty wliite pines, three of which remain 
at the present day, and thence ranging down the Delaware stood a 
large row of lofty walnut trees, of which a few still survive. 

Essex house had its south-east gable end fronting to the river 
Delaware, and its south-west front upon Essex street ; its back 
piazza ranged in a line with Chester creek, which separated the 
house and farm from the town of Chester ; all vestiges of the house 
are now gone, but the facts of its location and position have been 
told to me by some aged persons who had once seen it. The iron 
vane once upon it was preserved several years, w ith the design of 
replacing it upon a renewed building once intended there. 

Robert Wade owned all the land on the side of the creek oppo- 
site to Chester, extending back some distance up that creek ; the 
Chester side was originally owned wholly by James Sanderland, 
a wealthy Swedish proprietor, and extending back into the coun- 
tiy a considerable distance ; he appears to have been an eminent 
Episcopalian, and probably the chief founder of the old Episcopal 
church there of St. Paul, as I find his memory peculiarly distin- 
guished in that church by a large and conspicuous mural moiumient 
of remarkably fine sculpture for that early day ; the figures in fine 
relief upon it is a real curiosity, it represents him as dying in the 
year 1692, in the 56th year of his age. None of the family name 
now remain there. 

On the same premises is a head stone of some peculiarity, ^'^in 
memory of Francis Brooks, who died August 19, 1704," *and in- 
scribed thus : 

** In barbarian bondage and cruel tyranny 
Fourteen yeai's together I served in slavery. 
After this, mercy brought me to my country fair ; 
At last, I drowned was in river Delaware." 



i i8 Tlie Landing of Femi at Chester. 

In the same ground stands a marble, commemorative of the first 
A. M. of Pennsylvania, to wit: 

Here lictli Paul Jackson, A. M. 
He was the first who received a degree 
in the college of Philadelphia.— a man of 

virtue, worth and knowledge."— Died, 1767, aged 38 years. 

I might add respecting him. that he was the ancestor of the pre- 
sent Ur. SamuclJackson of Philadelphia, had been a surgeon in 
tl^ie Braddock expedition, Avas a brother-in-law of the honourable 
Charles Thomson, and one of the best classical scliolars of his time. 

The brick house is still standing, now a cooper's shop, owned by 
.Jolm Hart, in which, it is said, was held the first Assembly of 
Pennsylvania. It is a one and a half story structure of middle 
size, close by the side of the creek. The oaken chair, in which 
William Penn sat as chief in that Assembly, is said to be now in the 
possession of the aged and respectable widow of colonel Frazer,— 
a chair to be prized by us a\ ith some of that veneration bestowed 
on the celebrated chair in Westminster Abbey, brouglit from Scone 
to Jiclp in the investiture of royal power. 

At the mill-seat up the creek, now belonging to Richard Flo^^ ers, 
was oi-iginally located, near thereto, the first mill iu the county : 
the same noticed in Proud's histoi-y as erected by Ricliard To\\ n- 
send, who brought out the chief of the materials fi-om England. 
The original mill is all gone; but the log platform under water still 
remains at the place where the original road to Philadelphia once 
passed. The iron vane of that mill, curiously wrought into letters 
and dates, is still on the premises, and is marked thus: 



j W. P. 

I s.c. Ic.p. 



1699. 



' I 

The initials express the original partners, to wit : William 
Penn, Samuel Carpenter, and Caleb Pusey. 

Close by the race stands the original dwelling house, in which 
it is understood that Richard Townsend once dwelt, and where he 
was often visited by the other partners : it is a very lowly stone 
building of tlie rudest finish inside, and of only one story in heiglit. 
Such was their primitive rough fare and rude simplicity ; yet small 
as was this establisliment at the head of tide water, it was of much 
importance to the inhabitants of that day. 

Not far from tliis at Ridly creek mills is a curious relic— an en- 
graving upon a rock of '^h S. 1682," which marks the spot 



The LaniUng of Penn at Chester. 119 

against which John Sharpless, the original settler there, erected his 
temporary hut, immediately after his arrival in that year. 

The Yates' liouse, now Logan's, huilt about the year 1700, was 
made remarkable in the year 1740-1, (the season of the "cold 
winter,") for having been visited in tlic night by a large black bear, 
which came into the yard and (juarrelled with the dog. It w as killed 
the next day near the town. 

There is in the Logan collection at Stenton a large folio volume 
of manuscript court proceedings at Upland, chiefly respecting lands 
along the Delaware, at Shackamaxon, &c. while under the Duke 
of York's patent, and subject to the New York Governors. 

The original expectations of Chester were once nuich greater 
than since ; they once thought it might grow into a shipping port. 
In an original petition of the inhabitants of Chester of the 
year 1700, now among the Logan collection, they pray, that 
"• Whereas Chester is daily improving, and in time may be a good 
place, that the Queen's road may be laid out as direct as possible 
from Darby to the bridge on Chester creek." This paper was 
signed by ninety iidiabitants, all writing good hands. Vide the 
original in my MS. Annals in the City Library. 

Besides this, Jasper Yates, who married Sanderland's daughter, 
erected, about the year 1700, the present great granary there, 
having the upper chambers for grain and the basement story for 
an extensive biscuit bakery. Foi' some time it had an extensive 
business, by having much of the grain from the fruitful fields of 
Lancaster and Chester counties ; but the business has been long 
since discontinued. 

When the first colonists, (arrived by the Factor) were frozen up 
at Chester, in December, 1681, and these being followed by several 
ships in the spring of 1682, before the city of Philadelphia was 
chosen and located, they must have given an air of city life to the 
Upland village, which may have well excited an original expec- 
tation and wish of locating there the city of brotherly love. It w as 
all in unison with the generous hospitality afforded at Wade's 
house and among all the families of Friends previously settled 
there from Jersey ; but Chester creek could not compete with 
Schuylkill river, and Chester was rivalled by Philadelphia; ""so 
that it seemed appointed, by its two rivers and other conveniences, 
for a town." 

At this late day it is grateful to look back with "recollected 
tenderness, on the state of society once possessing Chester. My 
friend Mrs. Logan, who once lived there, thus expressed it to me, 
saying, she had pleasure in her older years of contemplating its 
society as pictured to her by her honoured mother, a native of the 
place. Most of the inhabitants, being descendants of the English, 
spoke w ith the broad dialect of the North. They were a simple 
hearted, affectionate people, always appearing such in the visits 
* The road below Chester was called the King's road. 



120 The Landing of Pcnn at Chester. 

she made with her mother to the place. Little distinction of rank 
was known, but all were honest and kind, and all entitled to and 
received tlie friendly attentions and kindness of their neighbours in 
cases of sickness or distress. Scandal and detraction, usual village 
pests, were to them unknown. Their piinciples and feelings 
were too good and simple, and the state of the whole was at least 
"a silver age." 



^w^ 








THE LANDING OF PENN 

AT THE 

[illustrated bt a plate.] 



Here memory's spell wakes up the throng 
Of past affection — here our father's trod ! 

THE general voice of mankind has ever favoured the consecra- 
tion of places hallowed by the presence of personages originating 
great epochs in history, or by events giving renown to nations. 
The landing place of Columbus in our western world is consecra- 
ted and honoured in Havanna: and the landing of the pilgrims at 
Plymouth is commemorated by festivals. We should not be less 
disposed to emblazon wit!i its just renown the jilace where Penu, 
our honoured founder, first set his foot on the soil of our beloved 
city. The site and all its environs were abundantly picturesque, 
and facts enough of the primitive scene have descended to us, 



" e'en to replace agen 

The features as they knew them then." 

Facts still live, to revive numerous local impressions, and to 
connect the heart and the imagination with the past, — to lead out 
the mind in vivid conceptions of 

" How the place look'd when 'twas fresh and young." 

Penn and liis immediate friends came up in an open boat or 
barge from Cliester ; and because of tlie then peculiar fitness, as 
** a landing place, '* of the *' low and sandy beach," at the debouche 
of the once beautiful and rural Dock creek, they there came to the 
shore by the side of Guest's new house, then in a state of building, 
the same known in the primitive annals as ''the Blue Anchor 
tavern." 

The whole scene was active, animating and cheering. On the 
shore were gathered, to cheer his arrival, most of the few inhabi- 
tants who had preceded him. The busy builders who had been 
occupied at the construction of Guest's house, and at the connect- 
ing line of '' Budd's long row," all forsook their labours to join in 
tlie general greetings. The Indians too, awarp by previous signal* 
S 



19.2 The Landing of Fenn at the Blue Anchor Tavern. 

of his approach, were seen in the throng, or some, more reserredly 
apart, waited the salutation of the guest, while others, hastening 
to the scene, could be seen paddling their canoes down the smooth 
waters of the creek. 

Wheie the lionses were erecting, on the line of Front street, was 
the low sandy beach ; directly south of it, on the opposite side of 
the creek, was the grassy and wet soil, fruitful in whortleberries ; 
beyond it was tlie " Society Hill," having its summit on Pine 
street, and rising in gi*aceful grandeur from the precincts of Spruce 
street. — all tlien robed in the vesture with which natui-e most 
charms. Turning our eyes and looking northward, Ave see similar 
rising ground. ])iesenting its summit above Walnut street. Look- 
ing across the Dock creek westward, we see all the margin of the 
ci'eek adorned with every grace of shrubbery and foliage, and be- 
yond it, a gently sloping descent from the line of Second street, 
whereon Mere hutted a few of the native's wigwams intermixed 
among the shadowy ti'ees. A bower near there, and a line of 
deeper verdure on the groinid, marked "the spring," where 'Hhc 
Naiad weeps her emptying urn." Up the stream, meandering 
through ••prolixity of sliade," where •'willows dipt their pendent 
boughs, stooping as if to drink," we perceive, where it travei-ses 
Second street, the lowly shelter of Drinker, the anterior lord of 
Dock creek ; and beyond him, the creek disappears in intervening 
trees, or in mysterious windings. 

That scenes like these are not fanciful reveries, indulged with- 
out their sufficient warrant, we shall now endeavour to show from 
sober facts, deduced from various items of information, to wit: 

Mr. Samuel Richards, a Friend, who died in 1827, at about the 
age of 59. being himself born and residing all his days next door 
to the Blue Anchor tavern, was very competent to judge of the 
verity of the tradition concerning the landing. He fully confided 
in it ; he had often heard of it from the aged, and never heard it 
opposed by any. His father before him, who had dwelt on the 
same premises, assured him it was so, and that he had heard it 
direct through the preceding occupants of the inn. All the earliest 
keepers of the inn were Fj'iends ; such was Guest, who was also 
in the first Assembly ; he was succeeded by Reese Price, Peter 
Howard, and Benjamin Humphries, severally Friends. All these 
in succession kept alive the tradition that " when Penn first came 
to the city he came in a boat from Chester, and landed near their 
door." It was then, no doubt, the readiest means of transporta- 
tion, and would have been a highly probable measure, even if we 
had never heard of the above facts to confirm it. 

The aged Mrs. Preston, who w as present on that occasion, used 
to say, she admired the affability and condescension of the Gover- 
nor, especially his manner of entering into the spirit and feeling of 
the Indians ; he walked m ith them, sat down on the ground with 
! them, ate with them of their roasted acorns and homony* When 



The Landing of Penn at the Blue Jinchor Tavern. 125 

they got up to exercise and express their joy hy hoj)])iiig and jump- 
ing, he finally sprung up, and beat them all. I will not pretend 
to vouch for this story ; \\e give it as we received it from honest 
informants, who certainly believed it themselves. It was a measure- 
harmless in the abstract: and as a courtesy to the Indians may 
have been a fine stroke of jjolicy in winning their i-egard. He 
was 3'oung enough to have been guy ; being tl»en only 38 years of 
age. And one of t!ic old Journalists has left on record, that he was 
naturally too prone to cheerfulness for a grave public Friend, 
especially in the eye of those of them who held " religion harsh, 
intolerant, austere.*' 

Penn was so pleased with the site of '* the low sandy beach," as 
ii landing place, (the rest of the river side being high precipitous 
banks) that he made it a public landijig place for ever in his original 
city charter : and the little haven at the creek's mouth so pleased 
him, as a fit place for a harbour for vessels in the winfsJr, and a 
security from the driving ice, that be also appropriated sc> much of 
it as lay eastward of the Little Dock creek to be a great dock for 
ever, to be deepened by digging when needful. The waters there 
were much deeper at first than after years, as the place got filled 
up by the negligence of the citizens. Charles Thomson. Esq. told 
me of his often seeing sucit vessels as sloops and schooners lading 
their flour for the West Indies on the sides of the Dock creek near 
to Second street ; and a very aged informant (Mrs. Powell) had 
seen a schooner once as high as Girard's bank. Charles Thomson 
also told me of one family of the first settlers whose vessel win- 
tered at the mouth of the creek. 

This original tavern, from its location, w as at first of first-rate 
consequence as a place of business. It was the proper key of the 
city, to Mliich all nevv-rcomers resorted, and where all small vesr 
sels, coming with building-timber from Jersey, &;c. or with traffic; 
from New England, made their ready landing. The house was 
also used as a public ferry, whence people were to ci'oss over Dock 
creek to Society Hill, before tlie cause- way and bridge over Front 
street were formed, and also to convey persons over to Windmill 
island, w here w as a w indmill for grinding their grain, or to cross 
persons and horses over to Jersey. It was, in short, the busy mart 
for a few years of almost all the business the little town required. 

This landing house, called the Blue Anchor, was the southernr 
most of ten houses of like dimensions began about the same time, 
and called " Budd's long row." They had to the eye the appear- 
ance of brick houses, although they were actually framed with w ood, 
and filled in with small bricks, bearing the appearance of having 
been imported. J. P. Norris, Esq, has told me that he always un- 
derstood from his ancestors and others that parts of the buildings, of 
inost labour and most convenient transportation, wcie brought out 
in the first vessels, so as to insure greater despatch in finishing a 
few houses at least for indispensiblo purposes. Proud's history 



124 2Vj,c Landing of Fenn at the Blue Anclwr Tavern. 

informs us, tlitit the house of Guest was the most finislied house in 
the city v/hen Pcim arrived ; and all tradition has designated the 
Blue Anchor as the first huilt house in Philadelphia; from this 
cause, when it was '' pulled down to huild greater," I preserved 
some of its timber as appropriate relic-wood. This little house, 
althougli suitlciently lai'ge in its day, was but about twelve feet 
front on Front street, and about twenty-two feet on Dock street, 
having a ceiling of about eight and a half feet in height. 

'• The spring," in a line due north from this house, on the oppo- 
site bank of tjje creek, was long after a great resort for taking in 
water for vessels going to sea, and had been seen in actual use by 
some aged persons still alive in my time, who described it as a 
place of great rural beauty shaded with shrubbery and surrounded 
with rude sylvan seats. 

Little Dock creek, diverging to the south east, had an open 
passage for canoes and bateaux as high as St. Peter's church, 
through a region long laying in commons, natural shrubbery, and 
occasional forest trees, left so standing, long after the city, north- 
ward of Dock creek, w^as in a state of improvement. 

The cottage of the Drinker family, seen up tlie main or north- 
M estern Dock creek, located near the south west corner of Walnut 
and Second street, was the real primitive house of Philadelphia. 
The fatlier of the celebrated aged Edward Drinker had settled 
tiuM'e some years before Penn's colonists came, and Edward him- 
self was born there two years before tliat time ; he lived till 
after the war of Independence, and used to delight himself often 
in referring to localities where Swedes and Indians occasionally 
liutted, and also wliere Penn and his friends remained at their first 
landing. 

It fully accords with my theories, from observations on the 
case that the creek water once overflowed the whole of Spruce 
streets fi-om Second street to the river, and that its outlet extended 
in a south -eastwardly direction along the base of Society Hill, till 
its southernmost extremity joined the Delaware nearly as fai 
south as Union street. I think these ideas are supported by the. 
fact, which I have ascertained, that all the he uses on the southern 
si'ic of Spruce street have occasionally water in their cellars, and 
also those on the east side of Front street some distance below 
Spruce street. Mr. Samuel Richards told me it was the ti'adition 
of his father and other aged persons about tlie Blue Anchor 
tavern, that the creek water inclined originally much farther 
southward tlian Spruce street. There was doubtless much width 
of watery sui'face once there, as it gave the idea to Penn of 
making it a great winter dock for vessels. We know indeed, thai 
captain Loxley, many years ago, was allowed to use the public 
square, now on the sitcof the intended dock, in consideration q*€ 
Ins filling up the whortleberry swamp, before there. 



THE 

AND 

[illustrated uv a plate.] 



" But thou, broad Elm ! Canst thou teil us nought 
Of forest Chieftains, and their vanish'd tribes ? 

Hast thou no record left 

Of perish'd generations, o'er whose head 

Thy foliage droop'd ? — those who shadowed once 

The rever'd Founders of our honour'd State." 

THE site of this venerable tree is filled with local impressions. 
The tree itself, of great magnitude and great age, was of most 
impressive grandeur. Other cities of our Union have had their 
consecrated trees i and history abounds with those wliich spi-ead 
in ai'borescent glory, and claimed their renown both from the pencil 
and the historic muse. Such have been *' the royal oak/* Shak- 
speare's " mulberry tree," &c. 

" From his touch-wood trunk the mulberry tree 
Supplied such relics as devotion holds 
StiU sacred and preserves with pious care." 

In their state of lofty and silent grandeur they impress a soothing 
influence on. the soul, and lead out the meditative mind to enlarge- 
ment of conception and thought. On such a spot, Penn, with appro- 
priate accumen, selected his treaty ground. There long stood the 
stately witness of the solemn covenant — a lasting emblem of the un- 
broken faith, ''pledged without an oath, and never broken!" 

Nothing could surpass the amenity of the whole scene as it once 
stood, before "improvement," that eflacive name of every thing 
rural or picturesque, destroyed its former charms, cut down its 
sloping verdant bank, razed the tasteful Fairman mansion, and 
turned all into the levelled uniformity of a city street. Once re- 
mote from city bustle, and blest in its own silent shades amid ma- 
ny lofty trees, it looked out upon the distant city, *' saw the stir of 
the great Babel, nor felt the crowd ;" long therefore it was the 
favorite walk of the citizen. There he sought his seat and rest. 
^cneatU the wide spread branches of the impending Elm gathere?^ 



h26 The Treaty Tree and Fairman^s Mansion. 

in summer whole congregations to hymn tlieir anthems and t6 
hearken to the preacher, heseeching them »'in Christ's stead to be 
reconciled unto God." Those days are gone, ''but sweet's their 
memory still:" 

Not to furthei- dilate on tlie picture wliich the imagination fond- 
ly draws of scenes no longer there, we shall proceed to state such 
fkcts as tlie former history of tiie place affords, to wit : 

The fact of t!)c treaty being held under the Elm, depends more 
upon the gcnei-al tenor of traclition, than upon any direct facts now 
in our possession. When all men knew it to be so, they felt little 
occasioa to lay up eviilenccs for posterity. Least any should 
herciifter doubt it, the following corroborative facts are furnished, 
to \\it: 

The late aged Judge Peters said he had no doubt of its being 
the place of the treaty. He and David H. Conyngham (still alive) 
had been familiar wiili the place from their youth as their swim- 
ming place, and both had always heard a)id always believed it 
desigiraied tlie treaty ground. Judge Peters remaikcd too, tliat 
Benjamin Lay, the hermit, who came to this country in 1731, 
used to visit it and speak of it as tlie place of tlie treaty ; of course 
he had his opinion from those who preceded him. Mr. Thomas 
Hopkins, who died lately at the age of 93, had lived there upwards 
of fifty yeais, and told me he never heard the subject questioned 
in his time. James Read, Esq. a nephew of James Logan's wife, 
who died in 1793, at the age of 71, (a great observer of passing 
events) used to say of West's painting of the treaty, that the English 
characters severally present were all intended to be resemblances, 
and were so far true, that he (Mr. Reed) could name them all. 
He fully believed the treaty was held at the Elm ; and Mrs. Logan 
has heard him express his regret (in ^yhich others will join him) 
that Sir Benjamin West should have neglected truth so far as to 
have omitted the river scenery. 

Proud says, '"the proprietary being now returned from Mary- 
land to Coaquannock, the place so called by the Indians, where 
Philadelphia now stands, began to purchase lands of the natives. 
It was at this time (says he) when William Penn first entered 
personally into that lasting friendship with the Indians, [meaning 
the treaty, it is presumed,] which t\ev after continued between 
tliem." 

Clarkson, who had access to all the Penn papers in England, 
and who had possession of the blue sash of silk with whicli Penn was 
girt at the aforesaid famous treaty, gives the following facts, strongly 
coincident w ith tlie fact of the locality of the treaty tree, — saying, 
*' It appears [meaning, I presume, it was in evidence, as he was 
too remote to be led to the inference by our traditions.] that though 
the parties w ere to assemble at Coaquannock, the treaty was made 
a little higher up at Shackamaxon." We can readily assign a 
good reason for the change of place ; the latter had a kind of village 



The Treaty Tree and Fairmav's MansioH. l^2T 

near there of Friends, ami it had been besides the i-esidence of In- 
flians, and probably bad some remains of tbcir famiiijes still there. 

Sir Benjamin West, who lived here sulUcientlv early to have 
heard tbe direct traditions in favonr of the treaty, iias left us his 
deep sense of that historical fact by giving it the best cHorts of liis 
pencil, and has therein drawn tbe jjortrait of bis griuni'.atiier as 
one of tbe group of Friends attendant on Penn in tiint early national 
act. His picture, indeed, has given no appearance of tbat tree, but 
this is of no weight; as painters, like poets, arc indulged to ninke 
their own drapery and effect. Nothing can be saiti against the 
absence of tbe tree, winch may not be equally yivj^i^d against the 
cliaracter and position of the range of lumses in his back, ground, 
which were certainly never exactly found either at Shackamaxnn, 
Coaquannock, or Upland. But wc may rest assured tbat Sir 
Benjamin, although he did not use the image of the treaty tree as 
any part of his picture,* he nevertheless regarded it as the true 
locality ; because he has left a fact from liis own pen to countenance 
it. This he did in relating what be learnt from colonel Simcoe 
respecting his protection of that ti'ee, during the time of the stay 
of the British army at and near Pliiladelpbia. It shows so mucli 
generous and good feeling from all tbe parties concerned, tbat Sir 
Benjamin's words may be worthy of preservation in this con- 
nexion, to wit: "• This tree, which was held in the liighest venera- 
tion by the original iidiabitants of my native country, by the first 
settlers, and by their descendants, and to whicli I well remember, 
about the year 1755, wlien a boy, often resorting with my school- 
fellows, was in some danger during the American w ar, when the 
British possessed the country, from ])arties sent out in search of 
wood foi' firing : but the late General Simcoe, who liad tlie com- 
mand of the district w hei'e it grew, (from a regard for the charac- 
ter of William Penn. and tbe interest he took in the history con- 
nected with the tree.) ordered a guard of British soldiers to protect 
it from tbe axe. This circumstance the General related to me, in 
answer to my inquiries, after his return to England." If we con- 
sider the lively interest thus manifested by Sir Benjamin in the 
tree, connected with the facts tliat he could have known from his 
grandfather, who was present and must have left a correct tradi- 
tion in the family, (thus inducing Sir Benjamin to become the pain- 
ter of tbe subject) we cannot but be convinced how amply he cor- 
roborates the locality above stated. 

We have been thus particular because the archives at Harrisburg, 
which have been searched, in illustration and confirmation of the 
said treaty, have hitherto been to little effect; one paper found 
barely mentions that "after the treaty was held William Penn 
and the Friends went into the liouse of Lacey Cock."f And 

* Possibljr because he could have no picture of it in England, where he painted, 
t There is a deed from governor Henoyon of New York, of llie year lC6i, granting 
•into Peter Cock his tract, then called Shackaraaxon, 



128 The Treaty Tree and Fainnan's Mansion. 

Mr. Gordon, the author of the- Sate History of Pennsylvania, in- 
formed me that he could only tiu:"; at Hai-i'isburg the oi'iginal en- 
Telope relating to the treaty paiiers : on whicli was en(iorsed 
"Papers relative to the Indian ti'?a*^y nni]in' the great Elm." 

In regard to the form and manner of ti) - ; f^aty as held, we think 
William Penn has given us ideas, in y'l'.'iijir. to West's painting, 
which we tliink must one day provide miiterial i>),' a new painting 
of this interesting national subject. Penn's letters of 1683, to the 
Free Society of Traders, and to the Earl of SuiKleriand, both de- 
scribe an Indian ti'eaty to this effect, to wit: To tSsc Society he says, 
*' I have had occasion to be in council with them upon ti-eaties for 
land, and to adjust the terms of trade. Their order is thus — th&^ 
king sits in the middle of an half moon and hath his council, the. 
old and wise on each hand. Behind them or at a little distance 
sit the younger fry in the same figure. Having consulted and 
resolved their business, the king ordered one of them to speak to 
me ; he stood up, came to me, and in the name of liis king saluted 
me ; then took me by the liand and told me '• he was ordered 
by his king to speak to me, and that what he should say was the 
king's mind," &c. While he spoke not a man of them was observed 
to whisper or smile. When the purchase was made great promises 
passed between us of kindness and good neighbourhood, and that we 
must live in love so long as the sun gave light. This done, another 
made a speech to the Indians in tiie name of all the Sachamachers 
or kings, — first, to tell what was done ; next, to charge and com- 
mand them to love the Christians, and particularly to live in peace 
with me and my people. At every sentence they shouted, and, in 
their way, said amen." 

To the Earl of Sunderland Penn says : *' In selling me their 
land they thus ordered themselves — the old in a half moon upon 
the ground ; the middle-aged in a like figure at a little distance 
behind them ; and the young fry in t!ie same manner behind them. 
None speak but the aged, — they having consulted the rest befoi-e 
hand." 

We have thus, it may be perceived, a graphic picture of Penn*s 
treaty, as painted by himself; and, to my mind, the sloping green 
bank presented a ready amphitheatre for the display of the succes- 
sive semi-circles of Indians. 

Fishbourne's MS. Narrative of 1739 says Penn established a 
friendly correspondence by way of treaty with the Indians at least 
twice a year. 

The only mark of distinction used by Penn at the treaty was 
that of a blue silk net-work sash girt around his waist. This sash 
is still in existence in England ; it was once in possession of 
Thomas Clarkson, Esq. who bestowed it to his friend as a valu- 
able relic. John Cook, Esq. our townsman, was told this by 
Clarkson himself in the year 1801, --such a relic should be owned 
by the Penn Society. 



The Treaty Tree and Fairman's Mansiou. 129 

The tree thus memorable was bh)wn over on tlic Sd of Msu-ch, 
1810: the blow was not deemed generally prevalent, nor strong. 
In its case, t:\e root was wrenched and the trunk bi-oken oiY; it 
fell on Saturday night, ami on Sunday many hundreds of {uople 
visited it. In its form it was remarkably wide spread, but not 
lofty; its main branch inclining towards the river measured 150 
feet in length : its girth around the trunk was 24 feet, and its age, 
as it was counted by tlie inspection of its circles of annual growth, 
was 283 years. The tree, such as it was in 1800, was very accu- 
rately drawn on the spot by Thomas Birch, and the large engra- 
ving, executed from it by Seymour, gives the true appearance of 
every visible limb, &c. While it stood, the Methodists and Baptists 
often held their summer Meetings under its shade. When it had 
fallen, several took their measures to secure some of the wood as 
relics. An arm-chair was made from it and presented to Doctor 
Rush : a part of it is constructed into something memorable and 
enduring at Penn's park in England. I have some remains of it 
myself. 

But the fallen tree is finely revived, and a sucker from it is now 
flourishing in the amplitude of an actual tree on the premises of the 
City Hospital, in the centre of the western vacant lot. Messrs. 
Coates and Brown, managers, placed it there some 15 or 16 years 
ago. I had myself seen another sucker growing on the original 
spot, some two or three years ago, amid the lumber of the ship yard. 
It was then about 15 feet high, and might have been still larger but 
for neglect and abuse. I was aiding to have it boxed-in for pro- 
tection ; but, whether from previous barking of the trunk, or from 
injuring the roots by settling the box, it did not long survive the 
intended kindness. Had it lived, it would have been an appro- 
priate shade to the marble monument, since erected near the site of 
the original tree to perpetuate its memory, with the following /our 
inscriptions on its four sides, to wit : 

Treaty ground William Penn, Placed by the Pennsylvania, 

of born 1644, Penn Society, founded, 

William Penn, died 1718. A. D. 1827, 1681, 

and the to mark the by deeds of peace, 

Indian Nations, site of the 

1682, Great Elm tree. 
Unbroken faith. 

As it is possible, with nourishing earth and due watering, to 
raise small cuttings from the present tree, I recommend that a 
successor may yet be placed over the monument! 

We come now next in order to speak of the 

FAIRMAN MANSION. 

This respectable and venerable looking brick edifice was con- 
structed in 1 702 for the use of Thomas Fairman, the deputy of 
T 



130 The Treaty Tree and Pairman*s Maiisiori, 

Tliomas Holme, the Surveyor General, and was taken down in Aprii, 
1825, chiefly because it encroached on the range of the present 
street. A brick was found in the wall, on which was marked *' Tho- 
mas Fairman, September, 1702." 

It liad been the abode of many respectable inmates, and was 
once desired as the country-seat of "William Penn himself, — a place 
highly appropriate for him who made his treaty there. Governor 
Evans, after leaving his office as Governor, dwelt tliere some time. 
It was afterwards the residence of Governor Palmer : and these two . 
names were sufficient to give it the character of the " Governor's 
house," — a name which it long retained after the cause had been for- 
gotten. After them the aged and respectable Mr. Thomas Hopkins 
occupied it for fifty years, 

Penn's conception of this beautiful place is well expressed in his 
letter of 1708 to James Logan, saying, "If John Evans (tlie late 
Governor) leaves your place, then try to secure his plantation for 
I think, from above Siiackamaxon to the town is one of the picasant- 
est situations upon the I'iver for a Governor : where one sees and 
hears what one will and when one will, and yet have a good deal 
of the sweetness and quiet of the country. And I do assure thee, if 
the country would settle upon me six hundred pounds per annum, 
I would hasten over the following summer. * Cultivate this amongst 
the best Friends." The next year, (1709) his mind being intent on 
the same thing, he says : *' Pray get Daniel Pegg's. or such a remote 
place. ( then on Front near to Green street) in good order for me 
and family." 

A letter of Robert Fairman, brother of Thomas the surveyor, 
dated, London, 10th of 2d mo. 1711. to Jonathan Dickinson, whick 
I have seen in MS. claims to be the proper owner of the estate at 
Shakamaxon, and saying, '' I have been lately in company with Wil- 
liam Penn ; and, there speaking to him of thy proposing to buy for a 
friend that plantation at Coxon creek, (i. e. the Cohocksinc) he 
says it is a pleasant place for situation, out of the noise of Phila- 
delphia, but in sight of it, — a place he would choose for his dwel- 
ling if he should return tliere, — says he asks 600£. for it." In an- 
other letter of the SOth of 8 mo. 1711, he marks its location in ft'ont 
by saying, *' The river Delaware joining to said land makes it 
more valuable than back land, and besides, it is so near the town." 
He states also, that his brother writes him that thirteen acres of 
the said land next the creek (Coxon) may ere long be worth 1000;e. 
He expressly speaks of the place as situate in ''Shackamaxon.'* 
In another letter dated the 12th of 3 mo. 1715, which I have pre- 
served, on page 252 of my MS. Annals in the Historical Society, as 
a singularity for its peculiar hand-writing in text character, he 

*We may here see how absolutely deterrained, and pledged too, Penn once was to re- 
turn and settle his family forever among ns, by his request in next year to engage Pegg's 
house. I presume, Evans' house could not then be had, and that he was actually encouraged 
to come over at the 600£. a year; but after-eircumstances in England prevented his return 
here. 



7%e Treaty Tree and Fairman*s Mansion. 131 

speaks therein of his place near Coxoii creek as having woods and 
stumps ■, says the trees have heen cut there to form the new 
bridge on the new road across the creek : speaks of Thomas Fair- 
man's death, and that the widow then on the premises complains of 
hard usage from captain Palmer, — the same, it is prohable, who af- 
terwai'ds came to be President of the Council, and for a short 
time, in 1747, Governor, ex ollicio. 

"Governor Anthony Palmer," so called in his latter years, was 
a wealtliy gentleman who came from the West Indies about tha 
year 1709, and lived in a style suited to his circumstances, keep- 
ing a coach, then a great luxury, and a pleasure barge, by which 
he readily made his visits from Shackamaxon to tlie city. He was 
said to have had 21 children by his first wife, all of whom died of 
consumptions ; some of his descendants by a second wife are now 
residents of Philadelphia. The present aged colonel A. J. Mot-ris 
told me that he heard old Mr. Tatnal say, that Governor Pahiier 
offered him a great extent of K.ensington lots on the I'iver street 
at six pence a foot ground-rent for ever, — a small sum for our prC' 
sent conceptions of its value, changing as the whole scene now is 
to a city form, filling with houses, cutting down eminences, and 
filling up some lower places* to the general level, — a change, on the 
whole, not unlike what must have been the superficial change origi- 
nally effected at Philadelphia. 

Old Edward Dutlield, the executor of Dr Franklin's will, wlio 
used to own land in Kensington and had been curious to enquire 
the meaning of Shackamaxon, told his son that he learnt that it 
meant the " field of blood," in reference to a great Indian battle once 
sustained there ; I must remark, however, that the Delaware missi- 
onary, Mr. Luckenbach, informed me that if it was a Delawai'e ^^ ord, 
allowing for a little variation in spelling, it meant ''a child not 
able to feed itself." In general he deemed our Indian names of 
Shawnese origin. 

•There was once a low place of boggy marsh, into wliicii high tides flowed, now ^11 
p!$d up, about oa? square westward ot the treaty tree. 




Illllilllllll,* 



THE 

AND 

HOUSE or SVBX SENER. 

[illustrated bt a plate.] 

" The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleeps I" 

THE Swedes of the hamlet at Wiccaco, at the ])resent Swedes' 
church ill South wark, having heen the primitive occupants, near the 
present site of Philadelphia, (heforethe location of our city was de- 
termined,) will make it interesting to glean such facts as we can con- 
cerning that place and people. There they once saw the region 
of our present city scenes — 

" ■ o ne still 

and solemn desert in primeval garb!" 

Mr Kalm. the Swedish traveller, when here in 1748, saw Nils 
Gustafson, an old Swede then 91 years of age. who told him he 
well rememhered to have seen a great forest on the spot where 
Philadelphia now stands ; that he himself had brought a gi'eat 
deal of timber to Philadelphia at the time it was built. Mr. Kalm 
also met with an old Indian, who had often killed stags on the spot 
where Philadelphia now stands ! 

It appears from manuscripts and records that the southern part 
of our city, including present Swedes' church, navy yard, 6cc. was 
originally possessed by the Swedish family of Sven, the chief of 
which was Sven Schutc, — a title equivalent to the Commandant ; in 
which capacity he once held Nieu Amstel under charge from 
Risingh. As the Schute of Korsholm fort, standing in the domain 
of Passaiung, he probably had its site some where in the sub-dis- 
trict of Wiccaco, — an Indian name ti'aditionally said to imply 
pleasant place^ — a name highly indicative of what Swedes' church 
place originally was. We take for granted that the village and 
church would, as a matter of course, get as near the block-house 
fort as cii'cumstances w ould admit. 

The lands of the Sven family we however know from actual title, 
which I have seen to this effect, to wit : *' I, Francis Lovelace, Esq. 

* So old Mr Marsh told me he had heard from the oldest settlers there. 



134 The Swedes* Churchy and House of Sven Sen&r, 

one of the gentlemen of his Majesty's Honourable Privy Coun- 
cil, and Governor General under his Royal Highness, James, 
Duke of York and Albany, to all whom these presents may come, &c. 
Whereas, there was a Patent or Ground Brief granted by the 
Dutch Governor at Delaware to Swen Gonderson, Swen Swen- 
son,* Oele Swenson, and Andrew Swenson, for a certain piece 
of ground lying up above in the river, beginning at Moyaraensing 
kill, and so stretching upwards in breadth 400 rod, [about 1^ mile 
wide] and in length into the woods 600 rod, [nearly 2 miles] in all 
about 800 acres, dated 5th of May, 1664, KNOW YE, &c. that I 
have ratified tlie same, they paying an annual quit rent of eight 
bushels of winter wheat to his Majesty." This patent was found 
recorded at Upland the 31st of August. 1741. 

The Moyamensing kill above mentioned was probably the same 
ereek now called Hay creek, above Gloucester Point, and the 600 
rods, or 2 miles of length, probably extended along the river. 

We know that Peiui deemed their lines so far within the bounds 
of his plan of Philadelphia and Soutliwark, that he actually extin- 

fuished their title by giving them lands on the Schuylkill, above 
rcmon hill, &c. 

The Rev'd. Dr. Collin has ascertained from the Swedish MS. 
records in his possession that the first Swedes' church at Wiccaco 
was built on the present site in 1677, five years before Penn's colo- 
ny came. It was of logs, and had loop-holes in lieu of window 
liglits, which might serve for fire-arms in case of need. The congre- 
gation also was accustomed to bring fire-arms with them to pre- 
vent surprise, but ostensibly to use for any wild game which 
might present in their way in coming from various places. 

In 1700, the present brick church was erected, and it was then 
deemed a great edifice, and so generally spoken of ; for certainly 
nothing was then equal to it, as a public building, in the city. 
The parsonage house, now standing, was built in 1737. The former 
parsonage house was in the Neck. There were originally 27 acres 
of land attached to the Wiccaco church. These facts were told me 
by Dr. Collin. At ray request he made several extracts from the 
Swedish church-books to illustrate those early times ; which he 
has since bestowed to the historical department of the Philosophi- 
cal Society. 

The original log-house of the sons of Sven was standing till the 
time the British occupied Philadelphia ; when it was taken down 
and converted into fuel. It stood on a knoll or hill on the N. W. 
corner of Swanson street and Beck's alley. Professor Kalm visited 
it in 1748 as a curiosity, and his description of it then is striking, 
Ik) wit: '' The wretched old wooden building (on a hill a little north 
of tlie Swedes' church) belonging to one of the sons of Sven (Sven's 
Sjener) is still preserved as a memorial of the once poor state of 

* This Swen Swenson appears to have been in the ftrst jury named at Chester, called 
by Governor Markham. 



TJie Swedes* Church, and Hmise of Sven Sener. 135 

that place. Its antiquity gives it a kind of superiority over all the 
other buildings in the town, although in itself it is the worst of all. 
But with these advantages it is ready to fall down, and in a fev^ 
years to come it will be as difficult to find the place where it stood* 
as it was unlikely, when built, that it should in a short time become 
the place of one of the greatest towns in America. Such as it was, 
it showed how they dwelt, when stags, elk, deer and beavers 
ranged in broad day-light in the future streets and public places 
of Philadelphia. In that house was heard the sound of the spinning 
wheel before the city w^as ever thought of l" He describes the site 
as having on the river side in front of it a great number of very 
large sized water-beech or huttonwood trees ; one of them, as a 
solitary way-mark to the spot, is still remaining there. He men- 
tions also some great ones as standing on the river shore by the 
Swedes' church — the whole then a rural scene. 

It was deemed so attractive, as a *' pleasant place," that Thomas 
Penn when in Philadelphia made it his favourite ramble, so much 
so, that Secretary Peters, in writing to him in 1743, thus com- 
plains of its changes, saying, " Southwark is getting greatly dis- 
figured by erecting irregular and mean houses ; thereby so marring 
its beauty that wlien he shall return he will lose his usual pretty 
walk to Wiccaco." 

I nscertained the following facts concerning <^the old Swedes' 
house," as they called the log-house of the sons of Sven. Its exact 
location was wliere the blacksmith's shop now stands, about 30 feet 
north of Beck's alley and fronting upon Swanson street. It had 
had a large garden and various fruit trees hehind it. The little 
hill on which it stood has been cut down as much as five or six 
feet, to make the lot conform to the present street. It descended 
to Paul Beck, Esq. through the Parahs or Parhams, a Swedish 
family. The wife of the late Rev'd. Dr. Rogers remembered go- 
ing to school in it witli her sister. They described it to me, as 
well as a Mrs. Stewart also, as having been one and a half story 
high, with a piazza all round it having four rooms on a floor, and 
a very large fire-place with seats in each jamb. Beck's alley and 
the '^ improvements" there had much spoiled the former beauty of 
the scene along that alley. There had been there an inlet of water 
from tlie Delaware, in which boats could float, especially at high 
tides. Tliere were many very high trees, a ship yard, and much 
green grass all about the place. Now not a vestige of the former 
scene remains. 

Although my informants had often heard it called "the Swedes' 
house" in their youth, they never understood the cause of the dis- 
tinction until I explained it. 

The Sven family, altliough once sole lords of the southern do- 
main, have now dwindled away, and I know of no male member 

* I could tell an amusing tale to prove how diffioult I (vvrnd it y*? to meet wiUi those 
■frno remembered it as " the Swedes' ho«se," 



136 The Swedes* Church-, and House of Sven Sener, 

of that name, or rather of their anglified name of Swanson. The 
name was successively altered. At the earliest time it was occa- 
sionally written Suan, which sometimes gave occasion to the sound 
of Swan, and in their patent confirmed by governor Lovelace, they 
are named Swen. By Professor Kalm, himself a Swede, and most 
competent to the true name, tliey are called Sven's-Ssener. i. e, 
sons of Sven. Hence in time they were called sons of Suan or 
Swan, and afterwards, for euphony sake. Swanson. 

I found in the burial place of the Swedes' church a solitary 
memorial ; such as the tablet and the chissel have preserved in 
these rude lines, to wit: 

*" In memory of Peter Swanson, 

who died December 18, 1737, 

aged 61 years. 

Reader, stop and self behold ! 
Thou'rt made of ye same mould, 
And shortly must dissolved be : 
Make sure of blest Eternity !" 

In the same ground is the inscription of Swan Johnson, wh» 
died in 1733, aged 48 years, who probably derived his baptismal 
name from the Sven race. 

The extinction of these names of tlie primitive lords of the soil, 
reminds one of the equally lost names of the primitive lords at the 
other end of the city, to wit: the Hartsfelders and Peggs — all sunk 
in the abyss of time! " By whom begotten or by whom forgot," 
equally is all their lot! 

One street has preserved their Swanson name; and the City 
Directory did once show the names of one or two in lowly circum- 
stances ; if indeed their names was any proof of their connexion 
with Sven Schute. 

The present Anthony Cuthbert of Penn street, aged 77, tells me 
he remembers an aged Mr. Swanson in his youth, who was a 
large landholder of property near this Sven house ; that he gave all 
his deeds or leases *• with the privilege of using his wharf or land- 
ing near the button- woods." The single great tree still standing 
there, as a pointer to the spot, is nearly as tliick at its base as the 
treaty Elm, and like it diverges into two great branches near the 
ground. Long may it remain the last relic of the home of Sven 
Sjener ! 

They who see the region of Swedes* church now, can have little 
conception of the hills and undulations primarily there. The first 
story of the Swedes* church, now on Swanson sti'eet, made of 
stone, was originally so much under ground. The site there was 
on a small hill now cut down eight feet. At the east end of Chris- 
tian street where it is crossed by Swanson street, the river Dela- 
ware used to flow in, so that Swanson street in tliat place, say 



The Swedes* Church, and House of Sven Senei\ 13r 

from the north side of Swedes' church lot up to near Queen street, 
was originally a raised cause-way. I'herel'ore, the oldest houses 
now standing on tiie western side of that street do not conform to 
the line of the street, hut range in a line nearly south west- and 
also stand back from tiie present street on what was (before the 
street was laid out) the niai'gin of the high ground bordering on 
the river Delaware. Those houses too have their yards one story 
higlier than their front pavements, and what was once their cellars 
under ground is now the first story of the same buildings. 

From the Swedes' cliurch down to the navy yard, the high hill 
formerly there has been cut down five or six feet, and by filling 
up the wharves below the former steep banks, the bank itself, as 
once remembered, even 20 years ago, seems strangely diminished. 

At some distance from Swedes' church westward, is a remark- 
ably low ground, betweoi hills, having a pebbly bed like the ri^'er 
shore, which shows it once had a communication with the Dela- 
ware river at the foot of Christian street; where Mr. Joseph 
Marsh, an aged gentleman, told me he liad himself filled up his lot 
on the soutli west corner as much as three feet. On that same 
lot he tells me there was formerly, before his time, a grain mill 
worked by two horses, which did considerable grinding. 

The same Mr. Marsh, then aged 86, showed me that all the 
ground northward of Christian street and in the rear of his own 
house, No. 13, descended suddenly; thus showing there must have 
been there a vale or water channel leading out to tlie liver. His 
own house formerly went down four steps from his door, and now 
the ground in the street is so raised as to remove them all. 

Near him, at No. 7, on the north side of Christian street, is a 
very ancient-looking boarded house of but one very low story, 
having its roof projecting beyond the wall of the house in front 
and rear, so as to iform pent-houses. It is a log-house in truth, 
concealed by boards and painted, and certainly the only log-house 
in Philadelphia! What is curious respecting it, is, that it v^sls 
actually framed and floated to its present spot by "old Joseph 
Wharton" from Chester county. Of this fact Mr. Marsh assured 
me, and told me it was an old building in his early days, and was 
always then called "Noah's ark." He remembered it when the 
cellar part of it (which is of stone and seven feet deep) was all 
above ground, and the cellar floor was even with the former street ! 
I observed a hearth and chimney still in the cellar, and water was 
also in it. This water the tenant told me they supposed came in 
even now from the river, although at 100 feet distance. I think it 
not improbable that it stands on spring ground, which, as long as 
the street was lower than the cellar, found its way off, but now it 
is dammed. The floor of the once second story is now one foot 
lower than the sti-eet. 

On the whole, there are signs of great changes in that neighbour- 
hood,— of depressing hills or of filling vales; which, if my conjectures 
U 



138 The Swedes' Church, and House of Sven Sener. 

bo just, would have made the Swedes' churrh, in times of water m-' 
vasions from higii tides a kind of peninsula, and itself and parson- 
age 0:1 the extreme point of projection. 

The primitive Swedes generally located all theii' residences 
" near the freslies of tlie river*' ah\a}^^s choosing places of a ready 
water communication, pi-eferring thus their conveyances in canoes 
to the labour of opening j'oads and inland improvements. From 
this cause their churches, like this at Wiccaco, was visited from 
considerable distances along the river, and making, when assem- 
bled on Lord's day, quite a squadron of boats along the river sida 
there. 

There are some facts existing, which seem to indicate that the 
first Swedish settlement was destroyed by fire. Mrs. Preston, 
the grandmother of Samuel Preston, an aged gentleman still alive, 
often told him of theii- being driven from thence, by being burnt 
out. and then going off by invitation to an Indian settlement in 
Bucks county. In Campanius' work he speaks of Korsholm 
fort, (supposed to be the same place) as being abandoned after 
Governor Printz returned to Sweden, and afterwards burned by 
the Indians ; very probably as a measure of policy, to diminish the 
strength of their new masters, the Dutch. There seems at least 
some coincidence in the two stories. 

The road through Wiccaco to Gloucester Point was petitioned 
for, and granted by the Council in the year 1720, and called— th^ 
I'oad tlirough the marsh. 



139 



[iLLXTSTRiTEn liT A PLATE.] 



IT was long after I first saw the above title that I met with 
Jiny rertaia mt'aus ot'esta])lishing its location at Vine street. Proiul 
spokc^ oi it as -near to Race street," and none of tlie aged '•v'' )m 
I interrogated knew any thing about it. Of course it would b« 
still less known to any modern Philadelphian, altliough it had oeen 
bestowed as a gift to the city by Penn, and was made memorable 
as the birth-place of '' the first born." Some of the following facts 
will fully certify its location at Vine street. 

In the year iroi, William Penn sets forth and ordains ''that 
the landing j)laces now and heretofore used at the Penny -pot house 
and Blue Anchor, shall be left open and common for the use of the 
city." kc. 

The landing appears to have derived its name from the Inn 
built there, which was early famed for its beer at a penny a pot.* 
The house itself was standing in my time as the Jolly Tar Inn, kept 
by one Tage. It was a two story brick house of good dimensions, hav- 
ing for its front a southern exposure. At first it liad no interve- 
ning houses between it and the area of Vine street ; but when I last 
saw it, as many as three houses had filled up that space. Tho 
aged Joseph Norris of that neighbourhood, who died a few yeara 
ago in his ninetieth year, told me lie remembered in his youth t<; 
liave seen a sign affixed to the house, and having thereon the words 
*' Penny-pot Free Landing." 

At the time when t]ie city was first formed, the general higli 
bluif-land of the river bank made it extremely difficult to receive 
wood, lumber or goods into the city, except by the 'Mow sandy 
beach" at the Blue Anchor, (i. e. at Dock creek,) and at Vine 
street, which lay along " a vale," and therefore first caused that 
street to be called '* Valley street." As a landing of more width than 
usual to other streets it still belongs to the city at the present day. 

On the same area, and on the first water lot above it, was for 
many yeai's the active ship yards of Charles West, who came out 

* Tlie " Duke of York's laws," still preservetl in MS. on Long Island, sliow that tho uricr 
of beer was fixed in his colony at a penny a pint ; and Penn, in 1683, speaks of ab«ndan<e 
«f malt beer in use then at the Inns. 



140 Penny -pot House and Landing. 

with Penn, and began his career by building him a vessel, for 
wliicli in part pay he received the lot on which the present William 
West, Esq. his grandson, has his salt stores and wliarf. The ves- 
sels once built on that site extended their bowsprits up to Peiniy- 
pot house, and those built upon the area of Vine street extended 
the jib-boom across Front street to the eaves of West's house, then 
a tM o story building on the north west corner of Vine and front 
streets. Ship building was for many years a very active and profit- 
able concern, — building many ships and brigs for orders in Eng- 
land and Ireland, and producing in this neighbourhood a busy 
scene in t!iat line. 

The aged John Brown and some others told me there were origi- 
nally rope-walks along the line of Cable lane ; from whiclj circum- 
stance it received its title : and much ship timber and many saw-pits 
were thereabout. Mrs. Steward, an old lady of 93, told me she 
remembered when tlie neiglibourhood of Cable lane was all in 
whoj'tleberry bushes ; and, as late as 1754, it may be seen in the 
Gazette, that William Rakestraw then advertises himself as living 
"in the uppermost house in Water street near Vine street," and 
there keeping liis board yard. 

The occasional state of Penny -pot may be learned from the several 
presentments of tlic Grand Jury at successive periods, to wit : 

In the year 1706, they present the *' Free Landing of Vine street," 
as necessary to be secured with the banks of the same, wjiereby 
the Fi'ont street may not become, as it threatens to be, unfit to be 
passed with carts. 

In 1713, they present as a nuisance the east end of Vine street, 
whei-e Front street crosses it. 

In 1718. they present a gully running down Vine street and 
crossing Front street, for that the same is not passable by coaches, 
waggons or carts, to the endangering of lives. 

In 1719, they present several dangerous breaches, and among 
them that near the Penny-pot house as almost unpassable. 

In 1720, they again pi-esent a breach in the upper end of Front 
street, near the Penny-pot house, as unpassable for carts, and the 
cross-way of Vine street aiid the Front street, by Sassafras street, 
almost unpassable. 

In 1724, they present the bank at the end of Vinesti'eet, being 
%vorn away to the middle of Front street, and very dangerous. 
We tlms perceive that the breach was the tumbling down ot the 
river side bank, which by successive rains rushing down Vine 
street, had worn away the Front street road half across that 
gtreet. 

Finally, in 1740. they present again " the Penny-pot landing and 
the east end of Vine street," as encumbered with timber and 
plank, &c. by Samuel Hastings and Charles West. 

In the original foundation of the city, it having been of easier 
access as a landing, it was chosen, as the best location for a cave, 



Penny -pot tfome and Landing. 141 

&r the parents of John Key. from which cause he came to have 
his birth there as the first born of Philadelphia. The founder, in 
consideration of that distinction in his colony, presented a patent 
in liis name for a large lot in Race street — the same which he sold 
at his majority, in 1715, to Clement Plumstead for only 12£. 

The lot adjoining Penny-pot on the north was once distin- 
guished by a row of threhle stone houses of two stories, having 
a front and court yard on Front street, shaded by great button- 
wood trees, and the front on Water street of three stories, project- 
ing quite into tiie present street."* Its original appearance was 
striking fi'om the river, and its own river prospect unrivalled. 
This tiien notable building, now down, received the name of ^'the 
College," and, in 1770 the principal and owner, Mr. Griscom, 
advertised it as his beautiful private academy, far out of town, 
'•free from the noise of the city, at the north end." It after- 
wards fell into decay and neglect, but still retained the name of "the 
College," but (as was said in my boyish days) because every cham- 
ber held separate families after the manner of a college, — the ori- 
ginal use of it having been forgotten, and many poor families thus 
filling it up. 

*The street there as Water street continued was not recorded till about 35 years ago. 



Pipisiitir^s^! aii?fi»i[ir<i 



THIS bridge, crossing Pegg's run at Front sti'eet, was named, 
as well as tlie neighbourhood, after one Poole, a Friend, who had 
his ship yard and dwelling on the hill there, called *' Poole's hill," 
in early days. It was then an establishment quite separate from 
the city population, and even from Front street itself: for neither 
Front street nor Water street, which now unite there, were then 
extended so far. *' Poole's Hill" was therefore the name before 
the bridge was constructed there, and designated a high bluff, ab- 
ruptly terminating the high table land of the city at its approach 
to Pegg's run, and the overflowing marsh ground beyond it north- 
ward as higli as Noble lane and Duke street. Poole's dwelling 
house was picturesque, and pleasantly situated on the west side of 
present Front street,. on a descending hill sloping westward, and 
giving a prospect up the creek and into the adjacent country. 
A fine peach orchard lay along the line of the present Front street 
as far south as Margaretta street, and extended eastward, down 
the sloping green bank into the river. To this add his ship yard 
close to the margin of the creek, and the whole scene is grateful. 
The well of w ater, for which the place was famous, stood in the 
middle of the present Front street. These facts w ere confirmed 
to me in general by Mr. Tallman, the butcher, and Mr. Norris, 
the ship carpenter, near there, and by Mr. John Brown ; all of 
whom, if now alive, would be about 90 years of age. They all 
concurred in saying that Front street, when it reached near to 
present Margaretta street, went off (down the hill) westward, so 
as to pass over Pegg's marsh meadow 150 feet further westward 
than the present Front street, which was itself a cause-way of late 
years. 

It may serve in corroboration of some of the preceding facts to 
state, that by the minutes of Friends it appears that one Nathaniel 
Poole passed Meeting with Ann Till in tlie year 1714. In the 
year 1701, his name appeared on a jury list in my possession, and 
in 1708-9, William Poole appears as part owner of a vessel and 
sea-adventure. In the year 1754, a Mr. Carpenter advertises in. 
the Gazette, that he has then "for sale, boards and staves on 
Poole's hill, at the upper end of Front street." This intimates, I 
presume, that before the building of Poole's bridge, and making 
the cause- way from it, northward, ''the hill" ended the then town ; 
and as the ship yard was probably then discontinued, the place 
was converted into a northern landing place for lumber, &c. 

In the year 1713, the Grand Jury recommend a tax of one pence 



144 Foolers Bridge. 

per pound to be assessed, to pay for repair of road at Poole's hill, 
and at the new bridge at Governor's mill, — Cohocksinr. 

Mr. Jolm Brown informed me tliat when Poole's bridge was 
built, the Philadelphia masons would not undertake it. and Israel 
Roberts, from Maryland, was sent foj- to construct it. This was 
done about 75 years ago. The same year a nortli east September- 
gale beat it down. It was soon rebuilt again — say in 1755. The 
time is probably more accurately fixed by Secretary Peters ; he, 
writing to Penn in 1747. says, " A new bridge made on the pre- 
sent line of Front street over Pegg's run, whereby the street now 
makes a fine view by a north entry of the town." The former low 
wooden bridge was further west. 

The cause- way from Front street, which was formed in con- 
nexion with the bridge in 1755, has been described to me by Mr. 
Thomas Bradford and J. Brown, to the following effect, to wit : 

The road was formed with sluices made under it, so that tide- 
water flovAcd into the pond then along the eastern end of Pegg's 
meadow. This pond was probably caused by the former parallel 
cause-way fui-ther to the westward making a barrier to the \a ater. 
On the eastern side of Front street, opposite to present Noble 
street, was a long barrier or wharf, up to which the river came, 
and in the time of the war 17 of the row gallies lay there cpiite up 
to the sti'eet. . 

The late aged Timothy Matlack, Esq. told me there was a tra- 
dition of a sloop of war having once wintered at the creek at 
Poole's bridge, and that when they were digging for a foundation 
for the bridge, they found articles wliich must have been dropt 
from such a vessel. There is in this relation something like an 
attempt at the story of the sword dug up at Second street bridge 
on this run. But, as '' sloops of war" in old times meant any 
sized armed vessels, it would be easy enough to conceive that ves- 
sels would be found getting out of the ice at Poole's ship yard. 
Of the once greatei' deptli of the creek there can be no doubt, as 
colonel A. J. Morris told me that his grandparents had gone up it 
to Spring garden spring in a boat, and made their tea there amid 
the trees and shrubbery. 

The earliest built houses, near Poole's bridge on the cause-way, 
were Anthony Wilkinson's row on the western side, and Doctor 
Cliffton's row on the eastern side. They had in that day some 
attempt at display, having brick columns in relief; but they were 
deemed an abortive speculation in both. 

On the occasion of an extreme great freshet, the river water 
overflowed all the mounds and embankments, deluging the wliole 
area of Pegg's meadows, and giving occasion to the Tallman 
family, who dwelt near there, to get into a boat and sail about to 
and fro as high up as to Third street. Tiiis fact was told to me 
by Mrs. Tallman when she was past seventy, — and spoke of an 
event fifty years before. 



-:t 



JA 



""^ '^ fill 



-"- *^ .41 




(;/v, 1/ Loniga Alfnin at FhilaileL^L 




"'""" LnriTIA HOCSL 



I.oa.lLtJ. 



9 



ZiAETZTIA COURT. 

[ILLITSTRATKD BY A PLATE.] 



IT is a matter of inquiry and doubt, at this day, (1828) which has 
been the house in Lsetitia court, wherein William Penn, the foun- 
der, and colonel Markham, the Lieutenant Governor, dwelt. The 
popular opinion now is, that the inn at tlie head of the court, occu- 
pied as the Leopard Inn, and since Penn Hall, is the identical 
liouse alluded to. The cause of this modern confidence is ascribable 
(even if there were no better ground of assurance) to the fact, that 
this building, since they built the additional end to the westward, 
of about 18 to 20 feet, presents such an imposing front towards 
High street, and so entii'ely closes the court at that end, (formerly 
open as a cart passage) that from that cause alone, to those not 
well informed, it looks as the principal house, and may liave there- 
fore been regarded by transient passengers as Penn's house. 

The truth is, that for many years the great mass of the popula- 
tion had dropt or lost the tradition about Penn's house in the 
court ; and it is only of later years, antiquities beginning to ex- 
cite some attention, that the more intelligent citizens have revived, 
some of their former hearings about the court. During all the 
earlier years of my life I never heard of Penn living there at all; 
but of later years I have. 1 have been, therefore, diligent to ask 
old men about it. Several said it never used to be spoken of in 
their youth. John Warder, an intelligent merchant, now above 
73 years of age, was born at the corner house of the alley on High 
street, and lias told me, he never was told of Penn's living there, 
when a boy. On the other hand, a few old men have told me, at 
every period of their life the tradition (though known to but few) 
was, that it was one of two houses, to wit — either Doyle's inn, 
or the old Rising Sun inn on the western side of the alley. Joseph 
Sansom, Esq. about 60, told me he heard and believed it was the 
house at the head of the court, and so also some few others ; but 
more persons, of more weight in due knowledge of the subject, have 
told me they had been always satisfied it was the old Rising Sun 
inn on the western side of the court. Timothy Matlack, aged 92, 
who was very inquisitive, and knew it from 14 years of age. said 



146 Perm's Cottage, in Lsetitia Court. 

it was then the chief house in that court as to character ; it was a 
very popular inn for many years ; (whereas Doyle's house was not 
an iiin till many years afterwards) that it then had an alley on ita 
northern side for a cart way, running out to Second street, and 
thus agreeing with "Penn's gate over against Friends' Meet- 
ing," &c. at which place his Council, 1685, required king James* 
proclamation to he read. 

If what is now Doyle's inn (Penn's Hall) had a south front and 
a "dead wall" towards High sti'eet, it seems very difficult to 
conceive how its great gate could he vis a vis Friends' great Meet- 
ing, on the south east corner of High and Second vStreets. But the 
Lfetitia house, i. e. Old Rising Sun, would correspond ; besides, 
Penn, in his instructions to his commissioners, says, " Pitch my 
house in the middle of the towne, and facing the harbour," &c. 

Timothy Matlack also told me that he used to be told that on 
the southern side of that Rising Sun inn was Penn's stable, and 
that they used to say lie could lay in his hed or on his settee and 
hear his horses in the next building munching their food. Colonel 
Anthony Morris, aged 84, told me expressly, he always understood 
the same house was Penn's residence ; that it was so talked of, 
when a boy, and that it is only of later years that he ever heard 
a hint of the house at the head of the court as being the residence. 
Tiiomas Bradford, now 80 years of age, who was born close by 
there, and has always dwelt there, has told me he always heai'd 
the Rising Sun inn, western side, was " Lsetitia's house," and that 
what is now Doyle's inn was never stated as Penn's till of modern 
times, and in its primitive state it presented a dead wall to High 
street, and had its only front upon Black-horse alley. 

This name, " Ljetitia's house," I found was a name which 
even those who thought the house at the head of the court was 
Penn's, granted that Lsetitia Penn dwelt in, even while the father 
may have occupied the other. In this they were certainly in some 
error ; Lietitia, heing an unmarried girl, could never have had a 
separate house ; she was not with her father till his second visit, 
in 1700. It was in Penn's first visit only, in 1682, that he could 
have dwelt there. 

I infer from all the facts, that Penn had "his cottage" built 
there before his landing, by colonel Markham ;* that some of the 
finer work was imported for it with the first vessels ; that he used 
it as often as not at his '" palace" at Pennsbury. After him, it 
was used by colonel Markham, his Deputy Governor ; and after- 
wards for public offices. That in 1700, when he used the " Slate- 
house," corner of Second street and Norris' alley, having a mind 
to confer something upon his daughter, then with him, he gave her 
a deed, 1 mo. 29th, 1701, for all that half square laying on High 
street, and including said house. Several years after this event, 

* Gabriel Thomas, who said " he went out in the first ship," said he then saw " the first 
(L tllar digging for the use of our Governor," 



Pmn*s Cottage, in Lsetitia Cotirt. 147 

the people, as was their custom, when the court began to be built 
up on each side of a •• 36 feet alley," having no name for it, they, 
in refei'ence to the last conspicuous owner, called it Ljetitia court, 
i« reference to the then most conspicuous house : the same house 
so given by Fenn to his daughter. A letter, which I have, from 
William Penn, dated l68r,* says, '< Your improvements (in Phila- 
delphia) now require some conveniency above what my cottage 
has afforded you in times past." He means this '-for the oflices 
of State." In 1684-5, his letter to James Harrison, which I have 
seen and copied, allows '- his cousin, Markham. to live in his house 
in Philadelphia, and that Thomas Lloyd, the Uej)uty Governor, 
sjhould have the use of his periwigs, and any wines and beer he may 
have there left, for the use of sti-angers." 

It may possibly be deemed over-fanciful in me to express a wish 
to have this primitive house purchased by our Penn Association, 
and consecrated to future renown. I hope indeed the idea will yet 
generate in the breasts of some of my fellow members the real 
poeti-y of the subject. It is all intellectual ; and has had its war- 
rant (if re(iuired) in numerous precedents abroad. Wc may now 
see written upon Melancthon's house in Wii-tenburg, " Here lived 
and died Melancthon!" In the same city are still preserved 
"Luther's room," his chair, table and stove; and at Eisleben is 
seen a small house, bought and preserved by the king of Prussia, in- 
scribed, ' • This is the house in which Luther was born."* Petrarch's 
house is not suffered to be altered. Such things, in every country, 
every intelligent traveller seeks out with avidity. Why, therefore, 
should we not retain for public exhibition the primitive house of 
Penn ? Yea, whose foundation constituted "the first cellar dug in 
Philadelphia !" To proper minds, the going into the alley and nar- 
row court to find the hallowed spot (now so humble) should con- 
stitute its chiefest interest. It would be the actual contrast between 
the beginning and the progress of our eity. 

Its exterior walls I would preserve with inviolate faithfulness; 
and within those walls (wherein space is ample, if partitions w^ere 
removed) might be an appropriate and highly characteristic place 
of meeting for the ordinary business of the Penn Association and 
the Historical Society, and also for the exhibition of such painting* 
and relics as could now be obtained, — such as Penn's clock, his 
escritoirj writing table, &c. besides several articles to be had of 
some families, of curiously constructed furniture of the primitive 
days. The hint is thus given — will any now support the idea ? 

If we would contemplate this Lsetitia house in its first relations 
we should consider it as having an open area to the river the whole 
width of the half square, with here and there retained an orna- 

* See the original in mv MS. Ani\als in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 

t This house, so kept to the memory of Luther, has its rooms hung with pictures, ancient 
and grotesque, and the rooms contain chairs, tables and other relics of their former pos- 
sessor. An Album is there, ift which the visiter inscribes his name from Luther's ink- 
stand. Vide Dwight's travels. 



148 Penn^s Cottage, in Lsetitia Court. 

mental clump of forest trees and slirubbery on either side of an 
avenue leading out to the Front street ; having a garden of fruit trees 
on the Second street side, and on Second street '■ - tlie Governor's 
gate," so called, '' opposite to the lot of the Friends' great Meet- 
ing," By this gate the carriages entered and rode along the avenue 
by the north side of the house to the east front of the premises. 
This avenue remained an alley way long after, even to within the 
early memory of Timothy Matlack, who told me that he had seen 
it open as a common passage into Second street. The same was con- 
firmed by Mr. Harris, a former owner, to Mr. Heberton. Indeed, 
it is even now open and paved up to the rear of the house on Second 
sti'cet. 

Tliis general rural appearance was all in accordance with 
Penn's ksiown taste, and was doubtless so continued until the 
ground was apportioned out in thirty city lots, as expressed by 
James Logan in a letter to Lsetitia Aubrey, in the year 1737, 
saying, " Tlicre was about 26 shillings per annum reserved upon 
the large city lot, divided into thirty smaller parts — seven on the 
Front street, seven on Second street, and eight on the High street, 
— all of these at one shilling Pennsylvania money per annum, and 
those in Lffititia court at six pence each" for the remaining eight 
lots there. 

Tlie following facts present scraps of information which may 
tend still further to illustrate the proper history of the premises, 
to wit : 

Penn's instructions to his commissioners, of 30th of 9 mo. 1681, 
says expressly, " Pitch upon the very middle of the platt of the 
towne, to be laid facing the harbour, for the situation of my house." 
Thus intimating, avS I conceive, the choice of Lsetitia court, and in- 
timating his desire to have it facing the river, *'as the line of 
houses of the town should be." 

It is stated in the minutes of the executive Council of the 11th 
of 3d mo. 1685, that tlie proclamation of James II. and the papers 
relative to the death of Charles II. and the speech of his successor, 
were solemnly read before the Governor's gate in the town of 
Philadelphia. 

In 1721, the names of " Governor's lot" and of '' Lsetitia court" 
are thus identified in the words of the Grand Jury, who present 
<' the muddiness of the alley into Lsetitia court, formerly called 
the Governor's lot." 

I have seen a letter of the 14th of 6 mo. 1702, from James Lo- 
gan to Lsetitia Penn, wherein he speaks of the sale of several of 
her lots, after the square had been divided. He says he had sold 
first four of the Front street lots for 450£. which money he set 
out on interest, &c. Since then he had sold 60 feet of the bank, 
clear of reversion- with a small High street lot, to Thomas Mas- 
ters for 230£, The corner lot next the Meeting house he sold for 
115^8. and three High street lots for 50 and 60£. each; and the 



Pernios Cottage, in Ldeiitia Court. 149 

i«cmainiiig four in the siime street he hopes to sell soon. The whole 
sale effected is called S95£. and shall continue to sell as occasion 
shall offer. He mentions also tliat he has agreed for the \ alue of 
about 100£. of her 13,000 acres, new tract of land, near New Castle 
county — estimated, then as to sell at 20£. per hundred. Thy old 
mansion I do not touch with. I hojje in seven years to be able to 
raise thee a good portion from wliat is already settled on tliec in 
this province. Be not too easily disposed of; it would be a scandal, 
that any of thy father's engagements should be an occasion to sacri- 
fice thee to any but where true love officiates as priest. Thy mar- 
riage is conimojily reported here, [as a measure to take place, to 
some one.] 

We discern from the premises that lots on High street, now so 
highly prized, brought only one third the price of lots on Front 
street, now so much lower. We perceive too, distinct mention of 
his reservation of the one house, called her mansion. 

Those who are curious to further explore tliis subject may find, 
in my MS. Annals in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, much 
additional matter on j)ages 140 to 149, giving a table of descents 
of title to lots on the square, as deduced from Lsetitia Penn, to- 
gether with the brief presented me by Samuel Chew, Esq. and the 
testimony of sundry aged witnesses appearing in court, in 1822, to 
testify their early recollections concerning the Ljetitia court and 
the inn at the head of the court. 

It appears from the whole, that William Penn, by patent or deed, 
conveyed to Lsetitia Penn, on the 1st mo. 29th, 1701, the ground 
on the soutli side of High street, 175 feet deep, [making the present 
distance to Black-horse alley] and from Front to Second street, 
402 feet; granting unto her "'all the houses, edifices, buildings, 
casements, liberties, profits, and commodities," thereunto belonging. 
In eai'ly time it appears that Robert Ewer, a public Friend, be- 
came possessed of the lot, now Doyle's inn, at the head of the 
court, and that he forthwith laid out the alley, since called the 
Black-horse alley, so named from the sign of a tavern long held 
therein. 

The plate given to illustrate the present subject shows the 
primitive house as it stood in earliest times, with an open fi'ont to 
the river, and with a coach passage on its northern side extending 
to <Hhe gate" on Second sti'eet, ''over against the great Meeting." 



SL.ATE-ROOP HOUSE, 

PENN'S RESIDENCE. 

[lU-UiTKATED BT A PtATK.] 



» I Now thou standest 

In faded majesty, as if to mourn 
The dissolution of an ancient race !" 

THIS house, still standing at tlie south east corner of Noj-ris* 
alley and Second street, and now reduced to a lowly appearajice, 
derives its chief interest from having been the residence of William 
Penn. The peculiarity of its original construction, and the char- 
acter of several of its successive inmates, will enhance its interest 
to the modern reader. The facts concerning the premises, so far 
as may now be known, are generally these, to wit : 

The house was originally built, in the early origin of the city, 
for Samuel Carpenter — certainly one of the earliest and greatest 
improvers of the primitive city. It was probably designed for his 
own residence, although he had other houses on the same square, 
nearer to the river. 

It was occupied as the city residence of William Penn and fami- 
ly, while in Philadelphia on his second visit in 1700 ; i)i which 
house was born, in one month after their arrival, John Penn, "the 
American," — the only one of the race ever born in the country. 
To that house therefore, humble, degenerated, and altered in as- 
pect as it now is, we are to appropriate all our conceptions of Penn's 
employments, meditations, hopes, fears, &c. while acting as Go- 
vernor and proprietary among us. In those doors he went in and 
out — up and down those stairs he passed — in those chambers he re- 
posed — in those parlours he dined or regaled his friends — through 
those garden grounds they sauntered. His wife, his daughter 
Laetitia, his family, and his servants, were there. In short, to 
those who can think and feel, the place "is filled with local im- 
pressions." Such a house should be rescued from its present 
forlorn neglect ;* it ought to be bought and consecrated to some 
lasting memorial of its former character, by restoring its bastions 
and salient angles, &c. It would be to the character of such Soci- 
eties as the Historical and Penn Association, &c. to club their 
means to preserve it for their chambers, &c. as long as themselves 
and the city may endure ! There is a moral influence in these mea- 

*The same remark is applicable to Penn's cottage in Lwtitiacourt. 



152 8lale-ronf House — Femi's Residence. 

siires that implies and effects much more in its influence on national 
action and feeling, tlian can reach the apprehension of supei*ficial 
thinkers ; who can only estimate its value hy their conception of so 
much brick and mortar! It was feelings, such as I wish to see 
appreciated here that aroused the ardour of Petrarch's townsmen, 
jealous of every thing consecrated by his name, whereby they run 
together en masse, to prevent the proprietor of his house from al- 
tering it! Foreigners, we know, have honoured England by their 
eagerness to go to Bread street, and there visit the house and 
chambers, once Milton's ! 'Tis in vain to deride the passion as futile ; 
the charm is in the ideal presence, which the association has pow- 
er to create in the imagination ; and they who can command the 
grateful visions will be sure to indulge them. It is poetry of 
feeling — scoffs cannot repress it. It equally possessed the mind 
of Tully when he visited Athens ; he could not forbear to visit the 
walks and houses which the old philosophers had frequented or in- 
liabited. In tliis matter, says Dr. Johnson, '* I am afraid to declare 
against the general voice of mankind." "The heart is stone that 
feels not at it ; or, it feels at none !" Shear insensibility, absorbed 
in its OAvn selfishness, alone escapes the spell-like infl^uence ! Every 
nation, when sufliciently intellectual, has its golden and heroic ages ; 
and the due contemplation of these relics of our antiquities presents 
the proper occasion for forming ours. These thoughts, elicited 
by tlie occasion, form the proper apology for whatever else we 
may offer to public notice in this way. There is a generation to come 
who will be grateful foi- all such notices. 

After William Penn had left this house, on his intended return 
with his family to England, he, while aboard his return ship, the 
Messenger, (an appropriate name for the message and business he 
was purposing !) writes on the 3d of September, 1701, to James 
Logan, saying, ''Thou may continue in the house I lived in till 
the year is up." 

James Logan, in reply, in 1702, says, "I am forced to keep 
this house still, there being no accommodation to be had elsewhere 
for public business." In fact, he retained it as a government house 
till 1704, when he and his coadjutors moved to Clarks Hall in 
Chesnut street, afterwards Pemberton's great house. 

James Logan, in a letter to William Penn of 5th December. 
1703, says Samuel Carpenter has sold the house thou lived in to 
William Trent (the founder of Trenton in 1719,) for S50£. * 

At this house Lord Cornbury, then Governor of New York and 
New Jersey, (son of Lord Clarenden, cousin of queen Anne, &c.) 
was banqueted in great style in 1702, on tlie occasion of his being 
invited by James Logan, from Burlington, where he had gone to 
proclaim the queen. Logan's letter, speaking of the event, says 
he was dined *^ equal, as he said, to any thing he had seen in 

* William Trent began his settlement at Trenton in 1719, by erecting mills there. He 
(lied there in 1724, in the office of Chief Justice of New Jersey. 



Slate-roof House — Penn*s Residence. 153 

America." At night he was invited to Edward Shij)])en'.s, (cjirat 
house in south Second street) where he was lodged, and (lined wit li all 
his company, making a retinue of nearly thirty persons. llt> -a ent 
back well pleased with his reception, via Burlington, in the (Gov- 
ernor's barge, and was again banqueted at Pennsbury by James 
Logan, who had preceded iiim for tliat purpose. Lord Corn bury 
there had a retinue of about fifty persons, which accompanied him 
thither in four boats. His wife was once with him in Philadel- 
phia, in 1703. Penn, on one occasion, calls him a man of luxury 
and poverty. He was at first very popular : and having made 
many fine promises to Penn, it was probably deemed good policy 
to cheer his vanity by striking public entertainments. In ime, 
however, his extravagant living, and conseijuent extortion, divested 
him of all respect among the people. Only one legendary talc re- 
specting this personage has reached us : An old woman at Ches- 
ter had told the Parker family she remembered to have seen him 
at that place, and having heard he was a lord, and a queeirs cousin, 
she had eyed him with great exactness, and had seen no difference 
in him, trom other men, but tliat he wore leather stockings !* 

In 1709, "the slated-roof house of william Trent" is thus coni- 
mended by James Logan as a suitable residence for him as Gover- 
nor, saying, "William Trent, designing for England, is about selling 
his house, (that he bought of Samuel Carpenter) which thou lived 
in, with the improvement of a beautiful garden," — then extending 
half way to Front street and on Second street nearly down to 
Walnut street. "I wish it could be made thine, as nothing in this 
town is so well fittimg a Governor. His price is 900£. of our mo- 
ney, which it is hard thou canst not spare. I w ould give 20 to 30£. 
out of my own pocket that it w ere thine — nobody's but thine." 

The house w as, however, sold to Isaac Norris, who devised it to 
his son Isaac, through whom it has descended down to the pi-esent 
proprietor, Sarah Norris Dickinson, his grand daughter. 

It was occupied at one period, it is said, by Governor Hamilton, 
and, for many years preceding the w ar of Independence, it was 
deemed a superior boarding house. While it held its rank as such, 
it was honoured with the company, and, finally, with the funeral 
honours of General Forbes, successor to General Braddock, w ho 
died in that house in 1759. The pomp of his funeral from that 
house surpassed all the simple inhabitants had before seen in their 
city. His horse w as led before the procession, richly caparisoned, 
— the whole conducted in all "the pomp of war," with funeral 
dirgCvS, and a military array with arms reversed,! &c. 

In 1764, it was rented to be occupied as a distinguished board- 
ing house by the widow^ Graydon, mother of captain Graydon 
of Carlisle, who has left us his amusing " Memoirs of 60 years life 

* William Penn, in one of his notes, says, " Pray send me my lealliei- stockings." 
+ He had had great honours shown to him two yews before for the capture of Fort dn 
Qiiesne, (Fort Pitt.) 

Y 



154 Slate-roof House — Fenn^s Residence. 

in Pennsylvania." There his mother, as he informs us, had a great 
many gentry as lodgers. He describes the old house as very 
Miiich of a castle in its construction, although built originally for 
a Friend. "It was a singular old fashioned structure, laid out in 
the style of a fortification, with abundance of angles both salient 
and re-entering. Its tvv^o wings projected to the street in the 
manner of bastions, to which the main building, retreating from 
16 to 18 feet, served for a curtain."* " It had a spacious yard, 
half way to Front street, and ornamented with a double row of 
venerable lofty pines, which afforded a very agreeable rus in urbe." 
She continued there till 1768-9, when she removed to Drinker's 
big house, up Front street near to Race street. Graydon's anec- 
dotes of distinguished persons, especially of British officers and 
gentry wlio were inmates, are interesting. John Adams, and 
other members of the first congress, had their lodgings in *' the 
Slate-house." 

* We may say of this house : — " Trade has changed the scene ;" for the recess is since 
f4lled out to the front with store windows, and the idea of the bastions, though stiU therp' 
is lost. 



BIVER-FROJTT BANK. 



THE liistory of the '' bank lots" on the river-front is a topic iu 
wliicli all, who can feel an interest in the comfort, beauty, or fame 
of our city, must have a concern. It was the original design of 
Penn to have beautified our city, by a most graceful and agreeable 
promenade on the high bank of the river-front, the whole length of 
the city. Thus intending Front street to have had an uninterrupted 
view of the Delaware and ri\ er scenery, after the manner of the 
eelebrated Bomb Quai at Rotterdam. How all those desirable 
purposes were frustrated, and how our admirable natural advanta- 
ges for an elegant river display, have been superseded by a 
cramp'd and inconvenient street and houses, shall be comnmnicatcd 
to the reader in the following facts, to wit : 

We find, from the citizens' memorial of the 3d of 6 mo. 1684, the 
iirst open attempt to make some breach in the original plan, but 
the direct manner In which they were repelled by William Penn, 
is evidence how much he then had it at heart to preserve "the top- 
bank as a common Exchange or walk." The memorialists claimed 
<<the privilege to build vaults or stores in tlie bank against their re- 
spective lots," on the westei'n side of Front street. His answer 
is not known at full length ; but his endorsement on the petition 
speaks thus, viz : "The bank is a top common from end to end. The 
rest next the w ater belongs to front lot tnen (i. e. owners on Front 
street) no more than back lot men. The way bounds them. They 
may build stairs, and the top of the bank be a common Excliange 
or walk ; and against the streets, (opening to the river) common 
wharves may be built freely, but into the w ater and the shore, is no 
purchasers." 

The Assembly too addressed Penn on tlie 20tii September, 1701, 
"concerning property," and his answer is, •'! am willing to 
grant the ends of streets according to your request ;" therein show 
ing that the general bank was deemed out of tlic question. 

A paper of the 26th A])ril, 1690, from Penn's commissioners oi' 
property, combined with a confession IVom William Penn to James 
Logan, which we shall presently show, presents us the evidence of 
the time and the motive for the fatal concession of the bank lots to 
those who would become purchasers. The persons entitled to the 
discredit of tlnis marring our intended beautiful city, w ere Samuel 
Carpenter, William MaVkham. Robert Turner, and John Goodson. 
They state, that "Whereas they have been petitioned by holders ol 



156 River-front Bank. 

bank lots to grant them the further privilege to build on the same, as 
much higher as they please, on thefoi-mer terms, they therefore de- . 
dare their concurrence with the same, because the more their 
improvements are [in elevation or value] the greater will be the 
proprietor's benefit at the expiration of said fifty-one years in the 
said patents mentioned." 

It appears from this paper that before the year 1690, the grants 
were only occasional to some few special circumstances or friends, 
and particularly to Samuel Carpenter, whose public buildings on 
the wharf near Walnut street were considerable. For these indul- 
gencies they also allured, by a covenant, of giving back to the pro- 
prietary at the end of 50 years, one third of their improvements. 
To a needy patron, such as Penn w as, the right of selling out the 
purposed improvements, presented, as they may have thought, an 
apjieal to his actual wants, which might eventually reconcile him 
to their extra oflicial concessions. 

How mortified and vexed must Penn have felt on his second ar- 
rival in 1699, to witness the growing deformity of his city, and to 
see how far individual interest had swerved his agents from the 
goieiai good! Logan's letter of 1741, to Penn's son, in explanation 
of the preceding facts, shows how sensibly Penn regretted the mea- 
sures so taken, even while his circumstances prevented his rever- 
sing and cancelling the things already done; as if he had said: 
"'Mine necessity, not my will, hath done this," J^ogan's lettei- 
says, "Thy father himself acknowledged when here (last) that he 
owed [as a cause] those high quit rents for the bank of Philadel- 
phia, and the reversion of the third of the value [ground and all] 
after fifty years, entirely to Samuel Carpenter, who, much against 
liis (^Penn's) inclination, had tempted him, with them, to suffer 
himself [S. C] and other purchasers in Front to build on the east 
side of that street ; and he [S. C] subscribed with Jonathan Dick- 
inson and others to have a price set in the reversion of the said 
thirds, which was then done at 20 shillings per foot, now very neai' 
forty years since, with a view to raise a sum which was then ex- 
ceedingly wanted." 

Thus, even Penn. who should have laid his equivalent for so 
essential a deformity engrafted ujwn this city, after all, got not the 
proffered benefit of 50 years accumulation of value in houses and 
lots, but a small present sum in lieu ; and we have now the entail 
of their selfish scheme! I feel vexed and chagrined, while I pen 
this article, to think for what mere personal purposes fair Philadel- 
phia was so much marred ! One is almost tempted, even now, to 
propose the expense of yet opening a river prospect to the river 
from Arch to Chesnut street ; or, at least, striving so far to repair 
the loss sustained, as to make a water promenade ur^der a continued 
line of trees, the whole length of the river front A well paved 
straight street could yet be effected along the wharves, by extemiing 
some of the present docks, and thereby giving room for ranging tlw? 



River-front Bank. 157 

iVonts of the stores and trees on the western side in a direct and 
Hiiiform line, and suft'eriug ))o kind of buildings in their front. 

The progress of Pcnn's dissatisfaction at his agent's management, 
and his own reluctant compliances, may be further noticed in 
James Logan's letter of 1702 and Penn's reply of 1703-4. JameB 
Logan says, "For this past year, we have sold hut 165 feet of the 
banks, [perhaps a fact evincing its unpopularity] of which good 
part is yet unpaid according to tiiy concession, who, under thy 
hand, granted two years for the latter moiety. This backwartl- 
ness was foolishly occasioned by 1*. Parmiter a few days after 
thy departure, who affirmed tliat thy right extended no further 
than to the edge of the river. This discoui-aged many." In 
another place he says. ''The hank docs in no way answer to sell 
out: — only two patents granted."* 

In 1703-4, William Penn writes, saying, «I will have no more 
bank lots disposed of, nor keys yet made into the river, without 
my special and fresh leave, for reasons justifiable." And this he 
confirms soon after, by saying, " Till further orders, I will have 
MO bank lots sold, and never the 20 shilling per lott, on any ac- 
count. Pray mind this. I have good reasons for it at present." 

Among the early favoured persons, who had the indulgence of 
the bank lots, was Thomas Masters, who, in the year 1702, built 
''a stately house, five stories from the lower street and tliree the 
upper, at the corner of High and Front streets." And soon after 
says James Logan, " T. Masters has built another stately house, 
the most substantial in town, on Lsetitia's bank lot, which, for the 
improvement of the place, was sold him for 190£. sterling, in- 
cluding the reversion." 

In the year 1705, the bank lot owners being required to regulate 
King street, their fewness of names and number are only these, 
to wit : Hugh Codderey. Michael Isbern, Isaac Norris, Edward 
Shippen, Henry Badcock, Smith Carpenter, Isaac Norris, Abra- 
ham Buckley, Samuel Powell, Thomas Tresse, Joseph Pidgeon. 

From the vague manner in which those few names " are required 
to enter into measures to regulate King street" (the present Water 
street,) I think we can form a guess liow we came to have so ill- 
concerted and contracted a thorough-fare. With such abundance 
of earth as they had in the bank lots, it was easy to have deter- 
mined upon and made a wide and straight street ; but the selfish 
policy whicli first started the expedient of spoiling the river-front 
for private aims, conducted the primitive leaders in their measures 
to the shortest means of personal benefit. Wliere '' all did what 
was right in tlieir own eyes" only, it was easy to suit themselves 
for the occasion with a narrow street, and those wlio came after 
them had to follow it. The subject presents no point in wliich wc 
can be gratified, or yield our commemlation. 

*In 1701, a letter ef Penn's iniiuired .— " VVIiat if I had 12 pence per foot to Jew water 
mark for ever !" 



158 River-front Bank, 

We shall now conclude wit!) some notices of occurrences at or 
near the hank in early days, to wit : 

In 1701, the Grand Jury piTsent Higli street hill "as a great 
nuisance, and a place of great danger in passing Fi-ont street, and 
to the utter i-uin of said street and puhlic landing there: and, 
whereas there are also other breaches, places and landings within 
the town which require repair, the Governor and Council order 
that 500£. he assessed on the inhabitants for effecting tlie same.'* 

In 1712, they present the well at the end of High street near 
the river — the same wants to be covered. — and King street, at the 
same place, to be made cartable. Thus showing, that if the well be 
near tlie river, and at the same time on King street, (Water street) 
the river shore was then close to the hill or bank. We know, in 
proof of tl)is, that the house of Donaldson, at the north east corner 
of Water and High sti-eets, was, for many years after it was built, 
subject to water in its cellars in times of freshets. 

In 1720, an invasion of water "on tlie common shore," as made 
into King sti'cet, is noticed ; and the Grand Jury present as "a 
nuisance, a great breach in the bank, and passing into Front 
street above Mulberry street and below Griffith's new wall," — 
meaning his wall to keep up the river bank. 

In 1721, tlie Grand Jury present, as out of repair and dangerous, 
the " Crooked Billet steps," above Chesnut street. 

In 1723, the Grand Jury present "deep gullies from Front 
street, where the arch stood, to the arch wharf," — meaning at the 
east end of Mulberry street. 

In 1725, the Grand Jury present "the east end of Sassafras 
street, the bank being washed away almost across the Front street : 
also the Front street, against the houses late of John Jones, deceased, 
[now end of Combes' alley] as hardly passable for horse or cart." 
They also present "the wall on the common shore in the High 
street for want of a better covering." 

A. J. Morris, Esq. now 90 years of age, has told me that the 
bank side of Front street was unbuilt in several places in hjp 
youth. He used, like John Brown, to sled down the open hill, op- 
posite to Combes' alley. From High street to Arch street was 
very open, especially from the bank steps at Cliffords, northward. 
Below High street it was full built up ; but from Arch up to Vine 
street many places were still open. The east side of Water sti'eet 
was generally built up. and the best families were living there. 

In my youth, I saw the only remaining original shore of the city 
unwharfed ; it was called Taylor's dock, above Vine street ; there 
numerous horses were daily sent to be swam out and washed. It 
was a place of considerable width. At the dock bridge too. north 
side, was a similar dock, used for like purposes. At both places 
shallops brought loads of stone and street pebbles, which they un- 
loaded into the carts, as the carts backed into the water along side 
of the vessels. 



MOST Philadelpliians have had some vague conceptions of th«j 
caves and cabins in which the primitive settlers made their tempo- 
rary residence. The caves were generally formed by digging into 
the ground, near the verge of the river-fro7it bank, about three 
feet in depth; tluis. making half their chamber muWr ground, and 
the remaining lialf above ground was formed of sods of earth, or 
earth and brush combined. The roofs were formed of layers of 
limbs, or split pieces of trees, over-laid with sod or bark, river 
rushes, kc. The chimnies were of stones and river pebbles, mor- 
tared together with clay and grass, or river reeds. The following 
facts may illusti*ate this subject, to wit : 

An original paper is in John Johnson's family, of the year 1683, 
which is an instrument concerning a division of certain lands, and 
"executed and witnessed in the cave of Francis Daniel Pasto- 
rius, Esq." 

On the 17th of 9 mo. 1685, it was ordered by the provincial 
executive Council, that all families living in caves should appear 
before the Council. What a group they must have made! This 
order was occasioned by the representations of the Magistrates of 
Philadelphia, and enforced by a letter they had received from 
Governor Penn, in England. No one, however, thought pi'oper 
to obey the order. The Council gave '^ further notice" tliat the 
Governor's orders relating to the caves will be put in execution in 
one month's time. 

In 1685, the Grand Jury present Joseph Knight, for suffering 
drunkenness and evil orders in his cave : and several drinking 
houses to debauch persons are also presented. They also present 
all the empty caves that do stand in the Front street, '-which is 
to be 60 feet wide," wherefore, the court ordei*s that they forthwith 
*'be pulled down," by the constables, and '' demolished ;" [terras 
intimating they were in part above ground,] and upon request of 
John Barnes and Patrick Robinson, [the clerk of Council,] who 
asked one month to pull down their respective caves, it was grant- 
ed, on condition that tiiey fill up the hole in the street. On another 
occasion, they are called caves "or cabins" on the king's liigh 
way. 

The interesting story concerning tlie cave at the Crooked Billet, 
at which the ancestors of Deborah Morris dwelt, has been told 
under the article "Primitive Settlement" 



160 'J^^f Caves. 

Mrs. Hannah Speakman, now aged 75^ has told me that she well 
remembered having seen and often played at an original cave, 
called "Owen's cave." It was in "Townsend's court," on the 
south side of Spruce street, west of Second street, on a shelving 
bank. It was dug into tlie liill — had grass growing upon the roof 
part, which was itself formed of close laid timber. TJie same man 
who had once inhabited it was still alive, and dwelt in a small 
frame house near it. Near the cave stood a large apple tree, and 
close by, on *' Barclay's place," so called, she often gathered 
filberts and hickory nuts. The wliole was an unimproved place 
©nly 70 years ago ; it being, from some cause, suffered to lay waste 
by the Barclay heirs. 

John Brown, and others, told me that the original cave of the 
Coates' family, in the Northern Liberties, was preserved in some 
form in the cellar of the family mansion, which remained till this 
year at the south west corner of Green and Front streets. 



161 



HABITS 



« Not to know what has been transacted in former times, 
is always to remain a child !" Cicero. 

IT is our intention (so far as facts will enable us) to raise some 
conceptions of the men and things as they existed in former years, 
chiefly such as they were when every thing partook of colonial 
submission and simplicity — when we had not learnt to aspire to 
great things. To this end we shall here dispose our collections 
from *' narrative old age," and show the state of the past '*' glim- 
mering through the dream of things that were." 

Gabriel Thomas, in his account, of 1698, of the primitive state 
of society, speaks of great encouragements and ready pay given 
to all conditions of tradesmen and working men. None need stand 
idle. Of lawyers and physicians he remarks he will say little, 
save that their services were little required, as all wei-e peaceable 
and healthy. Women's wages he speaks of as peculiarly high, for 
two j'easons; the sex was not numerous, which tended to make 
them in demand, and therefore to raise the price. Besides, as 
these married by the time they were twenty years of age, they 
sought to procure a maid-servant for themselves in turn. Old 
maids were not to be met with, neither jealousy of husbands. The 
children were generally well favoured and beautiful to behold. He 
says he never knew any with the least blemish. William Penn 
also made the remark, on his arrival, that all the houses of the 
Dutch and Swedes he found every where filled witli a lusty and 
fine looking race of children. 

Numerous traditionary accounts attest the fact, that there was 
always among the early settlers a frank and generous hospitality. 
Their entertainments were devoid of glare and show, but always 
abundant and good. Mr. Kalm, when here in 1748, expressed 
his great surprise at the universal freedom with which travellers 
were every where accustomed to leap over the hedges and take the 
fruit from the orchards, even while tlie owners were looking on, 
without refusal. Fine peaches, he says, were thus taken from the 
orchards of the poorest peasants, such as could only be enjoyed, 
as he said, by the nobility in his own country ! What a golden age 
it must have appeared to him and others ! 



162 Habits and Stale of Society. 

William Fishbournc, in his MS. narrative of about the same 
time, says, ''Thus piovidcnce caused the country to flourisli and 
to increase in wealth, to the admiration of all people, — the soil be- 
ing fruitful and the people industrious. For many years there 
subsisted a good concord and benevolent disposition among the 
people of all denominations, each delighting to be reciprocally 
helpful and kiiid in acts of friendship for one another." 

Moral as the ])cople generally wci-e, and well disposed to cherish 
a proper regard for religious princi])les. it became a matter of 
easy attainuient to the celebrated Whitefield and his coadjutors, 
Tennant, Davenport, kc. to gain a great ascendency over the 
minds of many of the people. The excitements wrought among 
them was very considerable. He procured iu Philadelphia to be 
built for him one of the largest churches then in the colonies, and, 
his helper, Tennant, another. It is manifest enoug; w that tlie 
ardour of success generated considerable of fanaticisn. 1 its con- 
acquent reproach.* Whitefield, in 17S9, preaciied to i,owd of 
15,000 persons on Society Hill. About the same tin^i; ne so far 
succeeded to repress the usual public amusements as that the dan- 
cing school v/as discontinued, and the ball and concert room were 
shut up, as inconsistent with the requisitions of the gospel. No 
less than fourteen sermons were preached on Society Hill in open 
air, in one week, dui-ing the session of the Presbyterian church ; 
and the Gazette of the day, in noticing the fact, says, '* The change 
to religion liere is altogether surprising through the influence of 
Whitefield — no books sell but religious, and such is the general 
conversation." 

Doctor Franklin, describing the state of the people about the 
year 1752, says tliey were all loyal and submitted willingly to 
the government of the crown, or paid for defence cheerfully. 
*' They were led by a thread. They not only had a i-espect, but 
an affection for Great Britain for its laws, its customs, and its 
manners, and even a fondness for its fashions, — not yet subsided. 
Natives of Great Britain were always treated with particular re- 
gard : and, to be "■ an Old England man" gave a kind of rank and 
respect among us." 

The old people all testify that the young of their youth w^erc 
much more reserved, and held under much more restraint in the 
presence of their elders and parents than now. Bashfulness and 
modesty in the young were then regarded as virtues ; and the pre- 
sent freedom before the aged was not tlien countenanced. Young 
lovers then listened and took side-long glances when before their 
parents or elders. 

Mrs. Susan N , who lived to be 80 years of age, told me it 

* This is manifest by numerous publications of the day. RevM. Mr. Cumraings of Christ 
church, and Rev'd. E. Kinnersley, Professor, among others, published against them. Both 
Whitefield and Tennant lived long enough after^vards to make their confessions of intem- 
perate zeal. 



Habits and Stale of Society. 163 

was the custom of her early days for the young pait of the family, 
and especially of the female i)art, to dress up neatly towards the 
close of the day and set in the street-porch. It m as customary to 
go from porch to porch in neighhourhoods and sit and coiiNcrse. 
Young gentlemen in passing used to afl'ect to say that \\ liile they 
admired tlie charms of the fair \vho thus occupied them, they found 
it a severe ordeal, as they thought they might hecome the suhject 
of remark. This, how ever, was a mere banter. Those days were 
really very agreeable and sociable. To be so easily gratified with 
a sight of the whole city population, must have been peculiarly 
grateful to every travelling stranger. In truth, m e have never seen 
a citizen who remembered the former easy exhibition of families, 
who did not regret its pi-esent exclusive and reserved substitute. 

The same lady told me it was a common occurrence to see gen- 
teel men after a fall of snow shovelling it away irom their several 
doors. She has told me the names of several who would not now 
suffer their children to do the same. 

The late aged John Warder, Esq. told me that in his younger 
days he never knew of more than five oi* six persons at most, in 
the whole city, who did not live on the same spot Y,iicre Ihey pursued 
their business, — a convenience and benefit now so generally depart- 
ed from by the general class of traders. Then wives and daughters 
very often served in the stores of their parents, and the retail dry 
goods husiness was mostly in the hands of widows or maiden 
ladies. 

Mrs. S. N. also informed me that she remembers having been at 
houses when tea was a rarity, and has seen the quantity measured 
out for tlie tea pot in small hand-scales. This was to apportion 
the strength with accuracy. 

In her early days if a citizen failed in business it was a cause 
of general and deep regret. Every man who met his neighbour 
spoke of his cliagrin. It was a rare occurrence, because honesty 
and temperance in trade was then universal ; and none embarked 
then without a previous means adapted to their business. 

Another lady, Mrs. H. who saw things before the war of Inde- 
pendence, says she is often amused with the exclamation of her 
young friends, as she points them now to houses of a second or 
third rate tradesman, and says, " in that house such and such a 
distinguished man held his banquets." Dinners and suppers went 
the round of every social circle at Christmas, and they who par- 
took of the former were also expected to remain for the supper. 
Afternoon visits were made not at night as now, but at so early 
an hour as to permit matrons to go home and see their children 
put to bed. 

I have often heard aged citizens say that decent citizens had a 
universal speaking acquaintance with each other, and every body 
promptly recognized a stranger in the streets. A simple or idiot 
person was known to the whole population. Every body knew 



164 Habits and State of Society. 

Bobby Fox, and habitually jested with him as they met him- 
Michael Weaders too was an aged idiot, wlioni all knew and 
esteemed ; so much so, tliat they actually engraved his portrait as 
a remembraiK er of his benignant and simple face. See a copy in 
my MS. Annals in the City Library, page 284. 

Doctor Fi-anklin has said, that before tlie war of Independence 
''to be an Old England man gave a kind of rank and respect 
among us." I introduce this remark for the sake of observing, 
that for many years after that war, even till nearly down to the 
present day, I can remember that we seemed to concede to English 
gentlemen a claim, which they were not backward to arrogate, 
that they were a superior race of men ; this too from their having 
been familiar at home with superior displays of grandeur, more 
conveniences of living, higher perfections in the arts, &c. and, 
above all, as having among them a renowned race of authors, 
pcets, kc. Their assumptions in consequence were sometimes arro- 
gant or offensive. And I remember to have felt with others some 
disparagejnent in the comparison. If it were only to speak of theii' 
grand navy, we felt diminutive when we heard big tales of their 

"Rogal George" — tlie grandeur of their "great fleet," kc we who 

had never seen more among us than a single frigate. But the time 
is now passing off", — we have in turn become renowned and great. 
Our navy has become respectable : our entertainments have become 
sjdendid and costly. I have lived withal to find that even we, 
who before cowered, have taken our turn of being lordly ; which 
we manifest in the offensive deportment of a mother country to 
our numerous colonies in the west, kc. I only *' speak what I do 
know" when I say I have seen Philadelphians and New Yorkers, 
as metropolitans assuming airs of importance at Washington city, 
at Pittsburg, at Cincinnati, at New Orleans, kc. Those preten- 
sions of our vanity formerly in those places will subside and pass 
away ; already they will scarcely be observed there, and could 
hardly have been believed but for this remembrancer, which shows 
indeed the general state of rising society in this new country. 

The tradesmen before the Revolution (I mention these facts with 
all good feeling,) were an entirely different generation of men 
from the present. They did not then, as now, present the appear- 
ance in dress of gentlemen. Between them and what were deemed 
the hereditary gentlemen there was a marked difference. In truth, 
the aristocracy of the gentlemen was noticed if not felt, and it 
was to check any undue assumption of ascendency in them, that 
the others invented the rallying name of '* the Leather Apron 
Club," — a name with which they were familiar before Franklin's 
''junta" was formed and received that other name. In that day 
the tradesmen and their families had far less pride than now. 
"While at their work, or in going abroad on week-days, all such as 
followed rough trades, such as carpenters, masons, coopers, black- 
smiths, &c. universally wore a leathern apron before them, and 



Hiihits and State of Societij. 165 

eoveriiig all their vest. Dingy buckskin breeches, once yellow, 
and check shis-ts and a red flannel jacket was the common wear of 
most woi'king men : and all men and boys from the counti-y wen' 
seoi in the streets in leather bi'eeches and aprons, and would have 
be^n deemed oiit of character without them. In those days, taylors, 
slioeinakers and hatters waited on customers to take their mea- 
sures, and afterwards called with garments to fit them on before 
finished. 

One of the remarkable incidents of our republican princi])les of 
equality, is, that hirelings, who in times before the war of Inde- 
pendence were accustomed to accept the names of sei'vants and 
to be drest accor«ling to their condition, will now no longer suffer 
the former appellation ; and all affect the dress and the air, when 
abroad, of genteeler people than their business warrants. Those, 
therefore, who from allluejice have many such dependants, find it a 
constant subject of perplexity to manage their pride and assumption. 

In the olden time all the hired women wore sliort-gowns and 
linsey woolsey or worsted petticoats. Some are still alive who used 
to call master and mistress who will no longer do it. 

These facts have been noticed by the London Quarterly Review, 
Avhich instances a case highly characteristic of tiieir high indepen- 
dence : A lady, who had a large gala party, having rung some- 
what passionately at the bell to call a domestic, was answered by 
a girl opening the saloon door, saying, 'Hhe more you ring the 
more I wont come," and so withdrew! Now all hired girls appear 
abroad in the same style of dress as their ladies : for, 

" Excess, the sci'ofulous and itchy plague 
That seizes first the opulent, descends 
To the next rank contagious ! and in time 
Taints downwards all the graduated scale." 

So true it is that every condition of society is now changed 
from the plain and unaffected state of our forefathers, — all are 

" Infected with the manners and the modes 
It knew not once 1" ■ 

Before the Revolution no hired man or woman wore any siiocs 
so fine as calfskin ; course neats leather was their every day wear. 
Men and women then hired by the year, — men got 16 to 2,0£. and a 
servant woman 8 to 10£. Out of that it was their custom to lay up 
money, to buy before their mai'riage a bed and bedding, silver tea 
spoons, and a spinning-wheel, &c. 

A lady of my acquaintance, Mrs. H. familiar with those things 
as they were before the Revolution, has thus expressed her sense 
of them, viz. In the olden time domestic comfort was not every 
day interrupted by the i)ride and the profligacy of servants. There 
were then but few hired, — black slaves, and German and Irish re- 
demptioners made up the mass. Personal liberty is unquestionably 



166 Habits and State of Sodeiij. 

the inherent right of every human creature ; hut the slaves of Phil- 
adelphia were a happier class of people than the free blacks now, 
who exhibit every sort of wretchedness and profligacy in theii' 
dwellings The former felt themselves to be an integral part of 
the family to which they belonged ; they were faithful and content- 
ed, and affected no equality in dress or manners with those who 
ruled them ; every kindness was extended to them in return. 

Among the rough amusements of men might be mentioned, shoot- 
ing, fishing, and sailing parties. These wei'e frequent, as also 
glutton clid)s, fishing-house and country parties were much indul- 
ged in by respectable citizens. Great sociability prevailed among 
all classes of citizens until the strife with Great Britain sent 
*' every man to his own ways ;" then discord anj acrimony ensued, 
and the previously general friendly intercourse never returned. 
We afterwards grew another and enlarged people. 

Our girls in the day time, as told me by T. B. used to attend 
Abe work of the family and in the evening paraded in their porcli 
at the door. Some of them, how^ever, even then read novels and 
walked without business abroad. Tliose who had not house work 
employed themselves in tlieir accomplishments, such as making 
shell work, cornucopiies, working of pocket books with a close 
strong stitched needle w ork. 

The ladies, seventy years ago, were much accustomed to ride 
on horse back for recreation. It was quite common to see genteel 
ladies riding with jockey caps. 

Boarding schools for girls were not known in Philadelphia until 
about the time of the Revolution, nor had they any separate schools 
for writing and cyphering, but were taught in common with boys. 
The oi-namental parts of female education were bestowed, but ge- 
ography and grammar were never regarded for them, until a cer- 
tain Mr. Horton — thanks to his name I — proposed to teach those 
sciences to young ladies. Similai' institutions afterwards grew 
into favour. 

It was usual in the Gazettes of 1760 to '70 to announce marriages 
in words like these, to wit : " Miss Betsey Laurence, or Miss 
Eliza Caton, a most agreeable lady, with a large or a handsome 
fortune !" 

In still earlier times marriages had to be promulged by aflixing 
the intentions of the parties on tlie Court house or Meeting house 
door; and when the act was solemnized they should have at least 
twelve subscribing witnesses. The act which imposed it was 
passed in 1700. 

The wedding entertainments of olden times were very expensive 
and harrassing to tlie w edded. The house of the parent would be 
filled with company to dine ; the same company would stay to tea 
and to supper. For two days punch was dealt out in profusion. 
The gentlemen saw the groom on the first floor, and then ascended 
to the second floor, where they saw the bride ; there every gentle- 



Habits and State of Sodely. 167 

man, even to one liuiidreil in a day, kissed her ! Even the plain 
Friends suhmitted to these things. I have known rich families 
which had 120 persons to dine — the same who had signed their 
certificate of marriage at the monthly Meeting ; tliese also partook 
of tea and supper. As they formally passed the Meeting twice, 
the same entertainment was repeated. Two days the male friends 
would call and take punch ; and all would kiss the hride. Besides 
this, the married pair for two entire weeks saw large tea parties 
at their home, having in attendance every night the groomsman 
and hridemaids. To avoid expense and trouhle. Friends have 
since made it sufficient to pass hut one Meeting. When these 
marriage entertainments were made, it was expected also that 
punch, cakes and meats should he sent out very generally in the 
neighbourhood, even to those who were not visiters in the family ! 

It was much the vogue of the times of the year 1760, and there- 
abouts, to " crack the satiric thong'* on the oflcnders of the day 
by caricatures. R. J. Dove of that day, a teacher in the academy 
and a satirist, was the author of several articles in tliat w ay. He 
was encountered in turn by one Isaac Hunt, who went afterwards 
to England and became a clergyman tliere. Two sucli engraved 
caricatures and some poetry I have preserved in my MS. Annals 
in the City Library, pages 273-4: One is ''the attempt to 
wash the blackmoor white," meaning Judge Moor; the other is 
a caricature of Friends, intended to asperse them as promoting 
Indian ravages in the time of their '' association for preserving 
peace." I liave also two other engi-aved articles and poetry called 
'•The Medley-' and *' The Counter Medley," intended for elec- 
tioneering squibs and slurring the leaders. Tlie late Judge Peters, 
who had been Dove's pupil, described him as ''a sarcastical and 
ill-tempered doggerelizer, who w as but ironically Dove ; for his 
temper was that of a hawk, and his pen the beak of a falcon 
pouncing on innocent prey.'* 

It may surprise some of the present generation to learn thai 
some of those aged persons who they may now meet, have teetis 
which were originally in the heads of others ! I have seen a printed 
advertisement of the year 1784, wherein Doctor Le Mayeur, den- 
tist, proposes to the citizens of Philadelphia to transplant teeth ; 
stating therein, that he has successfully transplanted 123 teeth in 
the preceding six months ! At the same time he offers two guineas 
for every tootli which may be offered to him by '' persons disposed 
to sell their front teeth or any of them !" This was quite a novelty 
in Philadelphia : the present care of the teeth was ill understood 
then.* He had, however, great success in Philadelphia, and 
went off" with a good deal of our patrician's money. Several ve- 
spectable ladies had them implanted. I remember some curious 
anecdotes of some cases. One of the Meschianza belles had such 
teeth. They were, in some cases, two months before they could 
* Indeed, deatisU were few then efen in Paris and London. 



168 Habits and State of Society. 

eat with them. 0)ie lady, now alive, told me she knew of sixteen 
cases of such persons among her acquaintance. 

Doctor Baker, who preceded Le Mayeur was the first person 
ever known as a dentist in Philadelphia. Tooth-hrushes were not 
even known, and the genteelest then were content to ruh the teeth 
with a chalked rag oi* with snuff Some ca en deemed it an effemi- 
nacy in men to he seen cleaning the teeth at all. 

Of articles and rules of diet, so fai' as it differed from ours in 
the earliest time, we may mention coffee as a heverage. was used 
hut rarely: chocolate for morning and eveniiig or thickened milk 
for cliildren. Cookery in general was plainer than now. In the 
coi'ntry, morning and evening repasts were generally made of milk, 
having hread hoiled therein, or else thickened witi» pop-robhins.. — 
things made up of flour and eggs into a hatter, and so dropt in 
with the boiling milk. 

We shall give the reader some little notice of a strange state of 
our society about the years 1795 to 1798 when the phrensy of the 
French Revolution possessed and maddened the hoys, without any 
check or restraint from men half as puerile as tlien themselves in 
the delusive politics of the day. 

About the year 1793 to '94, there was an extravagant and impoli- 
tic affection for France, and hostility to every thing British, in our 
country generally. It required all the ])rudence of Washington and 
his cabinet to stem the torrent of passion which flowed in favour 
of France to the prejudice of our neutr-ality. Now the event is passed 
we may thus soberly sjjcak of its character. This remark is made 
for the sake of introducing the fact, that the patriotic mania was so 
high that it caught the feelings of the boys of Philadelphia ! I re- 
member with what joy we ran to the w harves at the report of cannon 
to see the arrivals of the Frenchmen's prizes, — we were so pleased 
to see the British union down ! When we met French mariners or 
officers in the streets, we would cry "Vive la Republique." Al- 
though most of us understood no French, we had caught many 
national airs, and the streets, by day and night, resounded with 
the songs of boys, such as these : " Allons, enfans de la patrie, le 
jour de gloire est arrive!" &c — "Dansons le carmagnole, vive 
le sang, vive le sang!" ^c. — " A 9'ira, c'ira," &c. Several verses 
of each of these and others were thus sung. All of us too put 
on the national cockade. Some, whose parents had more discre- 
tion, resisted this boyish parade of patriotism for a doubtful Revo- 
lution, and then they wore their cockade on the inside of their hat. 
Such a one I wore. I remember several boyish processions ; and 
on one occasion the girls, dressed in white and in French tri- 
coloured ribbons, formed a procession too. There was a great 
Liberty Pole, with a red cap at top, erected at Adet's or Fauchet's 
liouse ; (now Girard's square, up High street) and there I and one 
hundred of others, taking hold of hands and forming a ring round 
the same, made triumphant leapings, singing the national airs. 



Habits ami State of Society. 161; 

Tliere was a band of music to lead the airs. I remember tl»at 
among the grave and elderly men, who gave the impulse and 
prompted the revellings, was a burly, gouty old gentleman. Biair 
M'Clenahan, Esq. (famed in the democratic raiiks of that day) 
and with him, and the white Misses at our head, we marched down 
the middle of the dusty sti-eet, and when arrived opposite to Mr. 
Hammond's, the British ministej-'s house, (High, above Eighth 
street, Hunter's house, I believe.) liiere were several signs of dis- 
respect manifested to his house. All the facts of that day, as I 
now contemplate them as among the earliest impressions of my 
youth, seem sometliing like the remembrance of a splendid dream. 
I hope never to see such an enthusiasm for any foreigners again, 
however merited. It was a time, when, as it seems to me, that 
Philadelphia boys usurped the attributes of maidiood : and the men, 
who should iiave chastened us, had themselves become very puerile! 
It was a period in Philadelphia, when reason and sobriety of 
thought had lost their wonted opei'ation on our citizens. Tliey 
were fine feelings to ensure the success of a war actually begun, 
but bad affections for any nation, whose interests lay in peace and 
neutrality. Washington bravely submitted to become unpopular 
to allay and repress this dangerous foreign attachment. 

I confirm the above by further notices by Lang Syne, to wit : 
"•About the time wiien, in Paris, tlie head of Louis, ''onr august 
ally," had rolled into the basket ; when it had been pronounced 
before the Convention, " Lyons is no more :" wlien the Abbe Seiyes 
had placed in his pigeon holes (until called for) Constitutiotis for 
every State in Europe; when our Mr. Monroe had exhibited to 
Europe •* a strange spectacle :" w hen the three grinning wolves of 
Paris had begun to lap French blood : while lieutenant Bojiaparte, 
of the artillery, was warming his scabbard in the anti-chamber of 
Barras ; when the straw blaze of civil liberty, enkindled in France 
by a ''spark from the altar of '76," (which only sufficiently illu- 
minated the surrounding gloom of despotism, as to render the 
" darkness visible,") was fast going out, leaving only the blackened 
embers, and a smoke in the nostrils. About this time, almost every 
vessel arriving here brought fugitives from the infuriated negroes 
in Port au Prince, or the sharp axe of the guillotine in Paris, drip- 
ping night and day with the blood of Frenchmen, shed in the name 
of liberty, equality, and the (sacred) rights of man. Our city- 
thronged with B'rench people of all shades from the colonies and 
those from Old France, giving it the appearance of one great 
hotel, or place of shelter for strangers hastily collected together 
from a raging tempest. The characteristic old school simplicity 
of the citizens, in manners, habits of dress, and modes of thinking 
and speaking on the subjects of civil rights and forms of govern- 
ment, by the square and rule of reason and argument and the 
»' rules of the schools," began to be broken in upon by the new 
enthusiasm of Caira and Carmagnole. French boarding houses 
2 A. 



1 70 Habits and State of Society. 

(pension Francaise,) multiplied in every street. The one at the 
south east corner of Race and Second streets, having some 40 win- 
dows, was filled with colonial Frcncli to the garret windows, 
whistling and jumping ahout, fiddling and singing, as fancy 
seemed to suggest, like so many crickets and grasshoppers. Groups 
of both sexes were to he seen seated on chairs, in summer weather, 
forming semi-circles near the doors, so displayed as sometimes to 
render it necessary to step into the street to get along ; — their 
tongues, shoulders and hands in perpetual motion, jabbering away, 
'' all talkers and no hearers." Mestizo ladies, with complexions 
of the palest marble, jet black hair, and eyes of the gazelle, and of 
the most ex<iuisite symmetry, were to be seen, escorted along the 
pavement by white French gentlemen, both dressed in West India 
fashion, and of the richest materials ; coal black negresses, in 
flowing white dresses, and turbans of '' muchoir de Madras," ex- 
hibiting their ivory dominos, in social walk with a white or Cre- 
ole ; — altogether, forming a contrast to the native Americans, and 
tlic emigrants from Old France, most of whom still kept to the 
stately old Bourbon style of dress and manner, wearing the head 
full powdered a la Louis, golden headed cane, silver buckles, and 
cocked hat, seemingly to express thereby their fierce contempt for 
tlie pantaloons, silk shoe string, and ^' Brutus Crop." 

The '^ Courier des Dames," of both, daily ogling and '''• sighing 
like a fui*nace," bowing a la distance — dangling in door ways by 
day, and chanting " dans votre lit" by night, under the window 
of our native fair ones, bewildered by the, at that time, novel and 
delightful incense of flattery, so unusual to them in the manner, 
and offered so romantically by young French gentlemen, (possibly) 
elegant and debonaire. The Marseilles Hymn was learned and 
sung by the citizens every where, to which they added the Ameri- 
can song of '" Hail Liberty Supreme Delight." Instrumental music 
abounded in the city every where, by day as well as by night, 
from French gentlemen, (may be) amateurs, on the hautboy, vio- 
lin and clarionet, exquisitely played — and seemingly intended to 
catch the attention of neighbouring fair ones, at opposite windows." 

Finally, as a specimen of the luxurious state of society as now 
seen in contrast with the simple manners of the past, we had 
gathered a few articles of considerable length, intended to show^ 
modern life in its fasliionable features ; hut they are necessarily 
excluded by our wish to restrict the volume to moderate bounds. 
They were such tales in picturesque character as we wished to see 
some day deduced from the materials gathered in this work, to wit: 
" Winter Parties," — " Going into the Country," and *' Leghorn 
Bonnets." Vide pages 487, 489 and 512, in my MS. Annals in 
the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 



" We run through eveiy change, which fancy 
At the loom has genius to supply." 

THERE is a very marked and wide difference between our 
moderns and the ancients in their several views of appropriate 
dress : The latter, in our judgment of them, were always stiff 
and formal, unchanging in their cut and fit in the gentry, or 
negligent and rough in texture in the commonalty ; whereas the 
moderns, casting off all former modes and forms, and inventing 
every new device which fancy can supply, just please the wearers 
"while the fashion is at full." 

It will nuich help our just conceptions of our forefathers, and 
their good dames, to know what were their personal 'appearances: 
To this end, some facts illustrative of their attire will be given. 
Such as ic was among tlie gentry, was a constrained and pains- 
taking service, presenting nothing of ease and gracefulness in 
the use. While we may wonder at its adoption and long contin- 
uance, we will hope never again to see it return! But who can 
hope to clieck or restrain fashion if it should chance — again to set 
that way ; or, who can foresee that the next generation may not be 
even more stiff and formal than any which has past, since we see, 
even now, our late graceful and easy habits of both sexes already 
partially supplanted by " inonsti-ous novelty and strange disguise!" 
— men and women stiffly corsetted — another name for stays ol' 
yore, long unitatural-lookijig waists, shoulders stuffed and deform- 
ed as Richard's, and artificial hips — protruding garments of as 
ample folds as claimed the toii when senseless hoops prevailed ! 

Our forefathers were excusable for their formal cut, since, know- 
ing no changes in the mode, every child was like its sire, resting 
in " the still of despotism," to which every mind by education and 
habit was settled ; but no such apology exists for us, who have wit- 
nessed better things. We have been freed from their servitude ; 
and now to attempt to go back to tiieir strange bondage, deserves 
the severest lash of satire, and should be resisted by every satirist 
and humourist who writes for public reform. 

In all these things, however, we must be subject to female control; 
for, reason as we will, and scout at monstrous novelties as a\ e may, 
female attractions will eventually win and seduce our sex to their 
attachment, "as the loveliest of creation," in whatever form they 



1 ^-2 Apparel 

may choose to array : As ** it is not good for man to be alone," they 
will be sure to follow throiigii every giddy maze which fashion 
runs. We know, indeed, that ladies themselves are in bondage to 
their milliners, and often submit to their new imported modes with 
lively sense of dissatisfaction, even while they commit themselves 
to the general current, and float along with the multitude. 

Our forefathers were occasionally fine practical satirists on 
offensive innovations in dress — they lost no time in paraphrastic 
verbiage w hich might or might not effect its aim. but with most 
effecti% e appeal to the populace, they quickly carried tlieir point, 
by making it the scoff and derision of tlie town! On one occasion, 
when the ladies were going astray after a passion for long red 
cloaks, to which their lords had no affections, they succeeded to 
ruin tlieir reputation, by concerting with the executioners to have 
a female felon liung in a cloak of the best ton ! On another occa- 
sion, in tlie time of the Revolution, when the *' tower'' head-gear 
of the ladies were ascending, Babel-like, to the skies, tlie growing 
enormity was effectually repressed, by the parade through the 
streets of a tall male figure in ladies attire, decorated with the odi- 
ous tower-gear, and preceded by a drmn ! At an earlier period, 
one of tlie intended dresses, called a trollopee, (probably from the 
word ti'ollop) became a subject of offence. The satirists, who 
guai'ded and framed the sumptuary code of the town, procured the 
wife of Daniel Pettitteau the hangman, to be arrayed in full dress 
trollopee, &c. and to parade the town with rude music ! Nothing 
could stand the deiision of the populace ! Delicacy and modesty 
shrunk from the gaze and sneers of the multitude ! And tlie trof- 
lopee, like the others, w as abandoned ! 

Mr. B , a gentleman of 80 years of age, has given me his 

recollectionsof the costumes of his early days in Philadelphia, to 
this affect, to wit: Men wore three-square or cocked hats, and wigs, 
coats w ith large cuffs, big skirts, lined and stiffened with buckram. 
None ever saw a crown higher than the head. The coat of a beau 
had three or four large plaits in the skirts, wadding almost like a 
co\ erlet to keep them smooth, cuffs, very large, up to the elbows, 
open below and inclined down, with lead therein ; the capes were 
thin and low, so as readily to expose the close plaited neck-stock 
of fine linen cambric, and the large silver stock-buckle on the 
back of the neck, shirts w ith hand ruffles, sleeves finely plaited, 
breeches close fitted, with silver, stone or paste gem buckles, shoes 
or pumps with silver buckles of various sizes and patterns, thread, 
worsted and silk stockings : the poorer class wore sheep and buck- 
skin breeches close set to the limbs. Gold and silver sleeve but- 
tons, set with stones or paste, of various colours and kinds, adorned 
the %\Tists of the shirts of all classes. The very boys often w^ore 
wigs, and their dresses in general were similar to that of the men. 

The odious use of m igs was never disturbed till after the return 
of Braddock*s broken army. They appeared in Philadelphia, w^ea- 



Jippurel. ir? 

ring only their natural hair— a mode well adapted to the uiilitar} . 
an;l thence adopted hy our citizens. The king of England too. 
about this time, having cast off his wig malgre the will of the peo- 
ple, and the petitions and reinonsti-ances of the periwig makers 
of London, thus confirmed the (change of fashion here, and com- 
pleted the ruin of our wig makers.* 

The women wore caps, (a bare head was never seen !) stiff stays, 
hoops from six inches to two feet on each side, so that a full 
dressed lady entered a door like a crab, pointijig her obtruding 
flanks end foremost, high healed shoes of black stuff with white 
cotton or thread stockings ; and in the miry times of winter they 
wore clogs, gala shoes, or pattens. 

The days of stiff coats, sometimes wire-framed, and of large 
hoops, was also stiff and formal in manners at set halls and 
.assemblages. The dances of that day among the politer class \\erc' 
minuets, and some times country dances ; among the lower order 
hipsesaw was every thing. 

As soon as the w^igs were abandoned and the natural hair was 
cherished, it became the mode to dress it by plaiting it, by queu- 
ing and clubbing, or by wearing it in a black silk sack or bag, 
adorned w ith a large black rose. 

In time, the powder, with which wigs and the natural hair had 
been severally adorned, was run into disrepute only about 28 to 
30 years ago, by the then strange innovation of "Brutus heads;" 
not only then discarding tiie long cherished powder and perfume and 
tortured frizle-work, but also literally becoming " Round heads," 
hy cropping off all the pendant graces of ties, hobs, clubs, queus, 6cc ! 
The hardy beaux who first encountered public opinion hy appea- 
ring abroad unpowdered and cropt. had many starers. The old 
men for a time obstinately persisted in adherence to the old regime, 
hut death thinned their ranks, and use and prevalence of numbers at 
length gave countenance to modern usage. 

Another aged gentlemen, colonel M. states, of the recollections 
of his youth, that young men of the highest fashion wore swords — 
so frequent it was as to excite no surprise w hen seen. Men as old 
as forty so arrayed themselves. Tlicy wore also gold laced cocked 
liats, and similar lace on their scarlet vests. Their coat-skirts 
were stiffened with wire or buckram and lapt each other at the 
lower end in w alking. In tlmt day no man wore drawers, but 
their breeclies (so called unreservedly then) were lined in winter, 
and were tightly fitted. 

From various reminiscents we glean, that laced ruffles, depending 
over the hand, was a mark of indispensible gentility. The coat 
and breeches were generally desirable of the same material — of 
''broad cloth" for winter, and of silk camlet for summer. No 
kind of cotton fabrics were then in use or known ; hose were there- 

* The use of wigs must have been peculiarly an English fashion, as I find Kalm in 174G 
speaks of the French gentlemen then as wearing their own hair. 



1 74 Apparel. 

fore of thread or silk in summer, and of fine worsted in winter ; 
shoes were square-toed and were often 'Mouble channelled." To 
these succeeded sharp toes as peaked as possible. When wigs were 
universally worn, grey wigs were powdered, and for that purpose 
sent in a paper box frequently to the barber to be dressed on his 
block-head. But ^' brown wigs," so called, were exempted from 
the white disguise. Coats of red cloth, even by boys, were consid- 
erably worn, and plush breeches and plush vests of various 
colours, shining and slipping, were in common use. Everlast- 
ing, made of worsted, was a fabric of great use for breeches and 
sometimes for vests. The vest had great depending pocket flaps, 
and the breeches were very short above the stride, because the art 
of suspending them by suspenders were unknown. It was then 
tlie test of a well formed man, that he could by his natural form 
readily keep his breeches above his hips, and his stockings, with- 
out gartering, above the calf of the leg. With the queus belonged 
frizled side locks, and toutpies formed of the natural hair, or, in 
defect of a long tie, a splice was added to it. Such was the gene- 
ral passion for the longest possible whip of hair, that sailors and 
boat men, to make it grow, used to tie theirs in eel skins to aid its 
growth. Nothing like surtouts were known ; but they had coat- 
ing or cloth great coats, or blue cloth and brown camlet cloaks, 
with green baize lining to the latter. In the time of the American 
war, many of the American oflicers introduced the use of Dutch 
blankets for great coats. The sailors in the olden time used to 
wear hats of glazed leatlier or of woollen thrumbs, called chapeaus, 
closely woven and looking like a rough knap ; and tlieir " small 
clothes, "as we would say now, were immense wide petticoat-breech- 
es, wide open at the knees, and no longer. About 70 years ago 
our working men in the country wore the same, having no fal- 
ling flaps but slits in front : they were so full and free in girth, that 
they ordinarily changed the rear to the front when the seat became 
prematurely worn out. In sailors and common people, big silver 
broaches in the bosom were displayed, and long quartered shoes 
with extreme big buckles on the extreme front. 

Gentlemen in the olden time used to carry mufftees in winter. 
It was in effect a little woollen muff* of various colours, just big 
enough to admit both hands, and long enough to screen the wrists 
wliich were then more exposed than now ; for they then wore short 
sleeves to their coats purposely to display their fine linen and 
plaited shirt sleeves, with their gold buttons and sometimes laced 
ruflles. The sleeve cuffs were very wide, and hung down depressed 
with leads in them. 

In the summer season, men very often wore calico morning- 
gowns at all times of the day and abroad in the streets. A damask 
banyan was much the same thing by another name. Poor labour- 
ing men wore ticklenberg linen for shirts, and striped ticken breeches : 
they wore grey duroy-coats in winter ; men and boys always wore 



Apparel. I~5 

leather breeches. Leather aprons were used by all tradesmiJi and 
workmen. 

Some of the peciiliarilies of the female dress was to the follow- 
ing effect, to wit : Ancient ladies are still alive who have told me 
that tliey often had their hair tortured for four hours at a sitting 
in getting the proper crisped curls of a hair curler. Some who 
designed to be iniiuitably captivating, not knowing they could be 
sure of 'professional services w hei'e so many hours were occupied 
upon one gay head, have actually had the operation performed 
the day before it was recpiired, then have slept all night in a sit- 
ting posture to prevent the derangement of their frizle and curls ! 
This is a real fact, and we could, if questioned, name cases. They 
were, of course, rare occurrences, proceeding from some extra occa- 
sions, when there were several to serve, and but few^ such refined 
hair dressers in tlie place. 

This formidable head-work w as succeeded by rollers over which 
the hair w as combed above tlie foichead. These again were super- 
seded by cushions and artificial curled work, which could be sent 
out to the barber's block, like a wig, to be dressed, leaving the 
lady at home to pursue other objects— thus producing a grand re- 
formation in the economy of time, and an exemption too fi-om for- 
mer durance vile. The dress of the day was not captivating to all. 
as the following lines may show, viz. 

Give Chloe a bushel of horse-hair and wool, 
Of paste and pomatum a pound, 
Ten yards, of gay ribbon to deck her sweet skull, 
And gauze to encompass it round. 

Let her flags fly behind for a yard at the least, 
Let her curls meet just under her chin, 
Let these curls be supported, to keep up the jest, 
With an hundred — instead of one pin. 

Let her gown be tuck'd up to the hip on each side, 
Shoes too high for to walk or to jump, 
And to deck the sweet creature complete for a bride 
Let the cork cutter make her a rump. 

Thus finish'd in taste, while on Chloe you gaze, 
You may take the dear charmer for life, 
But never undress her — for, out of her stays, 
You'll find you have lost half your wife ! 

When the ladies first began to lay off their cumbrous hoops, they 
supplied their place with successive succedaneums, such as these, 
to wit : First came bishops— a thing stuffed or padded with horse 
hair ; then succeeded a smaller affair under the name of me ile 
Farisy also padded with horse hair ! How it abates our admiraticm 
to contemplate the lovely sex as beaiing a roll of horse haw* under 



176 Apparel 

their garments ; Next they supplied titeir place with silk or call- 
manco. or russell thickly quilted and inlaid with wool, made into 
petticoats ; then these were supplanted by a substitute of half a 
dozen of petticoats. No wonder such ladies needed fans in a sultry 
summer, and at a time when parasols were unknown, to keep oft' 
the solar rays ! I knew a lady going to a gala party who had so 
large a hoop that when she sat in the chaise she so filled it up, that 
tiie person who drove it (it had no top) stood up behind the box 
an.! directed the reins! 

Some of those ancient belles, who thus sweltered under tlie weight 
of six petticoats, have lived now to see tlieir posterity, not long 
since, go so thin and transparent, a la Francaise, especially when 
between the beholder and a declining sun, as to make a modest 
oje sometimes instinctively avert its gaze ! 

Among some other articles of female wear we may name the 
following, to wit: Once they wore a -skimmer hat," made of a 
fabric which shone like silver tinsel ; it was of a very small flat 
crown and big brim, not unlike the present Leghorn flats. Another 
bat, not unlike it in sliape, was made of woven horse hair, wove in 
flowers, and called '"horse-hair bonnets," — an article which might 
be again usefully introduced for children's wear as an enduring 
hat for long service. I have seen what was called a bath-bonnet, 
made of black satin, and so constructed to lay in folds that it 
could be set upon like a chapeau bras, — a good article now for 
travelling ladies! "The mush-mellon" bonnet, used before the 
Revolution, had numerous whale-bone stiffeners in the crown, set 
at an inch apart in parallel lines and presenting ridges to the eye, 
between the bones. The next bonnet w as the " whale-bone bonnet," 
having only the bones in the front as stiffeners. ''A calash bonnet" 
was always formed of green silk ; it was worn abroad, covering 
the head, but when in rooms it could fall back in folds like the 
springs of a calash or gig top ; to keep it up over the head it was 
drawn up by a cord always held in the hand of the wearer. The 
"• wagon bonnet," always of black silk, was an article exclusively 
in use among the Friends, was deemed to look, on the head, not 
unlike tlie top of the Jersey wagons, and having a pendent piece 
of like silk hanging from the, bonnet and covering the slioulders. 
The only straw wear w as that called the " straw beehive bonnet," 
worn generally by old people. 

The ladies once wore *' hollow breasted stays," which were ex- 
ploded as injurious to the health. Then came the use of straight 
stays. Even little girls wore such stays. At one time the gowns 
worn had no front's ; the design was to display a finely quilted 
Marseilles, silk or satin petticoat, and a worked stomacher on the 
waist. In other dresses a white apron was the mode ; all wore 
large pockets under their gowns. Among the caps was the " queen's 
night cap," — the same always worn by Lady Washington. The 
** cushion head dress" was of gauze stiffened out in cylindrical 



Appard. 17 T 

Ibrm with white spiral wire. Tlic border of the cap was called 
the halcony. 

A lady of my acquaintance thus describes the recollections of 
her early days preceding the war of Independence. Dress was 
discriminative and appropriate, both as regarded the season and 
the character of the wearer. Ladies never wore the same dresses 
at work and on visits ; they sat at liome, or Avent out in the morn- 
ing, in cliints : brocades, satins and mantuas were reserved for 
evening or dinner parties. Robes or negligees, as they were 
called, were always worn in full dress. Muslins were not worn 
at all. Little blisses at a dancing-school ball (for these weie al- 
most the only fetes that fell to their share in the days of discrimi- 
nation) were dressed in frocks of lawn or cambric. Worsted 
was then thought dress enough for common days. 

As a universal fact, it may be i-emarked that no other colour 
than black was ever made for ladies bonnets when formed of silk 
or satin. Fancy colours were unknown, and white bonnets of silk 
fabric had never been seen. The first innovation remembered, was 
the bringing in of blue bonuets. 

The time was, when the plainest women among the Friends 
(now so averse to fancy colours) wore tlieir coloured silk aprons, 
say, of gi-een, blue, &c. This w^as at a time w hen the gay wore 
white aprons. In time wiiite aprons were disused by the gentry, 
and then the Friemls left off their coloured ones and used the 
w^hite ! The same old ladies, among Fiiends w hom we can remem- 
ber as wearers of the white aprons, wore also large wliite beaver 
hats, with scarcely the sign of a crown, and w hich was indeed con- 
fined to the head by silk cords tied under the chin. Eight dollar^ 
would buy such a hat, when beaver fur was more plentiful. They 
lasted such ladies almost a whole life of wear. They showed no fur. 

Very decent women went abroad and to churciies with check 
aprons. I have seen those, who kept tlieir coach in my time to 
bear them to church, w ho told me they went on foot with a clieck 
apron to the Arch street Presbyterian meeting in their youth. 
Then all hired women wore short-gowns and petticoats of domestic 
fabric, and could be instantly known as such whenever seen abroade 

In the former days it was not uncommon to see aged persons 
with large silver buttons to their coats and vests — it was a mark 
of wealth. Some had the initials of their names engraved on each 
button. Sometimes they were made out of real quarter dollars, 
with the coinage impression still retained, — these were used for 
the coats, and the eleven-penny-bits for vests and breeches. My 
father wore an entire suit decorated with conch-shell buttons, sil- 
s er mounted. 

An aged gentleman, 0. J. Esq. told me of seeing one of the most 
respectable gentlemen going to the ball room in Lodge alley in anr 
entire suit of drab cloth richly laced with silver. 

On the subject of wigs, I have noticed the following special facts. 
2 B 



i78 Jpparel. 

to wit: They were as generally worn by genteel Friends as by 
any other people. Tliis was the more surprising as they religiously 
professed to exclude all superfluities, and yet nothing could have 
been offered to the mind as so essentially useless.* 

In the year 1G85, William Penn writes to his steward, James 
Harrison, requesting liim to allow the Governor, Lloyd, his depu- 
ty, the use of Ids Avigs in his absence. 

In the year 1719, Jonathan Dickinson, a Friend, in writing to 
London for his clotlies, says, '*I want for myself and my three 
sons eacli a wigg — light good bobbs." 

In 1730, I see a public advertisement to this effect in tlie Gazette, 
to wit : " A good price will be given for good clean white horse- 
hair, by William Crossthwaite, peruke maker." Thus showing 
of what materials our forefathers got their white wigs ! 

In 1737, the perukes of tlie day as tlicn sold, were thus described, 
to wit: ^'Tycs, bobs, majors, spencers, fox-tails and twists, together 
with curls or tates (tetes) for the ladies." 

In the year 1765, another peruke maker advertises prepared 
hair for judges' full bottomed wigs, tyes for gentlemen of the bar 
to wear over their hair, brigadiers, dress bobs, bags, cues, scratches, 
cut wigs, &c. and to accomodate ladies he has tates, (tetes) towers, 
&c. At same time a stay maker advertises cork stays, whale-bone 
stays, jumps, and easy caushets, thin boned Misses' and ladies* 
stays, and pack thread stays ! 

Some of the advertisements of the olden time present some curi- 
ous descriptions of masquerade attire, such as these, viz : 

Year 1722 — Run away from the Rev. D. Magill, a servant 
clothed with damask breeches and vest, black broad-cloth vest, 
a broad-cloth coat, of copper colour, lined and trimmed with 
black, and wearing black stockings ! Another servant is descri- 
bed as wearing leather breeches and glass buttons, black stockings, 
and a wig ! 

In 1724, a run-away barber is thus dressed, viz : — wore a light 
wig, a gi'ey kersey jacket lined with blue, a light pair of drugget 
breeches, black roll-up stockings, square toed shoes, a red leath- 
ern apron. He had also a white vest and yellow buttons, witli 
red linings ! 

Another run-away servant is described as weai'ing "'alight 
short wig," aged 20 years ; his vest white with yellow buttons and 
faced with red ! 

A poetic eff'usion of a lady, of 1725, describing her paramour, 
thus designates the dress -which most seizes upon her admiration as 
a ball guest : 

« Mine, a tall youth shall at a ball be seen 
Whose legs are like the spring, all cloth'd in green : 
A yellow riband ties his long cravat, 
And a large knot of yellow cocks his hat I" 

* The Friends have, however,, a -work in their library, written against perukes and their 
njakers, by John Mulliner. 



jipparel. 179 

Wc have even an insight into the wai'drohe of Benjamin Frank- 
lin in the year 1738, caused hy his advertisement for stolen 
clothes, to wit : '' hroad-ch)th breeches lined with leather, sagathee 
coat lined with silk, and fine homespun linen shirts." 

From one advertisement of tlie year 1745, I take the following 
now unintelligible articles of dress — all of theui presented for sale 
too, even for the ladies, on B'ishbourne's wharf, "back of Mrs. Fish- 
bourne's dwelling," to wit : "Tandems, isinghams, nuns, bag and 
gulix, (these all mean shirting) huckabacks, (a figured worsted 
lor women's gowns) quilted humhums, turkettecs, grassetts, single 
allopeens, children's stays, jumps and bodice, whalebone and iron 
busks, men's new market caps, silk and worsted wove patterns for 
breeches, allibanies, dickmansoy, cushloes, chucklocs, cuttanees, 
crimson dannador, ciiain'd soosees, lemonces, byrampauts, moree, 
Haffermamy, saxlingham, prune! loe, barragons, druggets, floret- 
tas," &c. Ace. 

A gentleman of Cheraw, South Carolina, has now in his posses- 
sion an ancient cap, worn in the colony of New Netherlands 
about 150 years ago, such as may have been worn by some of the 
Chieftains among the Dutch rulers set over us. The crown is of 
elegant yellowish brocade, the brim of crimson silk velvet, turned 
up to the crown. It is elegant even now. 

In the year 1749, I met with the incidental mention of a singu- 
lar over-coat, worn by captain James as a storm coat, made entire* 
ly of beaver fur, wrought together in the manner of felting hats. 

I have seen two fans, used as dress fans before the Revolution, 
which cost eight dollars a piece. They were of ivory frame and 
pictured paper. What is curious in them is, that the sticks fohl 
up round as a cane. 

Before the Revolution no hired men or women wore any shoes so 
fine as calf skin ; that kind was the exclusive property of the 
gentry; tiie servants wore coarse neats-leather. The calf skin 
shoe then had a white rand of sheep skin stitched into the top edge 
of tiie sole, wliich they preserved white as a dress shoe as long as 
possible. 

It was very common for children and working women to wear 
beads made of Job's-tears, a berry of a shrub. They used them 
for economy, and said it prevented several diseases. 

Until the period of the Revolution, every person who wore a fur 
hat had it always of entire beaver. Every apprentice, at receiving 
his '•freedom," received a real beaver, at a cost of six dollars. 
Their every-day liats were of wool, and called felts. What were 
called roram hats, being fui' faced upon wool felts, came into use 
directly after the peace, and excited much surprise as to the inven- 
tion. Gentlemen's hats, of entire beaver, universally cost eight 
dollars. 

The use of lace veils to ladies faces is but a modern fashion, not 
of more than twenty to thii'ty years standing. Now they wear black. 



180 Jippartl. 

tvhite, and green, — the last only lately inti'oduced as a summer 
veil. In olden time, none wore a veil but as a mark and badge 
of mourni)ig, and then, as now, of crape, in preference to lace. 

Ancient ladies remcmhcred a time in their early life, when the 
ladies wore blue stockings and party-coloured clocks of very stri- 
king appeai-ancc. May not that fashion, as an extreme ton of the 
upper circle in life, explain the adoption of the term, " Blue stock- 
ing Club?" I have seen with Samuel Coates, Esq. the wedding 
silk stockings of his grandmother, of a lively green and great red 
clocks. My grandmother wore in winter very fine worsted green 
stockings with a gay clock surmounted witli a buncli of tulips. 

The late President, Thomas Jefferson, when in Philadelphia, on 
liis fust mission abroad, was dressed in tlie garb of his day after 
this manner, to wit : He wore a long waisted white cloth coat, 
scarlet breeches and vest, a cocked hat, shoes and buckles, and 
white silk hose. 

When President Hancock first came to Philadelphia as president 
of the first Congress, he wore a scarlet coat and cocked hat with a 
black cockade. 

Even spectacles, permanently useful as they are, have been sub- 
jected to the caprice of fashion. Now they are occasionally seen 
of gold — a thing I never saw in my youth ; neither did I ever see 
one young man with spectacles — now so numerous ! A purblind or 
half-sighted youth then deemed it his positive disparagement to be 
so regarded. Such would have rather run against a street post six 
times a day, than have been seen with them ! Indeed, in early olden 
time they had not the art of using temple spectacles. Old Mrs. 
Shoemaker, who died in 1825 at the age of 95, said that she had 
lived many years in Philadelphia before she ever saw temple spec- 
tacles — a name then given as a new discovery, but now so common 
as to have lost its distinctive character. In her early years the 
only spectacles she ever saw were called ^^ bridge spectacles," 
without any side supporters, and held on the nose solely by nipping 
the bridge of the nose. 

My grandmother wore a black velvet mask in winter with a 
silver mouth-piece to keep it on, by retauiing it in the mouth. I 
have been told tliat green ones have been used in summer for some 
few ladies, for riding in the sun on horseback. 

Ladies formerly wore cloaks as their chief over-coats ; they 
were used with some changes of form under the successive names 
of roquelaus, capuchins, and cardinals. 

In Mrs. Shoemaker's time, above named, they had no knowledge 
of umbrellas to keep off rain, but she had seen some few use kiti- 
sols — an article as small as present parasols now. They were en- 
tirely to keep off rain from ladies. They were of oiled muslin, and 
were of various colours from liulia by way of England. They must, 
however, have been but rare, as tliey never appear in any advertise- 
ments. 



.ipparel. 181 

Doctov Chancellor and the Rev. Mr. Duclie were the first per- 
sons in Philadelphia who were ever seen to wear umbrellas to keep 
off the rain. They were of oiled linen, very coarse and clumsy, 
with ratan sticks. Before their time, some doctors and ministers 
used an oiled linen cape hookefl round their sliouldcrs, looking not 
unlike the big coat-capes now in use, and then called a roquelaue. 
It was only used for severe storms. 

About the year 1771, the first elforts were made in Philadelphia 
to introduce the use of umbi'ellas in summer as a defence from the 
sun. They were then scouted in the public Gazettes as a ridicu- 
lous effeminacy. On the other hand, tlie physicians recommended 
tJiem to keep off vertigoes, epilepsies, sore eyes, fevers, kc. Finally, 
as the doctors were their chief patrons. Doctor Chancellcr and 
Doctor Morgan, with the Rev. Parson Duche, were the first per- 
sons who had the hardihood to be so singular as to wear umbrellas 
in sun-shine. Mr. Bingham, when he returned from the West 
Indies, where he had amassed a great fortune in the Revolution, 
appeared abroad in the streets attended by a mulatto boy bearing 
his umbrella. But his example did not take, and he desisted from 
its use. 

In the old time, shagreen-cased watches, of turtle shell and 
pinchbeck, were the earliest kind seen : but w.atches of any kind 
were much more rare then. When they began to come into 
use, they were so far deem.cd a matter of pride and show, that men 
ai-e living who have heard public Friends express tlieir concern at 
seeing their youth in the show of watches or w atch chains. It wan 
so rare to find watches in common use that it was quite an annoy- 
ance at the watch makers to be so repeatedly called on by street- 
passengers for the hour of the day. Mr. Duffield, therefore, first 
set up an out-door clock to give the time of day to people in the 
street. Gold chains would have been a wonder tlien ; silver and 
steel chains and seals were the mode, and regarded good enough. 
The best gentlemen of the country were content with silver watches, 
although gold ones were occasionally used. Gold watclies for la- 
dies w as a rare occurrence, and when worn were kept without dis- 
play for domestic use. 

The men of former days never saw such things as our Mahome- 
dan whiskers on Christian men. 

The use of boots have come in since the war of Independence ; 
they were first with black tops, after the military, strapped up in 
union with the knee bands; afterwards bright tops were intro- 
duced. The leggings to these latter were made of buckskin, for 
some extreme beaux, for the sake of close fitting a well turned leg. 
It having been the object of these pages to notice the change of 
fashions in the habiliments of men and women from the olden to 
the modern time, it may be necessary to say, that no attempt has 
been made to note the quick succession of modern changes, — pre- 
cisely because they are too rapid and evanescent for any useful 



182 .ipparel. 

record. The subject, liowever, leads me to the general remark, 
that the general character of our dress is always ill adapted to our 
climate; and this fact arises from our national predilection as 
English. As English colonists we early introduced the modes of 
our British ancestors. They derived their notions of dress from 
France ; and we, even now, take all annual fashions from the ton 
of England, — a cii-cumstance which leads us into many unseason- 
able and injurious imitations, very ill adapted to either our hotter 
or colder climate. Here we have the extremes of heat and cold. 
There they are moderate. The loose and light habits of the East, 
or of southern Europe, would be better adapted to the ardour of 
our mid-summers ; and the close and warm apparel of the north of 
Europe might furnish us better examples for our severe winters. 

But in these matters (while enduring the profuse sweating of 
90 degrees of heat) we fashion after the modes of England, which 
are adapted to a climate of but 70 degrees ! Instead, therefore, of 
the broad slouched hat of southern Europe, we have the narrow 
brim, a stiff stock or starched-buckram collar for the neck, a coat 
so close and tight as if glued to our skins, and boots so closely 
set over our insteps and ancles, as if over the lasts on which they 
were made ! Our ladies have as many ill adapted dresses and hats, 
and sadly their healths are impaired in our rigorous winters, by 
their thin stuff-shoes and transparent and light draperies, afford- 
ing but slight defence for tender frames against the cold. 



FURNITURE AND EQUIPAGE. 



<' Dismiss a real elegance a little used 

For monstrous novelty and strange disguise." 

THE tide of fashion which overwhelms every filing in its on- 
ward course, has almost effaced evei*y trace of what our forefathers 
possessed or used in the way of household furniture, or travelling 
equipage. Since the year 1800 the introduction of foreign luxury, 
caused by the influx of wealth, has been yearly effecting successive 
changes in those articles, so much so, that the former simple 
articles which contented, as they equally served the purposes of 
our forefathers, could liardly be conceived. Such as they were, 
they descended acceptably unchanged from father to son and son's 
son, and presenting at the era of our Independence, precisely the 
same family picture which had been seen in the earliest annals of 
the town. 

Formerly there were no side-boards, and wlien they were first 
introduced after the Revolution, tliey were much smaller and less 
expensive than now. Formerly they had couches of worsted 
damask, and only in very affluent families, in lieu of what we now 
call sophas or lounges. Plain people used settees and settles, — the 
latter had a bed concealed in the seat, and by folding the top of it 
outwards to the front, it exposed the bed and widened the place for 
the bed to be spread upon it. This, liomely as it miglit now be 
regarded, was a common sitting room appendage, and was a proof 
of more attention to comfort tiian display. It had, as well as the 
settee, a very high back of plain boards, and the whole was of 
white pine, generally unpainted and whitened well with unsparing 
scrubbing. Such was in the poet's eyes when pleading for his 
sopha, — 

" But restless was the seat, the back erect 
Distress'd the weary loins, that felt no ease." 

They were a very common article in very good houses, and 
were generally the proper property of the oldest members of the 
family — unless occasionally used to stretch the weary length of 
tired boys. They were placed before the fire-places in the winter 
to keep the back guarded from wind and cold. Formerly there 
were no Windsor chairs, and fancy chairs are still more modern. 
Their chairs of the genteelest kind, were of mahogany or red wal- 
nut, (once a great substitute for mahogany in all kinds of furniture, 
tables, &c.) or else they were of rush bottoms, and made of maple 



1 84 Furni t u re and Equipage. 

posts and slats, with high backs and perpendicular. Instead of 
japanned waiters as now, they liad mahogany tea boards and round 
tea tables, wliich, being turned on an axle underneath the centre, 
stood upright, like an expanded fan or palm leaf, in the corner. 
Another corner was occupied by a beaufet, which was a corner 
closet with a glass door, in which all the china of the family and 
the plate were intended to be displayed for ornament as well as 
use. A conspicuous article in tlic collection \vas always a great 
cliina punch bowl, which furnislied a frequent and grateful bever- 
age.— for wine drinking was then much less in vogue. China tea 
cups and saucers were about half tlieir present size ; and china tea 
pots and coffee pots with silver nozles w as a mark of superior 
finery. The sham of plated ware was not then known ; and all 
who showed a silver surface had the massive metal loo. This oc- 
curred in the wealthy families in little coffee and tea pots, and a 
silver tankard for good sugared toddy, was above vulgar enter- 
tainment. Where we now use eartlien-ware, they then used delf- 
ware imported from England, and instead of queens-ware (then 
unknow)i) pewter platters and porringers, made to shine along a 
'" dresser," were universal. Some, and especially the country peo- 
ple, ate their meals from wooden trenchers. Gilded looking- 
glasses and picture frames of golden glare were unknown, and 
both, much smaller than now, were used. Small pictures painted 
on glass with black mouldings for frames, with a scanty touch of 
gold-leaf in the corners, was the adornment of a parlour. The 
looking-glasses in two plates, if large, had either glass frames, 
figured with flowers engraved thereon, or was of scalloped maho- 
gany, or of Dutch wood scalloped — painted white or black with here 
and there some touches of gold: Every householder in that day 
deemed it essential to his convenieiice and comfort to have an. 
ample chest of drawers in his parlour or sitting room, in which 
the linen and clothes of tlie family were always of ready access. 
It was no sin to rummage them before company! These drawers 
were sometimes nearly as high as the ceiling. At other times 
they had a writing desk about the centi'e with a falling lid to WTitc 
upon when let dow n. A great high clock-case, reaching to the 
ceiling, occupied another corner, and a fourth corner was appro 
priated to the chimney place. They then had no carpets on their 
floors, and no paper on their walls. The silver-sand on the floor 
was drawn into a variety of fanciful figures and twirls with the 
sweeping brush, and much skill and even pride was displayed 
therein in the devices and ari'angement. They had then no argand 
or other lamps in parlours, *= but dipt candles, in brass or copper 
candlesticks, was usually good enough for common use ; and those 
who occasionally used mould candles, made them at home, in little 
tin frames, casting four to six candles in each. A glass lanthern 

* The first which ever came to this country ?s in my possessioR— originally a present 
(Vora Thomas Jefferson to Charles Thomson 



FvrnUnre and Equipage. 183 

with square sides furnished the entry lights in the houses of the 
affluent. Bedsteads then were made, if fine, of carved mahogany, 
of slender dimensions ; hut, for conimon purposes, or for tlie families 
of good tradesmen, they were of jjoplar and always painted green. 
It was a matter of universal concern to have them low enough to 
answer tlie purpose of repose lor sick or dying persons — a provi- 
sion so necessary for such possible events, now so little regarded 
by the modern practice of ascending to a hed by steps, like clam- 
bering up to a hay mow. 

A lady, giving mo the reminiscences of her early life, thus speaks 
of things as tliey were before the war of Independi^nce : Marble 
mantels and folding doors were not tlicn known, and well nough 
we eiijoyed ourselves without sophas, carpets, or girandoles. A 
white floor sprinkled with clean white sand, large tables and heavy 
high back chairs of walnut or mahogany, decoi-ated a parlour gen- 
teelly enough for any body. Sometimes a carpet, not, however, 
covering the whole floor, was seen upon the diniug room. This 
was a show-parlour up stairs, not used but upon gala occasions, 
and then not to dine in. Pewter plates and dishes were in general 
use. Cliina on dinner tables was a great rarity. Plate, more or 
less, was seen in most families of easy circumstances, not indeed 
in all the various shapes that have since heen invented, but in mas- 
sive silver waiters, bowls, tankards, cans, 6tc. Glass tumblers 
were scarcely seen. Punch, the most common beverage, was drunk 
by the company from one large bowl of silver or china ; and beer 
from a tankard of silver. 

The rarity of carpets, now deemed so indispensahle to comfort, 
may he judged of by tlie fact, that T. Matlack, Esq. now aged 
95,* told me he had a distinct recollection of meeting with the first 
carpet he had ever seen, about the year 1750, at the house of Owen 
Jones, at the corner of Spruce and Second street. Mrs. S. Shoe- 
maker, an aged Friend of the same age, told me she had received 
as a rare present from England a Scotch carpet ; it was but twelve 
feet square, and was deemed quite a novelty then, say 60 years 
ago. When carpets afterwards came into general use they only 
covered the floor in front of the chairs and tables. The covering 
of the whole floor is a thing of modern use. Many are the anec- 
dotes which could be told of the carpets and the country bumpkins. 
There are many families who can remember that soon after their 
carpets were laid, they have been visited by clownish persons, 
who showed strong signs of distress at being obliged to walk over 
them ; and when urged to come in, have stole in close to the sides 
of the room tip-toed, instinctively, to avoid sullying them ! 

It was mentioned before that the papering of the w alls of houses 

was not much introduced till after the year 1800. All the houses 

which I remember to have seen in my youth were white-wasiied 

only ; there may have been some rare exceptions. As early as the 

2 C 



186 Furniture and Equipage. 

year 1769, wc see that Plunket Fleeson first manufactures Ameri- 
can paper hangings at corjier of Fourtli and Chesnut street, and 
also paper mache or raised paper mouldings in imitation of carving, 
either coloured or gilt. But although there was thus an offer to pa- 
per rooms, their introduction must have been extremely rare. 
The uncle of the present Joseph P. Norris, Esq. had his library or 
office room papered, but his parlours were wainscotted with oak 
and I'ed cedar, unpainted, and polished with wax and robust rub- 
bing. This was at his seat at Fairhill, built in 1717. 

The use of stoves in families was not known in primitive times, 
neither in families, nor in churches. Their fire-places were large- 
again as the present, with nuich plainer mantel-pieces. In lieu of 
marble plates round the sides and top of the fire-places, it was or- 
namented with china-dutch-tile pictured with sundry Scripture 
pieces. Doctor Franklin first invented the *' open stove," called 
also ''Franklin stove," after which, as fuel became scarce, 
came in the better economy of the ''ten plate stove." 

When china was first introduced among us in the form of tea- 
sets, it was quite a business to take in broken china to mend. It 
was done by cement in most cases ; but generally the larger arti- 
cles, like punch bowls, were done with silver rivets or wire. More 
than half the punch bowls you could see were so mended. 

It is only of late years that the practice of veneering mahoga- 
ny and other valuable wood has prevailed among us. All the 
f>Id furniture "was solid. 

Family Equipage. 

There is scarcely any thing in Philadelphia which has un- 
dergone so great a change as the increased style and number of 
our travelling vehicles and equipage. I have seen aged persons 
who could name the few propi-ietors of every coach used in the 
whole province of Pennsylvania, — a less number than are now en- 
rolled on the books of some individual establishments among us for 
the mere hiring of coaches ! Even since our war of Independence 
there were not more than ten or twelve in the city, and, rare as 
they were, every man's coach was known at sight by every body. 
A hack had not* been heard of. Our progenitors did not deem a 
carriage a necessary appendage of wealth or respectability. Mer- 
chants and professional gentlemen were quite content to keep a one 
horse chair ; these had none of the present trappings of silver plate, 
nor were the chair bodies varnished ; plain paint alone adorned 
them, and brass rings and buckles was all the ornaments found on 
the harness ; the chairs were without springs, on leather bands — 
such as could now be made for fifty dollars. 

James Read, Esq. an aged gentleman who died in the fever of 
1793, said he could remember when there were only eight four- 



Furniture and Equipage. 187 

wheeled carriages kept \n all the province ! As he enumerated 
them they were set down in the common place hook of my Iriend 
Mrs. D. L. to wit : Coaches— The Governor's, (Gordon) Jona- 
than Dickinson's. • Isaac Norris', Andrew Hamilton's, Anthonv 
Palmer's. Four-wlieeled cliairs, drawn hy two horses— James 
Logan's— Stenton, David Lloyd's— Chester, Lawrence Grow- 
dcn's — Bucks. 

At the earliest period of the city some two or three coaches are 
incidentally known. Thus William Penn the founder, in his note 
to James Logan of 1700, says, -Let John (his hlack) have the 
coach, and horses put in it, for Pennshury, from the city." In 
another he speaks of his "calash." He also requests the Justices 
may place hridges over the Penncpack and other waters, for his 
carriage to pass. , • xi. r.v 

I have preserved, on page 172 of my MS. Annals in the City 
Library, the general list, with the names of the several owners of 
every kind of carriage used in Philadelphia in the year 1761. 
William Allen the Chief Justice, the widow Lawrence, and widow^ 
Martin, weie the only owners of coaches. William Peters and 
Thomas Willing owned the only two landaws. There were 18 
chariots enumerated, of which the Proprietor and the Governor 
had each of them one. Fifteen chairs concluded the whole enume- 
ration, making a total of 38 vehicles. 

In the MS. of Dusimiticre he has preserved an enumeration ot 
the vear 1772, making a total of 84 carriages. 

The rapid progress in this article of luxury and often of conve- 
nience, is still further shown by the list of duties imposed on plea- 
sure carriages, showing, that in the year 1794, they were stated 
thus, to wit: 33 coaches, 137 coachees, 35 chariots, 22 photons, 
80 light wagons, and 520 chairs and sulkies. 

The aged T. Matlack. Esq. before named, told me the first 
coach he remembered to have seen was that of Judge Wil- 
liam Allen's, who lived in Water street, on the corner of the first 
alley below High street. His coachman, as a great whip, was im- 
ported from England. He drove a kind of landa\\^ with four black 
horses. To show his skill as a driver he gave the Judge a whirl 
round the sliambles, which then stood where Jersey market is since 
built, and turned with such dashing science astoputthe Judge and 
the spectators in great concern ! The tops of this carriage fell 
down front and back, and thus made an open carriage if required. 
Mrs. Shoemaker, as aged as 95, told me that pleasure carriages 
were very rare in her yoiitli. She remembered that her grandfath- 
er had one, and that he used to say he was almost ashamed to ap- 
pear abroad in it. although it was only a one horse chair, lest he 
should be thought effeminate and ])roud. Siie remembered old 
Richard Wistar had one also. W^hen she was about twenty, 
Mr. Chai'les Willmg. merchant, brought a calash coach witJi 



1 8 SI Furniture and Equipage, 

him from England. Tliis and Judge William Allen's were 
the only ones she had ever seen ! This Charles Willing was the 
father of the late aged Thomas Willing, Esq. President of the first 
Bank of the United States. 

In the year 1728, 1 perceive by the Gazette, that one Thomas 
Skelton advcitises that he has got up "a four-wheeled cliaise," in 
Chesnut street, to he liired. His prices are thus appointed : "For 
four persons to Germin-town, 12 shillings and 6 pence; to Frank- 
ford, 10 shillings; and to Gray's Ferry, 7 sliillings and 6 pence to 
10 shillings." 

In tlie year 1746, Mr. Abram Carpenter, a cooper, in Dock 
stieet, near the Golden Fleece, makes his advertisement, to hii'fj 
two chairs and some saddle horses, to this effect, to wit : 

" Two handsome chairs, 
With very good geers, 
With horses, or without, 
To carry his friends about. 

Likewise, saddle horses, if gentlemen please, 
To carry them handsomely, much to their ease, 
Is to be hired by Abram Carpenter, cooper, 
Well known as a very good hoop-maker. 

In October, 1751, a MS. letter of Doctor William Shippen's, lo 
John Codman, in London, wrote to discourage him from sending 
out two chairs and chaises for sale here, saying, they are dull sale. 

The most splendid looking carriage ever in Philadelphia, at that 
time, was that used by General Washington, while President. 
There was in it. at least to my young mind, a greater air of state- 
ly grandeur than I have ever seen since. It was very large, so much 
so, as to make four horses an indispensable appendage. It had been 
previously imported for Governor Richard Penn. It was of a 
cream colour, with much more of gilded carvings in the frame than 
is since used. Its strongest attractions were the relief ornaments 
on the pannels, they being painted medallion pictures of playing 
cupids or naked children. That carriage I afterwards saw, in 
1804-5, in my store-yard at New Orleans, where it lay an outcast 
in the weather ! — the result of a bad speculation in a certain Doc- 
tor Young, who had bought it at public sale, took it out to Orleans 
for sale, and could find none to buy it, where all were content 
with plain volantes ! A far better speculation would have been to 
have taken it to the Marquis of Lansdowne, or other admirers of 
Washington, in England. 

Even the character of the steeds used and preferred for riding 
and carriages, have undergone the change of fashion too. In old 
time, the horses most valued were pacers — now so odious deemed ! 
To this end, the breed was propagated with care, and pace races 
were held in preference ! The Narraganset racers of Rhode Island 



Furniture and Equipage. 189 

were in such repute that they were sent for, at mucli trouble and 
expense, by some lew who were choice in tlieir selections. It may 
amuse the present generation to ])eruse the history of one such 
horse, spoken of in the letter of Rip Van Dam, of New York, of 
the year 1711, to Jonathan Dickinson of Philadelphia. It states 
the tact of the trouble he had taken to procure him a horse. He 
was shipped from Rhode Island in a sloop, from which he jumped 
overboard and swam ashore to his former home! He arrived at 
New York in 14 days passage mucli reduced in flesh and spii-it. 
He cost S2£. and his freight 50 shillings. From New York he 
was sent iidand to Philadelphia "by the next post," i. c. postman. 
He shows therein, that the same post-rider rode through the whole 
route from city to city ! He says of the pacer, he is no beauty 
although *' so high priced," save in his legs: says "he always 
plays and acts ; will never stand still : will take a glass of wine, 
beer or cider, and probably would drink a dram in a cold morn- 
ing !" This writei'. Rip Van Dam, was a great personage, he 
having been President of the Council in 1731, and, on the death of 
Governor Montgomery, that year was ex-officio Governoi- of New 
York. His mural monument is in St. Paul's church in that city. 
A letter of Doctor William Shippen's of 1745, which I have 
seen, thus writes to George Barney, (celebrated for procuring good 
horses) saying, '* I want a genteel carriage horse of about 15 hands 
high, round bodied, full of courage, close ribbed, dark chesnut, 
not a swift pacer, if that must much enhance his price. I much 
liked the pacer you procured for James Logan." 

Formerly, livery stables and hacks (things of modern introduc- 
tion) were not in use. Those who kept horses and vehicles were 
much restricted to those only whose establishments embraced their 
own stables. The few who kept their horses without sucii ap- 
pendages placed them at the taverns. They who depended upon 
hire were accustomed to procure them of such persons as had fre- 
quent uses for a horse to labour in their business, who, to diminish 
their expense, occasionally hired them in the circle of their ac- 
quaintance. In this way, many who were merchants (the ances 
tors of those who have now a horse and gig for almost every son) 
were fain to get their draymen to exempt a horse from his usual 
drudgery for the benefit of his employers for a country airing. A 
drayman who kept two or three such horses for porterage, usually 
kept a plain chair to meet such occasions. If the vehicles were 
homelier than now, they were sure to be drawn by better horses, 
and looked in all respects more like the suitable equipments oi 
substantial livers than the hired and glaring fripperies of the 
livery -fineries of the present sumptuous days. Then ladies took 
long walks to the mii-y grounds of the South street theatre with- 
out the chance of calling for hacks for their conveyance. There 
is a slight recollection of a solitary hack which used to stand be^ 



190 Furniture and Equipage. 

fore the Coniiestoga inn, in High street — an unproductive concern, 
which could only obtain an occasional call from the strangers visit- 
ing the inn, for a ride out of town. To have rode in town would 
have been regarded as gross affectation, — practically reasoning, 
that as our limbs were bestowed before hacks were devisetl, 
they should be used and worn out first, before the others were 
encouraged. 



191 



CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS 

IN PUBLIC AND DOMESTIC COMFORTS AND 
CONVENIENCES. 



AN attention to the following notices of the alterations and im- 
provements of our city in its streets, liouses, kc. for tlie purpose of 
increasing public and individual conveniences and comforts, or for 
facilitating business and trade, will much aid our right conception 
of things as they once were, and of the means and times used to 
produce the alterations which we now witness. 

Wells and Pumps. 

The conveniences of pumps were rarely seen for many years in 
the primitive city. Even wells for the use of families were gen- 
erally public and in the streets. Aged persons have told me of 
their recollections of such wells even in their time. They became 
the frequent subject of presentments of the Grand Juries. As 
early as the year 1724, tliey present " two old and very deep wells 
laying open at Centre Square," also a pump at Pewter-platter 
alley. They urge too that a pump at the great arch, (Arch sti-eet) 
standing out much into the street, ought to be removed. They 
recommend to fill up the well in the middle of the foot-path in 
Second street, near Thomas Rutter's. The well in the common 
shore in the High street is noticed as a nuisance " for want of a 
better covering." In 1741, they present an open well in Second 
street at William Fishbourne's, and another in Third street at 
Enoch Story's. In 1735, it is publicly stated in the Gazette as 
manifest that '-some public pumps are wanting," and in 1744, 
the Union Fire Company show their care of them by advertising 
a reward of 5£. ♦' for apprehending the persons who stole the nozles 
from High street, and other streets." When Kalm was here in 
1748, he says there was a well in every house, and several in the 
streets. The water he praised much, as very good and clear. 
Watchmen, Lamps, and Constables. 

Aged persons have told me that in their early days there were 
no watchmen ; and that in lieu of them the constables went round 
every night, before going to rest, to see that all w as well. Even 
the constables were originally citizens, serving for a period by 
aecessity. In the yeai- 1750, the Grand Jury represent the great 



192 Changes and Improvements in Pnhlic and 

need of watchmen and paved streets, saying of the former, thej 
Avould •* repress nightly insults," and of the latter, ' ■ frequent com- 
plaints are made by strangers and others of the extreme dirtiness 
of the sti'eets for want of paving." The next year (1751) an act 
is passed for *'a nightly watch and for enlightening the city."* 
As early as the year 1742, the Gi-and Jury iiad before pi-esented 
the need of <• a stated watch and a watch house, and not to be con- 
ducted by the citizens as formerly." In 1749, the Grand Jury 
particularly notice the defect of the nightly watch, as very defec- 
tive for so great a city, containing 2 or 3000 houses and 15,000 
inhabitants. Only five or six men (they say) are employed, who 
go tlieir rounds in company. I have seen by a MS. Journal of 
John Smith, Esq. that he notes on the 20th of 9 mo. 1749, that 
" he called at the tavern where the owners of lamps (in the streets") 
were met to consult on methods for better lighting them." There, 
says he, •• we agreed with a man, each of us to pay him three 
shillijigs and nine pence per month, to light them nightly." When 
the duties of watchmen and constables were imposed upon the 
citizens, some- to avoid the onei'ous service, fell under the vigilance 
of the Grand Juries. For instance, in 1704, " Gyles Green and 
William Morris are presented as not serving their tour of duty as 
watchmen when summoned thereto." They were nominated in each 
ward by tiie constables. In 1706, several instances occur of citi- 
zens fined 5£. each "for neglect to serve as constables." Among 
the respectable citizens thus fined, I noticed the names of Joseph 
Shippen, Abram Carpenter, George Claypole, Henry Preston. 
The constables of that day. I perceive, were charged to notify to 
tlie Grand Juries the nuisances occurring in their several wards. 

Pavements. 

Our present excellent streets and foot pavements, for which our 
city is distinguished, is a work mostly executed within the memory 
of some of tlie remaining ancients. They have told me the streets 
were once alternately miry or dusty. The foot pavements were 
but partially done, having a narrow foot walk of brick and the 
remainder filled in with gravel, or the whole with gravel only. In 
those times galo shoes and pattens were necessary and resorted to 
by the ladies. Tire venerable Charles Thomson, Esq. told me 
that Second street, from High to Chesnut street, used to be very 
muddy and was often a matter of complaint. At last an accident 
determined that a pavement should be made there. One of the Whar- 
tons, being on horseback, was mired there, thrown from his horse 
and broke his leg. Thomson and others made a subscription forth- 
with and had that street paved, — it being, as I understood, the 
first regularly paved street in the city. This first enterprise, being 
an affair of some moment in the moderate resources of the city, 

* On the 3(1 of October, the same year, the Gazette announces that on Monday last the 
streets began to be illuminated with lamps, according to the act. 



Bomeetic Comforts and Conveniences. 195 

became first a subject of discussion in the Junto or Leathern Apron 
Club, and their wishes being favourable to the measure, it had their 
patronage, and was executwl at an expense of only four shillings 
and six-pence per cart load of pebbles delivered at the shallops. 
It was on that occasion of paving that John Purdon became dis- 
tinguished and useful as a pavier. The first woikmen employed 
were awkward, and Purdon, who was then a British soldier on 
duty in the city, smiling to see their incajjacity ft-om inexperience, 
interfered to show them a better example. His skill was so mani- 
fest he was sought after, and at the interest of the city otticers was 
released from the army by a substitute. He was afterwards, for 
many years, the cliief city pavier, and lived to raise a respectable 
family. 

I perceive, as early as the year 1719, from a letter of Jonathan 
Dickinson to his brother, that some foot pavements and crossing 
places in the mid streets were about making, to wit : " As to bricks, 
we have been upon regulating the pavement of our streets, — the 
footway with bricks, and the cart-way witli stone, which has made 
our bricks dear." The minutes of the City Council about the same 
time state, that as several of the inliabitants liave voluntarily 
paved from the kennel (gutter) to the middle of tlic street with 
pebbles, and otiiers are levelling and following their example, tliey 
recommend an ordinance to restrain the w eights of loaded carriages 
passing over them. In 1750, the Grand Jury represent the great 
need of paved streets, so as to remedy '< the extreme dirtiness and 
miry state of the streets." Very little of a general effort to pave 
the mid streets was attempted before the year 1761-2. And even 
then, the first endeavours were limited to the means produced by 
lotteries— so Second street, north of High street to Race street, was 
^ effected : and then every good citizen did vdiat he could to help the 
sale of tiie tickets for the general good. In 1762, the act was 
passed ''for regulating, pitching, paving, and cleansing the high- 
ways, streets, lanes and alleys, kc. within the settled parts of 
Philadelphia." In the regulatioiis which ensued from this act, the 
streets extending westward, laying south of High street, were 
thrown from tliree to five feet more south than before, and occa- 
sioned some strange looking encroachments of some houses on the 
south sides of the streets and some less obvious recessions of others 
on the northern sides of the same streets. Thus an old brick house, 
on the south west corner of Fifth and Walnut streets, so projected 
into the street as to leave no foot- walk. An old inn and other 
buildings, once on the south west corner of Chesnut and Fourth 
streets, were also left so far in the street as to leave but about tw^o 
feet of foot-walk there ; whilst the old houses generally, on the 
northern side, were thrown back behind the general line of the 
foot pavement. Norris' house, built in 1755 on the site of the 
present Bank of the United States, originally placed three feet 
2 D 



194 Changes and Improvements in Public and 

back from the line of the pavement, came, in time, (probably in 
1766) to be considered six to eight inches on tlie foot-walk. 

The late aged Mr. Pearson, who served a long life as City 
Surve} or, had great influence in effecting his oAvn views as a City 
Regulator, and withal a perverse taste in the opinion of many in 
bringing the whole area of the city to a dull level. Present ob- 
servers can have little idea of the oi-iginal graceful inequalities 
and diversities of undulations which once variegated the city. By 
the act of 1782, James Pearson and four others were made Regula- 
tors. By this act, Mr. Pearson, who had influence enough as ad- 
viser before, became in effect sole ruler, whereby he so for accom- 
plished his favourite scheme of a general level, that we have been 
since compelled to excavate tlie earth in numerous streets to pro- 
duce sub-terrene water channels to save the citizens from inunda- 
tions. Pear street hill, Union street hill, and "the hill" near the 
pi'esent Custom house, originally presented beautiful natural accliv- 
ities for hanging gardens, wJiich will be noticed elsewhere. Our 
present State house, now so dead a level, was originally three to 
four feet higher than now. 

The rise and progress of the street pavings may be generally 
noticed as follows, to wit : In 1761. a lottery of 12,500 tickets, at 
four dollars, making 50,000 dollars, is made for raising 7,500 dol- 
lars, to be used in paving tlie streets in such places as the mana- 
gers may deem most useful. North Second street, called then 
"the north end," was paved in that year out of the avails of that 
lottery. First, a pavement was effected to Race street ; afterwards 
it was extended to Vine street. 

In 1765, Robert Erwin is made "a scavenger for seeing the 
streets cleansed once a week." In 1767, the drays of Philadel- 
phia, which before had narrow fellies like carts, were required to 
be constructed of four inches width for the sake of the pavements. 
Before those pavements it was not unusual, in wet streets, to sec 
two horses to a dray drawing only one puncheon of rum. In 1768, 
another lottery is instituted to raise 5250£. for further paving the 
streets, and for buying a landing in the Northern Liberties. The 
manner of pebble-paving was formerly different from the present. 
They did not buttress the arch with large stones, by keeping the 
largest to the sides of the streets, but they topt the arch with the 
biggest, and so gave the roughest riding where most needed to be 
easy. Several of the streets too, where the passage of water was 
great, as in Race and Vine streets belov/ Second street, had their 
channel or gutter in the middle. When the streets were elevated, 
and the gutters on each side, they were defended by posts. The 
use of curb stones is modern. 

As a sequel to the foregoing facts on street pavements, it may in- 
terest the reader to see some of the facts with which the good citi- 
zens were annoyed before they could accomplish a general pave- 
ment. They stand exposed by Grand Juries much as follows, to 



Domestic Coniforts and Conveniences. 195 

wit: In 1705, they present us bad places in the streets: — ''In 2d 
street, by John Parsons, going to Budd's bridge," — Drawbridge: 
•♦a dirty place in 2d street, over against the great Meeting house," 
— Friend's MeetiiTg; "a dirty phicc in Chesnut street, against 
JohnBedle's house, and Thomas Wharton's;" "a very badplac*' 
at Ephraim Johnson's, going up from King street (Water street) to 
Front street :" " a low dirty place in High street, over against 
the free pumps, near Doctor Hodgson's house." In 1708, tiiey pre- 
sent Walnut street, from Front to Second street, as being consid- 
erably diminished of its due breadth of 50 feet ; that David Towel 
has wholly inclosrd the breadth of Sixth street, on the south side of 
Chesnut street ; that the 4th, 5th and 6th streets are in great part 
fenced or taken into tlie se\e)'al adjoining lots on both sides; that 
there is alow place, witli a great (piiuitity of standing water, not 
safe and scarce passable for either horse or cart, in Chesnut street, 
whei'e the 5th street crosses the same : that tiiere is a deficiency in 
the arch bridge in Chesnut street, adjoining the lot of the widow 
Townsend ; that there is a dec]) dirty place, where the public 
water gathers and stops for want of a passage, in the crossing of 
the 3d street and High street, to tlie great damage of the neigh- 
bourhood : the ownei's, too, of the unimprov ed lots in King street, 
(Water street) above Cliesnut street, Ijave not improved the street 
in front of tiiem. 

In 1711, they present the necessity of changing the water-course 
in High sti-eet, near William Harris' tavern, of the sign of the 
Three Hats : also, several who do riot pave water-courses fronting 
their lots ; also, two fences which stopped the south end of Straw- 
berry alley ; a miry place at Second and Chesnut street, and an- 
other at Chesnut and Fifth street, for want of water-courses. 

In 1720, they present an invasion of water "on the common 
shore," made into King street, and a gully in the street, scarcely 
passable, near the Hatchet and Shereman's : also, an impassable 
breach made near Penny-pot house. They also present several 
kennels (gutters) as unpaved. The west side of Second street, 
against Joseph Shippen's brew^ house, (between James Logan's 
and Samuel Powell's) is presented as wanting filling up and a ken- 
nel there, — this means the site of the present Bank of Pennsylva- 
nia. In 1726, they present '' a pond or puddle in Mulherry sti'eet, 
between the Front and Second street, where several childj*en have 
narrowly escaped being drowned, as we are credibly informed." 

In 1750, they present ''the gutter of the north west corner of 
Market and Fourth street, as rendered dangerous for want of a 
grate at the common sewer, the passage being large enough for the 
body of a grown person to fall in ; further, that Fourth street, from 
Market street to the south west corner of Friend's ourying 
ground, wants regulating, and is now impassable for carj'iages." 

They also present, that " the pavement in Chesnut str. ct, near 
Fleeson's shop, (corner of Fourth and Chesnut street,) is exceeding 



196 Changes and Improvements in Public and 

dangerous, occasioned by the arcli (meaning the bridge over Dock 
creek, by present Hudson's alley,) being fallen down and no care 
taken to repair it." 

Such arc some of the tokens still remaining to us of the busy 
surveillance of ibrmer Grand Juries, found now among tlie lumber 
of office. Some of them may appear too trivial for notice now ; but 
who can foresee what future discoveries may be made in digging 
into some former '• fillings up," — as for instance, the late discovery 
of sub-terrene logs in Chesnut street, the primitive foundation of 
the bri<lge above referred to, and which no living persons could 
explain from memory ! Such unexpected developements may call 
for notices as I have occasionally set down. 

Bridges. 

It might justly surprise a modern Philadelphian, or a stranger 
visiting our present levelled city, to learn it was once crowded with 
bridges, having at least one dozen of them — the subjects of frequent 
mention and care ! I shall herein chiefly notice such as have been 
disused ; as many as six of them traversed Dock creek alone ! The 
following occasional notices of them, on the records, will prove 
theii' existence, to wit : 

In 1704, the Grand Jury present the bridge, going over the dock, 
at the South end of the town as insufficient, and endangers man and 
beast. It is also called ''the bridge and cause- way next to Tho- 
mas Budd's long row." 

In 1706, the Grand Jury having viewed the place where the 
bridge going towards the Society Hill lately was, (but then broken 
down and carried away by a storm !) do present as a thing need- 
ful to be rebuilt. 

In 1712, they present the passage down under the arch, (meaning 
at corner of Front and Arch street,) as not passable; and again 
they present that the same, to wit : " the arch in the Front street 
is very dangerous for children in the day-time, and strangers in the 
night ; neither is it passable underneath for carriages." 

In 1713, they present the bridge at the, Dock mouth, and the 
cause- way betwixt that and Society Hill, want repairs ; so also, the 
bridge over the Dock and the Second street ; also, the bridge in 
the Tbird street where the dock is. 

In 1717, they present the bridge over the Dock in Walnut street, 
the breach of the arch whereof appears dangerous, and tending to 
ruin, which a timely repair may prevent. It was just built too, by 
Samuel Powell. 

In 1718, they present the great arch in Front street, the arch 
in Second sti-eet, the arch in Walnut street, as insufficient for man 
and beast to pass over. They recommend the removal of the 
great arch at Mulberry street, as desirable for affording a hand- 
some prospect of the Front street. The Second street bridge 
•was built of stone in 1720, by Edward Collins, for 125£. 



Domestic Comforts and Conveniences. I9r 

In 1719, they present the arch in Chesnut street, between the 
house of Grace To\vnsen<l and the house of Edward Plead well, as 
part broken down. This relei-s to a bi'idge over Dock creek ai 
Hudson's alley. At the same time the three bridges over the dock 
in the Front, Second, and Walnut streets are all declared "unfin- 
ished and unsafe." The same year the inhabitants near the Ches- 
nut street bridge petition the Mayor's court for repairs to that 
bridge, to keep it trom falling. 

In 1740, they present "the common shore," at Second street 
and Walnut street bridges, as much broken. "Common shore" 
sounds strange in the midst of our present dry city ! It is also found 
named on the same Dock creek as high as Fourth and High 
streets. In 1750, tl»ey present the Chesnut street bridge as fallen 
down and extremely dangerous. 

Some other facts concerning bridges vill be found connected 
with other subjects, sucli as those over Pegg's run, the Cohocsink, 
&c. There was even a small bridge once at the corner of Tenth 
and High street. 

Balconies. 

In the early days of the city almost all the houses of good condi- 
tion were provided with balconies, now so rare to be seen, save 
a few still remaining in Water street. Several old houses, which 
I still see, show, on close inspection, the marks, where from that 
cause they formerly had doors to them in the second stories — such 
a one is C. P. Wayne's at the south west corner of High and 
Fourth street, at William Gerhard's at the corner of Front and 
Combes' alley, and at the corner of Front and Norris' alley, &c. 

As early as 1685, Robert Turner's letter to William Penn 
says, "We build most houses with balconies." A lady, describing 
the reception of Governor Thomas Penn on his public entry from 
Chester in 1732, says "when he reached here in tjje afternoon the 
windows and balconies were filled with ladies, and the streets with 
the mob, to see him pass." In fact, these balconies, or theii" pla- 
ces supplied by the pent-houses, were a part of the social system 
of our forefathers, where every family expected to sit in the sti'eet- 
porch, and these shelters over head were needed from sun and rain. 
JFindow Glass. 

The early buildings in Philadelphia had all their window glass 
set in leaden frames, and none of them to hoist up, but to open in- 
ward as doors. Gerhard's house at Combes' alley and the house at 
the south west corner of Norris' alley and Front street still retairi 
a specimen of them. When clumsy wooden frames were substitu- 
ted, panes of 6 by 8 and 8 by 10 formed the largest dimensions seeik 
among us. It became, therefore, matter of novelty and surprise 
when Governor John Penn first set the example among us of lar- 
ger panes, — such as now adorn the house, once his residence, in 
south Third street near the Mansion house, and numbered 110. 



198 Changes and Improvements in Public and 

They are still but small panes in comparison with some others. 
The fact of his rare glass gave occasion to the following epigram 
by his sister-in-law, to wit : 

Happy the man, in such a treasure, 
Whose greatest fianes afford him pleasure ; 
Stoics (who need not fear the devil) 
Maintain that pain is not an evil ; 
They boast a negative at best, 
But he with panes is really blest. 

Dials on Houses. 
It was once a convenience to have sun-dials affixed to tlie walls 
of the houses. To appreciate this thing, we must remember there 
was a time when only men in easy circumstances carried a watch, 
and there were no clocks, as now, set over the watch makers' doors, 
to regulate the time of street passengers. Such a large dial there- 
fore still exists against the house (once of Anthony Morris) on the 
north side of Pine street, opposite Friends' Meeting house — it was a 
time piece consulted by the congregation visiting tliere. Another 
old dial, still affixed to the wall, is seen in the rear ofonc of the first 
built houses on south Second street, say No. 43. Another maybe 
seen on the house on the north side of High street, four or five doors 
west of Second street. This was once the great convenience of 
the market people, and of the people at the courthouse. 

Vlate Stoves. 

"We moderns can have little idea of what cold, comfortless places 
the public ciuirches and places of assemblage were in the winter sea- 
sons in former days, before the invention of " ten plate stoves" 
and the like. The more prudent or feeble Avomen supplied the de- 
fect, by carrying with them to churches '• foot-stoves," on which 
to place thei*' feet and keep them warm. They were a small square 
box of wood or tin, perforated with holes, in which was placed a 
small vessel containing coals. The first' idea of those ten plate 
stoves was given by C. Sower, the printer, of Germantown, who 
had every house in that place supplied with liis invention of ^'jamb- 
stoves," roughly cast at or near Lancaster. They were like the 
other, only having r.o baking chamber. Ten plate stoves when 
first introduced, though very costly, and but rudely cast, were 
much used for kitcliens ami common sitting rooms. But, after- 
wards, when Doctor Franklin invented his open or Franklin stove, 
they found a place in every parlour. It was for a long while 
deemed so perfect, they neitlier needed nor even expected a 
change ! 

Fuhlic Stages and Packets. 

In 1751, the Burlington and Bordentown line of boats was fii^l 
established, for transportation through to New York, by Borden, 
Richards, Wright, and others. 



Domestic Comforts and Conveniences. 199 

The New York stage, via Perth Amhoy and Trenton, is first 
instituted in Novemher, 1756, by John Butler, at the sign ol' the 
Death of the Fox, in Strawberry aUey, to arrive at New Yor!c in 
three days. This Butler was thus set up by the old Hunting Club, 
to whom Butler had been huntsman and kennel keeper. 

The same year *' British pacquet boats" are first announced be- 
tween New York and Falmouth. The postage of each single letter 
to be four pemiy weight of silver. In 1765, a second line of stages 
is set up for New York, to start twice a week, using three days in 
going through, at two pence a mile. It was a co\ered Jersey 
wagon without springs, and had four owners coik erncd. 

The same year, the first line of stage vessels and wagons is set 
up from Philadelphia to Baltimore, via Ciiristianna and French- 
town, on Elk river ; to go once a week h"\n\ Philadelphia. 

In 1766, a third line of new stages f»'T New York, modestly 
called " the Flying Machine," and of course to beat the two former 
ones, is set up and to go through in two days ; to start from Elm 
street, near Vine street, under the ownership of Jolm Barnhill. 
They were to be " good stage wagons, and the seats set on springs." 
Fare three pence per mile, or 20 shillings for the whole route. 
In the winter season, liowever, the " Flying Machine" was to 
cleave to the rough roads for three days as in former days. 

Ill 1773, as perfection advances, Messrs. C. Bessonctt & Co. of 
Bristol, start "stage coaches," being the first of that cliaracter; 
to run from Philadelphia to New York in two days, for the fare of 
four dollars. At the same time " outside passengers" were to pay 
20 shillings each. 

It may be worthy of remark, in all tiie foregoing instances of 
travelling conveyances, that all the force and enterprise originated 
Avith the Pliiladelphia end of the line — showing how much, in that 
day, Philadelphia took the lead. 

Porches. 

Philadelphia, until the last 25 or 30 years, had a porch to every 
house door, where it was universally common for the inhabitants 
to take their occasional sitting, beneath their pent-houses, then 
general — for then 

" Our fathers knew the value of a screen 
From sultry sun, or patt'ring rain." 

Such an easy access to the residents as they afforded, made the 
families much more social than now, and gave also a ready chance 
to strangers to see the faces of our pretty ladies. The lively spec- 
tacle was very grateful. It gave a kindly domestic scene, that is 
since utterly effaced from our manners. 

When porches w ere thus in vogue they were seen here and there 
occupied by boys, who there vied in telling strange incredible sto- 
nes, and in singing ballads. Fine voices were occasionally heard 



x^OO Changes and Improvements in Public and 

singing tliem as yon passed in tiie streets. Ballads were in con- 
stant requisition. I i<new a tradesman of my age, who told me it 
was his pride to say he could sing a song for every day in the 
year, and all committed to memory. 

Houses altered. 

In evciy direction of the city old houses have constantly been 
transforming into more modern appearances, especially within the 
last 15 to 20 years. 03d black-looking brick walls liave been re- 
newed in appearance by painting. Small windows and small 
panes have been taken out, and large and showy bulks, 6cc. have 
been put in their place. These in their turn have, more recently, 
been often taken down, and bulks of smaller dimensions supplied. 
The fiooi'S which v^ere below tlie present raised level of some 
streets iiave been raise\l, (witness C. P. Wayne's, at the south 
west corner of Fourth and High streets) and all which were up 
steps (and this was the way of former buildings) have been low- 
ered even with tlie streets wherever they have been converted inta 
stores. 

A modern innovation, wliich some regard as defective in good 
taste, has been to tear down almost universally from the superior 
houses, all the ancient ornaments which were not conformed to 
the modern taste. Thus it was general for the best houses to have 
vestibules and turned pillars, supporting very highly worked pedi- 
ments over each dooi*, and the ascent to tbem Avas up two or three 
soap-stone steps. In sucli houses the walls were ceiled in their 
principal rooms with cedar pannel work, and over the doors were 
pediments, which, with cornices, &c. were much carved. These 
have generally been all torn down and cast into the fire, to make 
way for papered walls and plain wood-work. The old houses 
too, had much relief work on the fronts of the houses, — but the 
taste now is to affect a general plainness combined with neatness. 
Old Mr. Bradford, speaking of his recollections back to the period 
of 1750, said there were but few frame liouses at that time. The 
most of houses were of two stories, some of three stories, and very 
few of one story. He remembered only one or two of stone, and 
two or three were rougli-cast. The act, to prevent the construc- 
tion of frame houses, was passed in the year 1796. Many of the old 
houses, in Mr. Bradford's time, still retained their leaden sashes 
and small panes. He removed those which had once been in the 
old London Coffee house. Much he praised the social character 
and uses of the porches, as once protected from the weather by the 
pent-houses. Stiles' two houses on the south side of Walnut sti'eet, 
next eastward of the Friends' Alms house, are among the finest 
specimens of the largest and best buildings of their day. So also 
the large house (now Gibbs') at the north east corner of Arch and 
Fourth streets. The two houses of John Rhea, in Chesnut street 
opposite the present Bank of the United States, so long as they 



Domestic Comforts and Conveniences. 201 

stood unaltered, were buildings of very superior style. He, how- 
ever, following the innovatioii of tlie day, toi'c out all tlic i-icli old 
pannelled and carved work of the rooms ; removed the stately stonr. 
steps, and the ample pediments of the front doors ; and let down 
all the basement floors, — thus destroying as much in a few hours, 
as took months to set up. We have scarcely a vestige left of things 
as they were, to refer to as an example of wliat we mean by the 
ornaments sb laid waste. Such as they were, have nov^r their last 
asylum on the walls of the grand entry in our State house, where 
we hope they will be perpetuated as long as tliat structure shall 
endure ! Formerly, every large house, possessing a good entry, 
had from two to four bull-eye glasses let into the wood-work over 
the front door, for the purpose of giving light to the passage, when 
the door should be shut. Each of the window shutters had holes 
cut in the upper part of them, in the form of crescents and other 
devices, to give light to the rooms when they should be closed. 
Stores altered. 

Tlie stores generally retained their old fasliioned small windows, 
in no way dillering from dwelling houses, until about 30 years 
ago. Some, indeed, of the oldest sti'ucture had the shutters dif- 
ferent, — having the upper one to hoist up, and the lower one to 
let down to the line of the horizon, where it was supported by side 
chains so as to enable the store keeper to display tliereon some of 
his wares intended for sale. Long or deep stores extending the 
full depth of the house were unknown ; none exceeded the depth of 
the usual front rooms. The most of them went up ascending steps. 
None were kept open after night, save grocery and drug stores. 
Tlicy presented no flaunting appearances of competition ; no gor- 
geous nor alluring signs. Every thing was moderate. 

The first fancy retail hardware store, with bulk windows, re- 
membered, was the one opened by James Stokes, in what had 
been the Old Coffee house, at the south west corner of Market and 
Front streets. The bu»k-handled *' Barlow" penknives, the gilt 
and plated buttons, and the scissors, curiously arranged on circu- 
lar cards, (a new idea) and tlie bulk wiiidows, lighted up at 
night, (a new thing) was a source of great gratification to the 
boys, and the country market people, lounging about with arms 
folded, on Tuesday and Friday evenings. One evening, among a 
group of gazers from about Conestoga, one of them exclaimed to 
tbe others in Pennsylvania German, " Cook a mole, har, cook do!" 
♦Mneiner sale!" The first brilliant fancy retail dry goods shop, 
with bulk windows, as remembered, was opened by a Mr. Whitesides, 
from London, as 'twas said, in the true ''Bond-street style," at 
No. 134, Market street, in tlie house now occupied by Mr. Thomas 
Natt. The then uncommon sized lights in the two bulks, and the 
fine mull mull and jaconet muslins, the chintses, and linens sus- 
pended in whole pieces, from the top to the bottom, and entwined 
9. E 



20'-2 Changes and Improvtments, S^c. 

togetlier in puffs and festoons, (totally new,) and the shopman, 
behind the counter, powdered, bowing and smiling, caused it to be 
^' all the stare" for a time. There being too much of the -'poun- 
cet box" in the display, however, and the '* vile Jersey half-pence, 
with a horse head thereon" being wrapped up, when given in 
change in whitey brown paper, with a counter bow to the ladies, 
seeming rather too civil by half for the (as yet) primitive notions 
of our city folks. 

Cellar Kitchens^ 
Now so general, are but of modei-n use. '* Cook's houses,'* on 
the south east corner of High and Third streets, and '* Hunter's 
houses," on the north side of Higli street above Eighth street, 
built in my time, were the first houses erected among us with the 
novelty of cellar kitchens. Those houses were deemed elegant 
and curious in their day. After that time, cellar kitchens have 
been increasing in use, to the great annoyance of the aged dames 
who remembered the easy access of a yard kitchen on tlie base- 
ment floor. 

Ice Houses. 

These have all come into use among us since the war of Inde- 
pendence. After them came the use of ice creams, of which Mr. Se- 
gurhad the honour, and, besides, the first advantage, to benefit him- 
self and us. Public ice houses for the sale of ice, is a more modern 
enterprise than cither, and when first undertaken was of very 
dubious success, even for one adventurer. But already it is a 
luxury much patronised. The winter of 1828, from its unusual 
mildness, they failed to fill their ice liouses for the first time. 

Shade Trees. 
The chief trees seen in the streets of the city before the Revolu- 
tion, were button woods and willows ; several were used by the 
British for fuel. Such as remained, were attacked by an act of 
the Corporation "to guard against fire and stagnant air." To 
counteract so unphilosophical a remedy for '' stagnant air," Fran- 
cis Hopkinson, Esq. poet and satirical humourist of the day, Avi'ote 
an amusing " Speech of the standing member of the Assembly 
against the act." It had the effect to save some. In William 
Penn's time they also talked of cutting off trees to purify the air. 
The long sky piercers, called Lombardy poplars, were first intro- 
duced among us by William Hamilton, Esq, of the Woodlands, 
who brought them with him on his return from Europe in 1786-7. 
William Bingham, Esq. first planted them in long lines and closely 
set, all round his premises in the city. As they were easily propa- 
gated and grew rapidly, they soon became numerous along our 
streets. In time tliey were visited by a large worm, the bite of 
which was considered poisonous. It received the name of the 
'^* Poplar worm." Many must remember it. 



OKANaiSS 

IN RESIDENCES AND PLACES OF BUSINESS. 



IT may afford some surprise to the younger part of the preseiii 
generation, to leiUMi the localities in whicii the proper gentry for- 
merly lived, or the central places in wliich certain branches of bu 
siness were once conducted — the whole marked by circumstances 
essentially different from the present. 

Merchants lived in f rater street. 

When merchants and others within the last 20 to 25 years began 
to build dwellings as far west as Seventh street and thereabouts, 
it was considered a wonder how they could encounter such fatigu- 
ing walks from their counting-houses and business. Previous t« 
this change, and especially before the year 1793, when they were, 
dispersed from tlie river side by the fears of the yellow fever, all 
of the best and richest merchants dv, elt under the same roofs with 
their stores, situated then in Water or Front street. Some of the 
richest and genteelest mercliants dwelt in Water street till the y^ar 
1793, and several of them afterwards. After the merchants 
(always the most efficient improvers of the city) began to cliange 
their domicils from the water side to the western outskirts of the 
city, tiie progress of improvement there became rapid and great. 
It may mark the character of the change to state, that wlien Mr. 
Markoe built his large double liouse out High street, between Nintli 
and Tenth streets, in the centre of a fenced meadow, it was so remote 
from all city intercourse that it used to be his jest among his friciuls 
to say, "he lived out High street, next house but one to the Scliuyl- 
kill ferry." 

Thirty to thirty-five years ago it was much more genteel to 
"live up High street" than "up Chesnut street." as it is now 
called. Chesnut street and Arch street were not tlien even 
thouglit of for building upon, westward of Tentii street. The 
streets were not ca en traced out. Frog ponds, the remains of for- 
mer brick-kilns, would have dinned the ears of the gentry by the 
songs of their frogs. Those fine houses now out Chesnut street 
were set down before the streets were paved beyond Fifth street, 
and the house, which successively became the van, was, like a pio- 
neer, to clear the way for others ; for, the advanced house, even till 
now, was always exposed to a wild waste, or, if near any of the 
former settlers, they were generally mean or vile. Indeed, it was 
often a question of inquiry among the citizens, in the paved and 



204 Changes in Residences and Places of Business. 

old improved parts of the city, how genteel families could encoun- 
ter so many inconveniencies to make their ''western improve-^ 
ments," so called. Even when Wain built at the corner of Seventh 
and Chesnut streets, and Sims afterwards at the corner of Ninth 
and Chesnut sliects, they had no street pavements, and they were 
wondered at to leave their former excellent old dwellings in the 
neighbourhood of the Delaware. A few such examples made it a 
fashion ; and now men build out as far and in as waste places as 
they please, hoping for, and generally realizing, that others will 
foil )W. Penn street was once a superior residence. There dwelt 
such families as Robert Morris', Craig's, Swanwick's, Cuthbert's, 
&c. 

To illustrate a little more the state of families resident in Wa- 
ter and Front streets, it may suffice to give a few facts. Abel 
James, famous as the greatest merchant of his day, had his dwel- 
ling on Water street, by Elfreth's alley, and his stores on the 
wharf. Adjoijiing him, northward and southward, were other dis- 
tinguished families in the shipping business. 

On Front street, adjoining to Elfreth's alley-steps, were ^'Cal- 
lender's grand houses," and about four doors above them stood a 
large double liouse, once Wain's, and afterwards Hartshorne's. 
Nearly opposite stood Drinker's house, at the corner of Drinker's 
alley, large and elegant, and next door, northward, stood the pre- 
sent Henry Pratt's house. The house of Drinker's became a 
fashionable boarding house in 1766 to '70, kept by Mrs.Graydon, 
(mother of the author of Graydon's memoirs) at which lodged the 
Bai'on de Kalb, Colonel Frank Richardson of the Life Guards, La- 
dy More and daughter. Lady O'Brien, Sir William Draper of Ju- 
nius notoriety, and others. There generally dwelt all the British 
officers usually in the town. 

An aged lady, S. N. told me, that in her youth the ladies atten- 
ded balls lield in Water street, now deemed so unfit a place ! There 
too, they deemed themselves well dressed in figured chintses. 
There too, former Governors have held their clubs ; and Pegg 
Mullen's beef-stake house, near the present Mariners' church, was 
ojice the supreme ton. 

Places of Business and Stores changed. 

It is only within twenty-five years, that any stores have been 
opened in High street above Fourth street westward. It was gradu- 
ally extended westward as a place of business. Before this, it had 
for a few years been deemed the chief street for wealthy families 
as retired residences. Houses, therefore, of grand dimensions 
were running up for dwellings above Fifth and Sixth streets, 
even while stores were following close after from Fourth street. 
In a little while the reputation for stands in High street became 
so great and rapid, that the chief of the large dwellings were 



Changes in Residences and Places of Business. £05 

purchased, and their rich and beautiful walls were torn to pieces 
to mould them into stores. 

Front street was the iornier great street for all kinds of goods 
hy wholesale. Second street, both north and south, for tlie length 
of Arch to Chesnut street, were places of great resort for goods. 
Then no kinds of stores could liave succeeded in any part of Ches- 
nut street westward of Second street, and now we behold so many. 
Some places of business are strangely altered. Once Race street, 
from Second to Third street, had several retail di-y goods stores, 
generally kept hy women ; now^ there are none, or scarcely any. 
Arch street in no part of it had any kind of stores till within twen- 
ty-five years. The milliners first clustered there, from Second 
to Thii'd street, and it was for a time quite tlie place of fashion in 
that way. Then millinery stores and ladies' shoe stores opened in 
Second street, from Dock 'street to Spruce street, w here no kind of 
stores, trades or offices had been found twenty-five years ago. 
Within thii'ty-five years all the slioe stores opened in High street. 
Henry Manly began first, below Second street, and was the only 
shoe store intlie city for several years. Before that time all shoes 
were made to fit customers by the tradesmen. It is, how ever, true, 
that before the Revolution John Wallace had a store for the sale 
of worsted, satin and brocade shoes for ladies only ; most or all 
of which w ere im vorted. Stores of any kind in Third street, either 
nortli or south, were very rare even thirty years ago, and none 
were to be found at all in Fourth or Fiftli street. When they be- 
gan to open here and there in those streets, the general suiprise 
was <Miow can they think to succeed!" Wholesale grocery stores 
were once so exclusively in Water street, that when the first at- 
tempts at such in High street were made it w as regarded as a w un- 
der. The western world has so rapidly increased as to make a 
great increase of all kinds of stores in the w estern part of the city 
necessary for their demands. 

When General Washington and Robert Moriis, dignitaries 
of the nation, lived in the houses in High street, east of Sixth street, 
only little more than thirty years ago, no stores, save Sheaff 's w ine 
store, were near them ; and probably not an inliabitant could then 
have been found to guess that tliat square, and to the westward of 
it to Broad street, would ever become a street of trade ! So limited 
were the western wagons then in Higli street, that none apjjcared 
above Fifth street, and few or none thought of seeing more ! 

It may serve to sliow the early attaclnnent to Water street as a 
place of residence and genteel business, to state a few of the facts 
in the case. The earliest news papers show, hy their advertise- 
ments, that much of the goods for retail for gentlemen and ladies* 
wear, were sold in tliat street. As eaily as 1737, Mrs. Fishbourne, 
living in Water street, below Walnut street, advertises a full store 
of ladies' goods for sale at her store on the wharf, back of her house! 
In 1755, at Sims' house in Water street, above Pine street, is ad- 



206 Changes in Residences and Places of Business. 

vertised all sorts of men's and women's wear, by retail, &c. When 
the present house, No. 12, nortli Third street, nearly opposite 
Church alley, was built tliere by the father of the late Jolni War- 
der, say about 65 years ago, it was then matter of surprise that he 
should go so far out of town ! In the day in which it was built, it 
was deemed of superior elevation and finish ; but now it is sur- 
passed by tliousands in exterior show. As late as the year 1762, 
Mr. Duclie had a clay mill and pottery, with a well of water, on 
Chcsnut street, at the house afterwards known as Dickinson's old 
house, a few doors eastward of Fifth street, where Girard has 
now built his row. 

Tanyards. 

It is within the last 35 years that two or three tanyards, such as 
Howell's, Hudson's, &c. were extended from Fourth street, south of 
the Friends' school, down to the rear of Girard's bank, and within 
30 years, two or three were situate with Israel's stables on the north 
east section of Dock and Third streets. A great fire at this latter 
place cleared off several lots, and made room for some good houses 
which since occupy their place. In early times the tanyards were 
ranged along the line of tlie Dock creek, and their tan did much to 
fill it up. They were often subjects of complaint. The Pennsyl- 
vania Gazette of October, 1739, No. 566, contains remai-ks thereon* 
In 1699, there were but two tanyards in the city, to wit : Hudson's 
and Lambert's on Dock creek. 

Rope Walks, 

Were once much nearer than at present. One once stood along 
the line of Cable lane, giving origin to that name of the street. 
Another began at Vine and Third street, before Third street was 
opened there, and extended in a north-western direction. Another 
used to stand near tl)e old theatre in Cedar street, by Fifth street, 
and thence extended westward. Another, a little south of it, ran 
towards the Delaware. 

Ship Vards. 

These, in early days, wei-e much nigher the city than we might 
now imagine without the facts to assist us. For instance, in 1723, 
Michael Royll advertises for sale a new sloop on the stocks at the 
Drawbridge. The activity of ship building was very great when 
materials were so much lower. West had great ship-yards at 
Vine street. The late aged John Brown saw a ship launched 
from the yard near the present Old Ferry. His father, Parrock, 
had his ship-yards at Race street. The present William West, Esq. 
(aged about 73) tells me the ship-yards were numerous in his youth 
from Vine street down to Race street. Many of the vessels built, 
^¥ere sold as fast as built, for English and Irish houses abroad. 



{Changes in Hmdences and Places of Business. 207 

Blacksmith Skojis. 

It shows the change of times, to state that 70 to 80 years ago 
William Bissell had his blacksmith shop at the north east corner 
of Elbow lane and Tliird street, and that at ti»c north east corner 
of Third and High street John Rouse had a large frame for his 
blacksmith shop, and adjoining to the jnison, oil the sonth side of 
High street above Third street, stood blacksmiths' and wheel- 
wrights' sheds. All these were seen and remembered by Mrs. S. 
an aged lady who told me of them. 

Auctions. 

Some of us of tlie present day complain of the great evil of having 
so many auction rooms — taking the business out of the regular 
stores, &c. As early as the year 1770, they were considered as a 
great nuisance to tlie shop keepers, and then every man set up for 
himself wherever he pleased. The Northern Liberties and South- 
wark were then full of them. They paid no duties to tlie govern- 
ment, and it w as solicited that they might be taxed five per cent, 
to restrain them. Sometimes public sale was then called "by 
public cant," and by " public out-cry." 

At an earlier period the public vendue was held under the nortlj 
west corner of the court house in Second street, and on the vacation 
of the office in 1742, John Clifton offered 110£. and Reese Meredith 
110£. per annum to the Corporation, to be privileged to become 
the successor.* 

After the peace of 1783, the rivalship of auctioneers became 
great, being limited to a few for tlie city : others set up in the 
Liberties, and such was the allurements to draw customers after 
them as miglit excite our wonder now% Carriages were provided 
to carry purchasers gratis out to the auction held across the Schuyl- 
kill at the upper ferry, and ferriages were paid for those who went 
across tlie Delaware to an auction held at Cooper's ferry. 

In confirmation I add a short article from the reminiscences of 
my friend Mr. P. to wit : In the year 1789, and previous, there 
were but three auctioneers allowed by law for the City, Northern 
Liberties and Southwark ; and the restriction extended to within 
two miles of the State house. Several persons were desirous of 
following that business, but could not obtain appointments from 
the supreme executive Council, and came to the determination of 
carrying on the same beyond the prescribed limits, and where goods 
could be sold at auction without Jjeing subject to the State duty. 
The first person who commenced was Jonas Phillips, he held his 
auction in the large brick house on the rising ground over the 
middle ferry of Schuylkill. He was followed by John Chaloner, 
who held his sales in one of the stone stables at the upper ferry 

• When the City Council rented it to Patrick Baird, in 1730, he paid for the room there 
only B£. per annum, and not to sell any goods in one lot under the value of 50 sliillings. 



208 Changes in Residences and Places of Business. 

kept by Elijah Weed. The sales were always in the afternoon, the 
mornings being occupied in transporting the goods on drays to the 
respective auction rooms ; where they were displayed on the shelves. 
The company being conveyed out and home, in the large old 
fashioned stages, which were in attendance at the liouses of the 
respective auctioneers precisely at one o'clock, P. M. for that pur- 
pose. After the sale, the goods were repacked in trunks and cases, 
lirouglit to the city and delivered to the purchasers next morning 
at the i-esidence of the auctioneer. Phillips resided opposite the 
old Jersey market, south side, and Chaloner in Chesnut street, a 
few doors east of the sign of the Cross Keys, kept by Israel Israel, 
corner of Third street. 

Board Yards. 

It is only within the last 25 years that board yards and wood 
yards have been opened in tlie western part of the city. In former 
times they were universally confined to the wharves above Vine 
street. When the first two or three persons opened board yards 
in the west, it excited surprise and distrust of their success. The 
north side of Pine street, from Fifth to Sixth street, was once a 
large board yard, and another was on the south side of Spruce 
street in the same square. These were among the first inland 
yards. 

Chesnut street, 

Has within a few years become the chief street in Philadelphia, 
as a fashionable walk. High street once had the preference. Cir- 
cumstances may yet deprive even Chesnut street of its present pre- 
eminence. In the mean time its claims to favour and renown has 
foeen set forth in song, to the following effect, to wit : 

In vain may Bond street, or the Paik 

Talk of their demoiselles and sparks-— 

Or Boulevard's walks, or Tlmilleries' shades 

Boast of their own Parisian maids ; 

In vain Venitian's sons may pride 

The masks that o'er Rialto glide ; 

And our ow^n Broadway too will sink 

Beneath the Muse's pen and ink ; 

While Chesnut's fav'rite street will stand 

The pride and honour of our land I 



liOCAl CKANOSS 

IN STREETS AND PLACES. 



IN these pages, concerning the changes eftected in various sec- 
tions in and about the city, the aged will often be reuiinded of 
their former play grounds, then waste and rugged, now ruined to 
such purposes by the alleged improvements and the stately edifi- 
ces erected thereon. To be reminded of such localities as they saw 
them in their joyous youth, is to fill the mind with pleasing images. 
a Scenes that sooth'd 

Or charm'd me young, no longer young, I find 
Still soothing, and of power to charm me still I" 

At no period since the origin of Philadelphia has its extension, 
improvements and changes been so great as within the last thirty- 
five years. It may be truly said that from the peace of 1783, 
which completed the first century of its existence as a city, it has 
doubled its buildings and population. That peace gave an imme- 
diate impulse to trade and commerce, and these brought the means 
to make extensive improvements. But the circumstance which 
peculiarly aided the prosperity and increase of Philadelpliia, togeth- 
er with every other city and place in the United States, was the 
war in Europe and in their colonies, brought on by the French 
Revolution, and making us on that emergency the general carriers 
of the trade of Europe : It not only diffused general riches among 
the people and clianged the aspect of the city, but even the habits 
and manners of the people themselves. B'rom the year 1790, there- 
fore, we may remember a constant change of the former waste 
grounds of the city, the demolition of old buildings or of inconve- 
nient ones, and the erection of more stately and modernized houses 
in their places. 

So far as these notices may have to notice recent circumstances, 
I am aware they can afford but little present interest ; hut, by the 
same rule, whereby we of the present day can be interested in the 
doings of our forefathers in times and things which we never saw, 
so the time is coming when tlie generations which shall succeed us 
may feel ssme of the gratifications, in reading some of these recent 
facts, which I have felt in collecting those of the past inhabitants. 
Man naturally desires to know the rise and progress of things around 
him. 

2 F 



-iO Local Changes in Streets and Haces. 

The Governor's Woods 

Were a bo<ly of forest trees, whicli stood till the time of the 
Revolution, called also centre woods, laying between High street 
and South street, and Broad street and the river Schuylkill. They 
received their name from being a part of the proprietary's estate. 
There was an old consequential German, named Adam Poth, (whom 
the aged may still remember) who had some care of them, and used 
to take on a magisterial air of authority wiien trespasses were made 
by wandering boys or poor people. When the British came, and 
needed fuel, it was found more expedient to cut them down and sell 
to them what they could, tlian to leave them to help themselves as 
conquerors. 

An aged lady, now alive, tells me that she and other girls deemed 
it a great frolic to go out to the woods— she usually went out Spruce 
street. Between Seventh and Eighth streets they gathered wild 
strawberries ; they entered the woods opposite the Hospital, and 
proceeded through them out to the Schuylkill. The road leading 
through them was very narrow, and the trees very lofty and thrifty. 

Old George Warner, who died in 1810, spake'with lively recol- 
lection of the state of the woods out High street, saying they were 
of great growth, especially from beyond the Centre* Square to the 
then romantic and picturesque banks of the Schuylkill. In going, 
in the year 1726, from the Swedes' church to the blue house tavern, 
on the corner of Ninth and South streets, he saw nothing but lofty 
forests, and swamps, and abundance of game. 

An aged lady, Mrs. N. says the woods out High street began 
as far eastward as Eighth street, and that tlic walk out High Street 
used to be a complete shade of forest trees, cooling and refreshing 
the whole road to Schuylkill. At about Sixth street used to be a 
long bench under a shade, to afford rest to the city traveller. 

Hudson'^s Orchard and JVeighbo^irhood. 

On the north side of High street, from thence to Arch street, and 
from Fifth to Sixth street, was Hudson's orchard of apple trees. 
When the late Timothy Matlack was a young man he rented the 
whole enclosure for eight dollars per annum for his horse-pasture. 
At about 60 feet from the north west corner of Fifth and High streets, 
in a north west direction, there was a considerable pond of w^ater, of 
4 feet depth, on which it was the custom of the city boys to skate 
in winter. Up by North alley, on Fifth street, was a skindresser's 
frame house : on High street there also stood an old frame house ; 
and except these, the whole ground was a grass lot. The first 
brick house ever built therein was owned by Pemberton, the same 
now Mr. Lyle's, on High street. 

At the north east corner of Sixth and High streets there was a 
raised foot-walk, as a kind of causeway, of two feet elevation, to 
keep the traveller from the water which settled on the lot on the 



Local Changes in Streets and Places. 21 i 

uovtU side of High sti-ect. At this corner, in times of floods, 
the water ran down the middle of High street, and commtiniciitcd 
to tlic pond aforesaid. Mrs. Pearson said there was a time, \vh( n, 
as a curiosity, a boat was brought to the place, and used in cross- 
ing the water. , . ., , 
In the year 1731 John Bradley was found drowned in the above 

mentioned water, '• by accidental death." 

Tiie south east corner of Fifth and High streets, now Sheatf s 
house, has been dug down as nuich as five feet in the street, to form 
the present level. htt- , x x 

When Isaac Zane built his house on the north side of High street, 
above Sixtii street, it was set down in such a wet place that it exci- 
ted talk tliat he should choose such a disagreeable spot. In con- 
firmation, I have heard from the Pearson family (Pearson was City 
Surveyor) that when he built his frame house in Seventh street, 
fifty-five years ago, a little north of the present St. James' 
church, there was a deep ravine through the cliurch lot out to Mar- 
ket street, which bore off much water in rains, &c. from Arch 
street. And through the whole summer there was water enough 
on tlie north side of High street and back of St. James' to keep the 
frogs in perpetual night-songs. In connexion with this, also the 
late Mayor, Genei-al Barker, told me he remembered very well 
that a drunken man, crossing this gully on High street, fell off the 
foot-log into the shallow water and was found drowned, laying 
upon his face. 

City Hills. 
Many who understand the subject deem it to have been a bad 
taste which led to the ''system of levelling" the once beautiful 
natural inequalities of the city ground plot. Had they been pre- 
served, the original varieties of surface would have afforded pleas- 
ing changes to the eye. What was emphatically called ''the hill " 
in the olden time, extending from Walnut street in a course with 
the southern side of Dock street, presented once a precipitous and 
high bank, especially by Pear street and St. Paul's church, which 
might iiave been cultivated in hanging gardens, descending to the 
dock, and open to the public gaze. Thence crossing beyond Little 
Dock street you ascended to "Society Hill," situate chiefly fi'om 
Second to Front street, and from Union to the summit of Pine and 
Front streets. From that cause, buildings on Union street, north 
side, might have shown beautiful descending gardens on their 
northern aspect.* The same bad taste and avidity for converting 
every piece of ground to the greatest possible revenue caused the 
building up of the whole extent of Front street on the eastern or 
bank side, quite contrary to the original design of the founder. 
Nothing could be imagined more beautiful than a high open view 

* Alderman Plumstead once had such a garden there, which was the admiration of the 



212 Local Changes in Streets and Places. 

to the river and the Jersey shore along the whole front of the city ! 
Indeed, such is the opinion of some, that e^ en at this late day it is 
worth the attempt to restore a part of the eastern front, by razing 
the houses on tlie eastern side of Front street. It may be lemem- 
bered that in the year 1822 this subject was much discussed in the 
public prints, and the project was strenuously supported by the 
communications of Paul Beck, Esq. It may be observed, as a 
general remai-k, that the high table lands of Philadelphia, verging 
to <• the bank" along the river, never had anywhere any declina- 
tion towards the river, but the general high plane gradually raised 
higlier and higher towards the river until it came to the abrupt 
bluff. Rain water, therefore, naturally ran back from the Dela- 
ware and found its way into the Dock creek, then extending from 
Arch street to Spruce street. The water falling between Race and 
Vine streets from Second street fell into both those streets from 
*' the hill" once between them ; for both those streets were origi- 
nally natural water courses leading down to the river, and from 
that cause, when tliose streets were paved, they had to pave the 
channel in the middle, and to leave the pebble part much lower 
than the foot-pavements. There was also once "the hill" along 
Front street near Combes' alley, so much so, that in the memory 
of B. Marot, the water once run from Fi'ont street westwai-d in 
that alley. There was once ''the hill" near the '* Cherry Gar- 
den," inclining from the south east corner of South and Front 
streets towards the river. The liouses still standing along Front 
street in that neighbourhood have their yards one story higher 
than Front street. 

Streets ciit down and raised. 

The streets as they now are graduated are by no means to be 
considered as presenting the original level of the city. In many 
places they have been raised, and in others depressed. Thus 
Market Arch and Race streets, near Front street, have all been 
lowered as much as possible ; and Front street has also been low- 
ered to as much of a level as possible. On the other hand, at the 
foot of those hills (below Water street) they have been raised ; for 
instance, the house still standing at the south west corner of Race 
and Water street goes down three steps to the first floor, whereas 
it used to go up three or four steps, in the memory of some ancients ; 
thus proving the raising of the street there ; at the same time, on 
Front street near by, the street is lowered full one story, as the 
cellar of the house on the north west corner of Front and Race 
streets, now standing out of the ground, fully proves. Clarke's 
stores, on the south east coi-ner of Arch and Water streets, show, 
by the arches above the present windows and doors, that the ground 
floors have been lowered three feet, to conform to the street there. 
Thirty years ago the ground north of Arch street on Front street 
to above Race street, western side, was twelve feet higher than 



Local Changes in Streets and Places. 215 

the present foot-pavement; loi- instance, wlici-e the row of modern 
brick buildings nortli of Areli street now stands, was a B'riends' 
Meeting, called Bank Meeting, on a green hill, within a brick wall, 
and to which you went up full twelve feet, by steps, — several old 
houses still there, with cellars out of ground, indicate the same. 
And below Arch street, in the neighbourhood of Combes' alley, the 
present old houses of Gerluird's liave their present first story formed 
of what was once the cellai* part under ground. Second street from 
Arch to High street, has been cut down nearly two feet below its 
former pavement. Fourth street from Arch street to below High 
street, has been filled up full two feet. 

Walnut street, eastward from Second street, has been raised 
as much as two feet, sufficiently proved by an old house still stand- 
ing on the south side of that street, which has its ground floor one 
foot beneath tlie pi-esent pavement. Walnut street, west of Second 
street, must have been filled in greatly, as they found near there a 
paved street six feet beneath the present surface, in laying the iron 
pipes near to Dock street. In Walnut street, by Tliird street, the 
street must liave been eight feet higher than now, forming quite a 
hill there, as the cake house near there (once a part of an old Cus- 
stom house) has nearly all of its first story formed of what was 
once the cellar under ground. The street, at the corner of High 
and Fourth streets, has been much raised. The jjouse of C. P. 
Wayne, on the south west corner, has its floor raised one foot, and 
originally the house had several steps of ascent. Deep floods have 
been seen there, by T. Matlack and others, quite across the whole 
street, in their early days. In Water street, above Arch sti'eet, the 
sti'eet must have been raised two or three feet, as a house is still 
standing there, No. 82 and 84, having six steps to go down to 
what was its first floor. So too, near S. Gii-ard's the street is 
raised, and a house still there descends one step to its ground floor. 
In Water street above Chesnut street, the raising is manifest by a 
house on the bank side having three steps down to its first floor. 
Several houses midway between Chesnut and Walnut streets, 
which go down two steps, and several below Walnut street going 
down one step, sufliciently prove the elevation made in Water 
street in those sections since those old houses were built. The 
most of the ground in the south-western direction of the city, and 
Southwark, having beeji raised from two to three feet, has gener- 
ally caused all the streets in that direction to be formed of earth 
filled in there ; for instance, it may now be observed that all the 
oldest houses along Pssyunk road below Shippen street, are full 
two feet under the present street Out Fitzwater street the old 
houses are covered up three feet. Out South street, from Fifth to 
Ninth streets, the ground is artificially raised above all the old 
houses two and a half feet. Front street below South street is cut 
down as much as twelve feet, as the elevation of the houses on the 
eastern side now show. Swanson street, from Almond street south- 



214 Local Changes in Streets and Places. 

ward, lias been cut down as mucli as eight feet, as the houses on 
the western side sufficiently indicate. South street from Front 
street to Little Water street, and Penn street continued to Almond 
street, severally show, by the cellars of old houses standing above 
ground, that those streets have been cut through a former rising 
ground there, once called '' the hill." Eleventh street from High 
street to Arch street has requii*ed very remarkable filling up. A 
very good three story house at the north west corner of Filbert 
street, and several frame ones northward of that street, have been 
filled up to the sills of the windows. 

Miscellanea. 

The following facts of sundry changes may be briefly noticed, , 
to wit : 

An aged gentleman, T. H. told me he well remembered a fine 
field of corn in growth on the north west corner of South and Front 
street. He also remembered when water flowed into some of the 
cellars along the eastern side of Penn street from the river Delaware. 
The ground there has been made-ground. On the western side 
it was a high steep bank from Front street. On an occasion of 
digging into it for sand and gravel, two or three boys were buried 
beneatli the falling bank, and lost their lives. 

The late aged Mr. Isaac Parrish told me that the square from 
the Rotterdam inn, in Third above Race street, up to Vine street, 
and from Third to Fourth street, used to be a large grass lot 
enclosed with a regular privet hedge ; there he often shot birds in 
his youth; and the late Alderman John Baker said he often shot 
partridges there. 

The present aged Thomas Bradford, Esq. tells me he remem- 
bers when the ground, from Arch to Cherry street, laying west- 
ward of Tiiird street, had all the appearance of made-ground, 
having heaps of fresh earth, and several water holes. 

George Vaux, Esq. has often heard it mentioned among his an- 
cestors, that Richard Hill, commissioner to Penn, was once pro- 
prietor of the land extending from Arch and Third streets to Vine 
and Fifth streets, which he used as a kind of farm, and when the 
Presbyterian church was built on the north west corner of Third 
and Arch streets, it was called " on Doctor Hill's pasture." 

The row of good houses on the south side of Arch street, between 
Fourth street and the church ground, was, thirty ye.irs ago, the 
area of a large yard, containing a coach-maker's establishment on 
a large scale. 

At Pine and Front street the former hill there has been taken 
down below the former pavement full six feet deeper, about four 
years ago. 

What used to be called Fouquet's inn and bowling green, is now 
much altered m its appearance ; it used to be very rural. Many 
trees, of various kinds, surrounded it. It was so much out of town. 



Local Changes in Streets and Flaces. 215 

ii) my beyhood, that the streets running north juul soutli were 
scarcely visible; there being nowhere sufficiency of houses to 
show the lines of the streets, and all the intervening commons 
marked w ith oblique footpaths. It stood on rising ground, (a kind 
of hill) and towards Race street it had a steep descent into that 
street, which was quite low in that neighbourhood. I now find 
that Cherry street (not then thouglit of) is extended through the 
premises close to the house. The old house, still standing, is seen 
near the south west corner of Cherry and Tentli streets. It was 
famous in its day — with many surrounding out-houses. 

Timothy Matlack, wiien he came to Philadelphia, in 1745, could 
readily pass diagonally from Third to Fourth street, through the 
square formed from Chesnut to High street ; the houses being only 
here and there built. 

Mrs. Riley, who if now alive would be about 98 years of age, 
said she could well remember wlien Sekel's corner, at the noi*th 
cast corner of High street and Fourth, was once a cow lot which 
was offered to her father at a rent of 10^. She could then walk 
across from that corner diagonally to Third street by a pathway. 
Graydon in his memoirs says, that in 1755, *'in passing from 
Chesnut street up Fourth street, the intervals took up as mucli space 
as tlie buildings, and with the exception of here and there a house, 
the Fifth street might then have been called the western extremity 
of the city.'* 

Colonel A. J. Morris, whose recollections began earlier, (now 
90 years old) says he could remember when there were scarcely 
any houses westward of Fourth street. The first he e\ ei* saw in 
Fifth street, was a row of two story brick houses (now standing) 
on the east side, a little above High street. He was then about 
ten years of age, and the impression was fixed upon his memory 
by its being the occasion of killing one of the men on tlie scaffolding. 
The wharves along the city front on the Delaware have under- 
gone considerable changes since the peace of 1783, and still more 
since 1793. Several of them have had additions in front, so as to 
extend them more into the channel ; and at several places stores have 
been built up on the wharves ; but the greatest changes have been 
the filling up of sundry docks, and joining wharves before separa- 
ted, so that now you can pretty generally go from wharf to wharf 
without the former frequent inconvenience of going back to Water 
street to be able to reach the next wharf. For instance, now^ you 
can walk from Race to Arch street along tlie wharves, where 30 
years ago you could not, short of three or four interruptions. We 
now wish one other and final improvement, — a paved wharf-street 
the whole length of the city, with a full line of trees, instead of 
buildings, on the whole length of the eastern side. Tlws would 
invite and perhaps secure a watei- promenade, and be in itself 
some reparation for destroying the once intended promenade of the 
eastern side of Front street. 



21f 



INNOVATIONS 



NEW MODES OF CONDUCTING BUSINESS, &c. 



IT is very natural tliat the youth at any given time, should, 
without inquiry, infer that all the familiar customs and things 
which they behold were always so before their time, when, often, 
many of them may have been just introduced. This fact I often 
realize in my observation even now among the rising generation. 
This reflection leads us to think that hereafter many customs may 
be introduced, after the practices of older cities, to which we are 
now strangers, but which, without some passing notice here, might 
not be known to be new after they had been familiarized among us 
a few years. I mention, therefore, customs which do not exist now, 
bnt which will doubtless come to our use from tlie example of 
Europe — such as shoe-blacks soliciting to clean shoes and boots on 
the wearer, in the streets— dealers in old clothes bearing them on 
their shoulders and selling them in the public walks — men draw- 
ing light trucks with goods in lieu of horses — men carrying a tel- 
escope by night to show through to street passengers — women 
wheeling wheelbarrows to vend oranges and such like articles 
— coblers' stalls and book stalls, &c. placed on the sides of the foot- 
paths — men and women ballad singers stopping at corners to sing 
for pennies — porters carrying sedan chairs — women having meat 
and coffee stalls in the street for hungry passengers, ^c. 

From thouglits like these we ai'e disposed to notice several of 
the changes already effected within a few years past, as so many 
innovations or alleged improvements on the days by-gone. 

Candidates for Office. 

Those who now occasionally set forth their claims to public fa- 
vour, by detailed statements in their proper names, would have 
met with little or no countenance in the public suffrages in the olden 
time. Sheriffs have usually taken the precedence in these things, 
and it is known that the first person who ever had the boldness to 
publish himself as a candidate for sheriff and to laud his own merits 
occurred in the person of Mordecai Lloyd in the year 1744, beg- 
ging the good people for their votes by his publications in English 
2 G 



318 Innovations and ntw Modes oj couduetmg Business, <^c. 

and German. At same time Nicholas Scull, an opposing candi- 
date, resorted to the same measure, and apologized for "the new 
mode" as imposed upon him by the practice of others. 

Rum Distilleries. 

Rimi distilled from molasses was once an article largely manu- 
factured and sold in Philadelphia. It bore as good a jjrice as the 
Boston or New England rum, and both of them nearly as much 
as that imported from the West Indies. About the year 1762, 
there used to be frequent mention of Wharton's " great still-house," 
on the wharf near the Swedes' churcli ; also, Sims' and Cadwalla- 
<ler's still-house below the Drawbridge ; one in Front above Arch 
street; two large ones in Cable lane; one at Masters', above Point 
Pleasant, in Kensington : one out High street, between Eighth and 
Ninth streets. 

Pot and Pearl Ashes. 

A manufactory of these Mas first established in Philadelphia in 
the year 1772, in the stores on Goodman's wharf, (since Smith's) 
a little above Race street. 

Millinery Stores, 

It is still within tlie jiiemory of the aged when and where the 
first store of this kind was introduced into the city. It was begun 
by the Misses Sparks in a small frame house in south Second 
street, a little below Chesnut street, and long they enjoyed the 
sole business without a rival. 

Hucksters, 

A genus now so prevalent in our market — an irresponsible, un- 
known, but taxing race, odious as ''the publicans" of old, were 
without their pi-esent motives or rewards in the foi-mer days. 

Pawnbrokers 

Are altogetlier of modern establishment among us, rising in ob- 
scurity and witli little notice, till they have spread like a mal-area 
over the morals of the community. Their alarming progress is a 
real blur upon our character, as it evidences so powerfully the fact 
of bad living among so many of our population. Only twenty years 
ago a pawnbroker would have starved among us! Since those 
in the city have been put under some legal suiweillance and control, 
we are enabled to arrive at some estimate of the contributors taxed 
to their oiierous support. In making some researches among the 
records of the city police it has been ascertained, as the result of 
one years waste in these founts of wretchedness and misery, that 
there have been 180,000 pledges, and that the exhibit for one week 



Innovations and new Modes of conducting Business, dfc. i a )r 
in winter, has sliowii an array of articles to tlic foll.)Vving effect, 
to wit: 

Articles of Avomen's dress 945 

do. of men's dress S25 

Clocks and watclies 240 

Gold watches "^^ 

Silver table and tea spoons 235 

Ear and finger rings, chains and broaches 224 
Bibles J 

Other articles not eiuimerated 96 Q 

Total 3489 in one week! 
There were indeed poor among us in former years, but thci: 
they were in general a virtuous poor, who had the compassion ol 
their neighbours, and, for that reason, could have tound temporaiy 
relief from articles such as above stated, without the resort to 
usurious imposts. In short, they did well enough without pawn- 
brokers, and the change to the present system is appalling . 
Lottery Brokers. 
These also are a new race, luxuriating on the imaginative sclie^ 
mings of some, and the aversion to honest labour in others. 1 hey 
ave I race who hold ''the word of promise to the ear and break it 
to the hopes"— of thousands! Their flaring and intrusive signs 
and advertisements, which meet the eye at every turn, are so many 
painful proofs of the lavish patronage they receive from the credul- 
ity of their fortune-seeking votaries. I never see their glaring 
signs witliout a secret wish to add a scro 1, both as a satire on 
tlSm, and as a sentence conveying in much point the pith ot all. 
they promise, to wit : 

^'Batter'd and bankrupt fortunes men«lcd here!" 
Ourforefatliers, 'tis true, much resorted to lotteries for raising 
monies wanted for public purposes before the Revolution, (as will 
be noticed in another place) but then, as "the public good was 
the aim" the citizens cordially lent their aid to sell the tickets 
without fee or reward, and in effect gave the price ot their tickets 
as so much willing gift to tlie object intended by the lottery. 
Second-hand Clothes and Shoe-blacks. 
Shoe blacking and the sale of cast off clothes, as now opeiie^ in 
cellars by the blacks, is quite a modern affair. Old clothes wei c 
never sold formerly ; whew it was rather a common practice to 
turn them, or to cut them down for children ; and all boots and shoes 
were blacked at home, by children, apprentices, or domestics. 
Even the houses now so common for selling ready-made garments 
for gentlemen's wear is quite a new thing, and was first began at 
the Shakespeare buildings by Burk, who made enough thereby to 
allure others to his imitation. 



220 Innovations and new Modes of conducting Business, ^c. 
Oyster Cellars. 
These, as we now see them, are the introduction of but a few 
years. When first introduced, they were of much inferior appear^ 
ance to the present; were entirely managed by blacks, and did not 
at first include gentlemen among their visiters. Before that time, 
oysters were vended along the streets in wheelbarrows only : even 
carts were not used for their conveyance, and gentlemen who loved 
raw oysters were sufficiently in character to stop the barrow and 
swallow his half dozen without the appendage of crackers, &c. 

Intelligence Offices. 

fr w if ^ ""^'T ^'''* ^""^'"S P^^"^'" ^^'' servants, began within a very 
few years and upon a very small scale, were ver^little resorted I 
^Ztl ^f'^^S^^-^^'.^!"* were generally conducted at first by 
hlePerT''^''/"'^'''\'Kn "*"t«»'§^"^^ Office" advertised 
o hlr n^w ^ "'^'^^"^''^.* ^'^"'•" *'^" Revolution, but it combined 
other objects, gained no mutations, and died unnoticed. A better 
scheme than any of these has been recently got up b/the dtizens 
themselves to help servants to places and to guLd^and imp?o^^^ 
their morals, which promises to be a general bfnefit. ^ 

General Remarks on various Items of Change. 
I notice as among the remarkable changes of Philadelphia, with- 
rLnL^'f'?, ^^ ™^ ^""^ f'""'^^ Observation, that there is an utter 
change of the manner and quantity of business done by tradesmen. 
hn«!nl ya^^aboy, there was no such thing as conducting their 
business m the present wholesale manner and by efforts at monop- 
hi' f ^*?^***^''« ^f e «^en exempted from personal labour in any 
iorni' ^^'^"'"^^f • ^»^;"§ «« the profits derived from many hired 

d^^nlTv^f "•' "? V^^'^' "^r^ '""S^* «"* ^t '""ch expense and 

display of signs and decorated windows to allure custom. Then 

sir. Tr^- ^PP*'^"^^?^' ^he» of age, run his equal chance for his 
and .fti "'"''' "• "' »«»§'^«>«"'»'0«J. by setting up for himself, 
and h^,rT apprentice or two,# getting into a cheap location 
to hi/. P- 1 1 application and good work, recommending himself 
man I. h!^ ?f 'Jr^- ^'*"' '^'*'^ slioemaker or taylor was a 
^ttli *"'"'*^*f 'thus was every tinman, blacksmith, hatter, wheel- 
wi ght, weaver, barber, bookbinder, umbrella-maker, coppersmith, 
rrLpf r'?^'"' P^/"*'^ ^"^ Slazier, cedar-cooper, plasterer 
?ndknl "n '^''*"'''^'''''' chaise-maker, kc. It was only traded 
indispensably requiring many hands, among whom we saw many 
journeymen; such as shipwrights, brickmakers, masons, carpen- 
tei s, tanners, printers, stonecutters, and such like. In those days, 
11 they did not aspire to much, they were more sure of the end— a 
decent competency in old age, and a tranquil and certain livelihood 

the-^o^'cMZthJ""" ^"''°'' '" ^"'"^ thing;-now they often give a premium or find 



Innffvatims and new Modes of condnding Business^ ^c, 221 

while engaged in the acquisition of its reward. Large stoi-es, at that 
time, exclusively wholesale, were hut rare, except among the slup- 
ping merchants, so called, and it is fully within ray memory, that 
all the Ijardware stores, which were intended to be wholesale 
dealers, by having their regular sets of country customers, for 
whpse supplies they made their regular importations, were obliged, 
by the practice of the trade and the expectations of the citizens, to 
be equally retailers in their ordinary business. They also, as sub- 
servient to usage, had to be regular importers of numerous stated 
articles in the dry-goods line, and especially in most articles in the 
woollen lijie. At that time, ruinous overstocks of goods imported 
were utterly unknown, a>id supplies from auction sales, as now, 
were neitiier depended u])on nor resorted to. The same ad\ ance 
*' on the sterling" was the set price of every storekeeper's profit 
As none got suddenly rich by monopolies, they w ent tlirough whole 
lives, gradually but surely augmenting their estates, without tiie 
least fear or the misfortune of bankruptcy. When it did rarely 
occur, such was the surprise and the genei-al sympathy of the public, 
that citizens saluted each other witli sad faces, and made their re- 
grets and condolence a measure of common concern. An aged 
person has told me that when the inhabitant and proin-ietor of tliat 
large house, formerly the post-office, at the corner of Chesnut 
street and Carpenter's court, suddenly failed in business, the whole 
house was closely shut up for one week, as an emblem of the deep- 
est family-mourning ; and all w ho passed the house instinctively 
stopt and mingled the expressions of their lively regret. No\v how 
changed are matters in these particulars ! Now men foil w ith hardy 
indifference, and some of them have often the effrontery to appear 
abroad in expensive display, elbowing aside their suffering credit- 
ors at public places of expensive resort. I occasionally meet with 
such, by whom I have been injured, who indulge in travelling 
equipage, with which they delight to pass and dust me, and who, 
nevertheless, would feel their dignity much insulted at even a civil 
hint to spare me but a little of the disregarded del)t It might 
lower the arrogancy of some such, to know, there wa^ once a time 
in our colony when such heedless and desperate dealers and livers 
were sold for a term of years to pay their just debts. 

It strikes me as among the remarkable changes of modern times, 
that blacksmith-shops, which used to be low, rough one story sheds, 
here and there in various parts of the city, and always fronting on 
the main streets, have been crowded out as nuisances, or rather as 
eye-sores to genteel neighbourhoods. Then the workmen stood on 
ground-floors in clogs or wooden-soled shoes, to avoid the damp of 
the ground. But now they are seen to have their operations in 
genteel three story houses, with ware-rooms in front, and with 
their furnaces and anvils, &c. in the yards or back premises. 

"Lines of packets," as we now see them, for Liverpool and for 
Havre abroad, and for Charleston, New Orleans, Norfolk, &c. at 



222 Innovations and new Modes of conducting Business, <^c. 

home, are but lately originated among us. The London packet in 
primitive days made hev voyage but twice a year. And before the 
Revolution all vessels going to England or Ireland, used to be ad- 
vertised on the walls of the corner houses, saying wlien to sail and 
wliere they laid. Some few instances of this kind occurred even 
after the war of Independence. In those days vessels going to 
Great Britain, was usually called *' going home." 

Kalm, when here 80 years ago, made a remark which seemed to 
indicate that then New York, though so much smaller as a city, 
was the most commercial, saying, *' It probably carries on a more 
extensive commerce than any town in the English colonies, and it 
is said they send more ships to London than they do from Phila- 
delphia." 

From the period of 1790 to 1800 the London trade was all the 
channel we used for the introduction of spring and fall goods. The 
arrival of the London ships at Clifford's wharf used to set the 
whole trading community in a bustle to see them '* liaul into the 
wharf." Soon the whole range of Front street, from Arch to Wal- 
nut street, was liunbered with the packages from the Pigou, the 
Adrianna, the Washington, &c. 

Great and noisy were the breaking up of packages, and busy 
were the masters, clerks and porters to get in and display theii- 
new arrived treasures. Soon after were seen tlie city retailers, 
generally females in that time, hovering about like butterflies near 
a rivulet, mingling among the men and viewing with admiration 
the rich displays of British chintses, muslins and calicoes of the 
latest London modes. The Liverpool trade was not at that time 
opened, and Liverpool itself had not grown into the overwhelming 
rival of Bristol and Hull — ^places with Avhich we formerly had some 
trade for articles not drawn from the great London storehouse. 



CHANGES 

IN PRICES OF DIET, kc. 



« For the money quite a heap !" 

WE cannot fail to be surprised at the former abundance (as in- 
dicated in the cheapness of prices) of many articles formerly, which 
are now scarce and dear. 

Sheepshead, now so high-priced, nsed to be plentiful in the Jer- 
sey market. They came over land from Egg-harbour. The price 
was the same whether big or little, say Is. Gd. a])iece — some 
weighed six to seven pounds each. The rule was. that he who 
came first took the biggest. Unreasonable as this seemed, the 
practice long prevailed. At last the sellers attempted to introduce 
the sale by weight. They fixed the price at 4d. per lb. (now they 
are at is. lOd. !) but the purchasers stood aloof, and none would buy ! 
Then they returned to Is. 6d. apiece again. However, sometime 
after, they succeeded to sell at 4d. to 6d. per lb. and so continued 
for years. These things were told to me by Mr. Davenport Mer- 
rot, an old gentleman now 80 years of age. Mr. Joliii Warder 
too, of nearly the same age, related much the same facts, saying, 
that wlien he' was a boy all their sea fish were brought over land 
from Egg-harbour and landed at the Old Ferry, (then the first 
and only one) where a small bell was rung from tlie top of the 
house, which was sufficient to inform the chief part of tlie town 
that the fish were come. There, he said, sheepshead were always 
sold at 18d. apiece, without any regard to size; but tlie first 
comers getting always tlie best. . 

Wild pigeons were once innumerable. Mr. Thomas Bradford, 
now aged 84. remembers when they were cauglit in nets, and 
brought in cartloads to the city market. He said he had heard his 
forefathers say they once saw a flock fly over the city so as to ob- 
scure the sun for two or three hours, and many were killed from 
the tops of tlie houses. They were therefore plentiful enough in 
general to sell from 6d. to 12d. per dozen. 

The same informer stated his recollections of the earliest market 
prices thus, viz. Butter at 6d. to 9d. fowls Is. ducks 15d. geese 
Is. lOd. eggs 4d. per dozen, beef at 3d. to 6d. per lb. greens, sal- 
iads, kc. were as much for a penny as is now given for 6d. Shad 
used to be retailed at 3d. to 4d. and herrings at Is. 6d. a hundred. 



£24 Changes in Prices of Diet, Sfc. 

Colonel A. J. Morris, now 90 years of age, has told me of his 
recollection of shad heiiig sold in several seasons of his early days 
at 10s. a hundred ! 

The occasional prices publislied in the ancient Gazettes state 
prices as follows, to wit : 

1719 — ^B'lour per cwt. 9s. 6d. to 10s. tobacco 14s. cwt. Muscovado 
sugar 40 to45s. per cwts pork 45s. per barrel, beef 30s. rum 3s. 9d. 
per gallon, molasses Is. 6d. wheat 3s. 3d. to 3s. 5d. per bushel, 
corn Is. 6d. and bohea tea — mark it, what a luxury — at 24s. per lb.! 

1721 — "Flower" 8s. 6d. to 9s. turpentine 8s. rice 17s. fine salt 
iZs. 6d. bohea tea at 30s.! pitch 12s, tar 8s. 

1748 — the time of war, prices are high, say, wheat at 6s. 4d. to 
7s. flour 20s. beef 43s. and pork 60s. 

In 1755, hay is named at 40s. a ton, and now it is occasionally 
at 20 dollars ! 

1757 — Flour is 12s. 6d. wheat Ss. 6d. corn Is. 9d. beef 40s. pork 
60 to 673. pipe staves 7£. barrel staves 67s. West India rum 2s. lid. 
New England rum 2s. 7d. Pennsylvania rum 2s. 7d. molasses 
2s. 6d. Iiemp 5s. pitch 15s. tar 10s. flaxseed 4s. 3d. and last of all 
bohea is down from 30s. to only 7s. ! 

In 1760, I notice the fact that several thousand barrels of flour 
were purciiased in London for the American provinces at 8s. 6d. 
per cwt. 

In 1763, I perceive prices of sundry game, &c. incidentally 
stated, to wit : a quail l^d. a heath-hen Is. 3d. a teal 6d. a wild 
goose 2s. a brandt Is. 3d. snipe Id. a duck Is. a cock turkey 4s. 
a hen turkey 2s. 6d. 

1774 — Fiour 18s. 6d. wheat 7s. 9d. Indian corn 2s. 8d. pipe 
staves ]0£. barrel staves 70s. West India rum 3s. Id. pitch 16s. 
tar 13s. turpentine 18s. I'ice 17s. Lisbon salt 15d. hemp 5d. cotton 
16d. bar iron 26=^. pig iron £8 10s. pork £4 5s. beef J2 15s. 

The pebble stones used in paving the city, when first paved, cost 
but 4s. 6d. per cartload, delivered from the shallops. 

Changes in Prices of Land. 

In such a growing city it was to be expected the occasional 
changes in the value of lots and property would be \ery great. 

To begin with Gabriel Thomas' account of 1698, he says, with- 
in the compass of twelve years that which might have been bought 
for fifteen or eighteen shillings, is now sold for fourscore pounds 
in ready silver, and some other lots, that might have been pur- 
chased for three pounds, witliin the space of two years were sold 
for one hundred pounds apiece, and likewise some land that lies 
near the city, that sixteen years ago might have been purchased 
for six or eight pounds the 100 Acres, cannot now be bought under 
150 to 200£. 

The ancient Mrs. Shoemaker told me that her grandfather* 



Changes in Prices of DieU ^c. 925 

James Lownes, was offei-ed for iiOiB. the whole square from High 
street to Arch street, and from Front to Second street, by William 
Penn himself. He declined it, saying, how long shall 1 wait to 
see my money retufned in profit. 

The aged Owen Jones, Esq. informed me that he had heard at 
several times that William Pcnn oifcred iiis hired man, as a coach- 
man, k.c. the whole of the square of ground included between Ches- 
nut and Walnut and Front and Second streets, in lieu of one years 
wages — probably of \5£. 

Mr. Abel James, the father of tiie present Doctor James, used 
to tell him that one Moore, of Bucks county, a Friend, was the per- 
son above alluded to, and that he used to visit Mr. James' family, 
and told him he had cliosen a moderate tract of land in Bucks 
county in preference to the above mentioned square.* 

The same Mr. Owen Jones said the greatest rise of city plots 
he had ever known were the sales of proprietaries city lots after 
the sales of his estate. They rising, in hundreds of instances, he 
said, to have ground rents at more than double the price of the first 
purchase. 

He related to me what he heard from the grandson of the first 
or second Samuel Powell, that he bought the two whole squares 
included betweeii Spruce and Pine streets, and Fifth and Seventh 
streets, for 50£. eacli — a rise of more than one thousand for one! 
Even when he gave those prices he bought reluctantly and at two 
or three several times — for he afterwards, I believe, added, at the 
same terms, the square from Fourth to Third street. This was 
originally tlie property of the " Free Society of Traders," and is 
certainly one evidence liow ill they managed their interests for 
their eventual good. Powell on tlie contrary, by holding on, real- 
ized a great fortune for his posterity from such slender occasion. 

The aged colonel Morris informed me that he heard old Mr. 
Tratnal say, that Governor Palmer offered him a great extent of 
Kensington lots, fronting on the river street, at six pence per foot 
ground rent for ever. 

Anthony Duche, a respectable protestant refugee from France, 
ancestor of the well known Parson Duche, came with his wife over 
to Pennsylvania in the same ship with William Penn, who had 
borrowed' a small sum of about 30£. from him. After the arrival 
Penn offered him in lieu of the return of the money *'a good bar- 
gain," as he said — a square between Third and Fourth streets, 
witli only the exception of the burial, ground occupied by Friends 
on Mulberry and Fourth streets,! the proprietor observing that he 
knew the lot was cheap, but that he had a mind to favour him, in 

* I might mention, that I used to hear a tradition th&t Penn's coachman had been offered 
the square on which Lietitia court is located ; as tliat was but half a square it is the most 
probable story. And possibly the offer to Lownes was the same square also, and mistold 
in a lapse of years. The other squares were soon out of Penn's disposal, as belonging to 
pm-chasers and drawn by lot. 

t It was first offered to Thomas JLlovd, whose wife was the first person interred there. 
2 H 



2£6 Changes in Prices of Diet, <§*c. 

return for his kindness. Mr. Diiche replied, '' You are very good, 
Mr. Penn, and the offer might prove advantageous, but the money 
would suit me better." "Blockhead!" (rejoined the proprietor, 
provoked at his overlooking the intended benefit,) "Well, well, 
thou shalt have thy money, but canst thou not see that this will be 
a very great city in a very short time ?" " So I was paid," said 
Duclie, who told this story, " and have ever since repented my own 
folly !" The above anecdote was told by Charles Thomson, Escj. 
to Mrs. D. Logan, and to lier brother, J. P. Norris, at different 
times, saying he had received it from the son of Duche. 

During the \t))ole time of the carrying trade in the Revolutionary 
war of France, our city and landed property near it constantly 
rose in value — as men got ricli in trade and desired to invest funds 
in buildings, &c. In this state of things John Kearney, a taylor, 
contracted with Mr. Lyle to buy the estate called Hamilton's wharf 
and stores, near the Drawbridge, for 50,000 dollars. He gave 
30,000 dollars in part payment, built 11000 dollars additional 
buildings thereon, and after all chose to forfeit the whole rather 
than pay tlie remaining 20,000 dollars ! This was indeed an extra- 
ordinary case ; but it shows the great reduction of value after the 
peace. 

The same James Lyle, as agent, sold the Bush-hill estate of 
200 acres to General Cadwallader and associates, for the laying 
out of a town. They were to give a perpetual ground-rent of 
nearly 100 dollars daily — say 36,000 dollars per annum, and after 
actually paying in 200, 000 dollars they surrendered back the whole ' 



SUPERSTITIONS 

AND 

POPULAR CREDULITY. 



" Well attested, and as well believ'd, 
Heard solemn, goes the goblin-story round, 
Till superstitious horrror creeps o'er all I" 

OUR forefathers (tlie ruder part) brouglit with tli m\ much of the 
superstition of tlieir "father-land," and liere it found mucli to 
cherish and sustain it, in the credulity of the Dutch and Swedes, 
nor less from the Indians, who always abounded in marvellous rela- 
tions, much incited by their conjurers and pow-vows. Dean Swift 
calls *' superstition the spleen of the soul." Facts which have come 
down to our more enlightened times, can now no longer terrify ; but 
may often amuse, as Cowper says, 

" There's something in that ancient superstition, 

Which, erring as it is, our fancy loves 1" 

B'rom the provincial executive minutes, preserved at Harrisburg, 
we learn the curious fact of an actual trial for witchcraft. On the 
27th of 12 mo. 1683, Margaret Mattson and Yeshro Hendrickson. 
(Swedish women) wiio liad been accused as witches on the 7th 
instant, were cited to their trial : on which occasion there were 
present, as their Judges, Governor William Penn and his council, 
James Harrison, William Biles, Lasse Cock, William Haigne, 
C. Taylor, William Clayton and Thomas Holmes. The Gover-** 
nor having given the Grand Jury their charge, they found the bill ! 
The testimony of the witnesses before the Petit Jury is recorded. 
Such of the Jury as were absent were fined forty shillings each. 

Margaret Mattson being arraigned, '• she pleads not guilty, and 
will be tried by the country." Sundry witnesses were sworn, and 
many vague stories told — as tliat she bewitched calves, geese, &c. 
&c. — that oxen were rather above her malignant powers, but which 
reached all other cattle. 

The daugiiter of Margaret Mattson was said to have expressed 
her convictions of her mother being a witch. And the reported 
say-so's of the daughter were given in evidence. The dame Matt- 
son *'denieth Charles Ashcom's attestation at her soul, and saith 



228 Superstitions and Popular Credulity^ 

where is my daughter ? let her come and say so," — '• the prisotier 
denieth all tilings and saith that tlie witness speaks only by hear- 
say." Governor Penn finally charged the Jury, who brought in a 
verdict suliiciently ambiguous and ineflfective for such a dubious of- 
fence, saying they find her "guilty of having the common fame of 
a witch, but not guilty in the manner and form as she stands indict- 
ed." They, however, take care to defend the good people from their 
future mal faisance by exacting from eacii of tliem security for 
good behaviour for six months. A decision infinitely more wise 
than hanging or drowning ! They had each of them husbands, and 
Lasse Cock served as interpreter for Mrs. Mattson. The whole 
of this trial may be seen in detail in my MS. Annals, page 506, 
in the Historical Society. 

By this judicious verdict we as Pennsylvanians have probably 
escaped the odium of Salem. It is not, however, to be concealed 
that we had a law standing against witches ; and it may possibly 
exonerate us in part, and give some plea for the trial itself, to say 
it w as fiom a precedent by statute of king James I. That act, 
was belli to be part of our law by an act of our provincial Assembly, 
entitled '• an act against conjuration, witchcraft and dealing with 
evil atid \\ickcd spirits. It says therein that the act of king, 
James I. sliall be put in execution in this province, and be of like 
force and effect as if the same w ere here repeated and enacted !" 
So solemnly and gravely sanctioned as was that act of the king 
what could we as colonists do! Our act as above was confirmed in 
all its parts, by the dignified council of George 11. in the next 
year after its passage here, in the presence of eighteen Peers, in- 
cluding the great Duke of Malborough himself!* 

The superstition, such as it was, may have been deemed the com- 
mon sin of the day, the enlightened Judge Hale himself fell into 
its belief. Our sister city, New York, had also her troubles with 
her witches. Soon after tlie English began to rule there, in 1664, 
a man and wife were arraigned as such, and a verdict found by the 
Jury against one of them, and in 1672, the people of West Chester 
complained to the British Governor, of a witch among them. A 
"similar complaint, made next year to the Dutch Governor, Colve, 
was dismissed as groundless. The Virginians too, lax as we may 
have deemed them then in religious sentiments, had also their trial 
of Grace Sherwood in Princess Ann county — a§ the records still 
there may show . The populace also seconded the court, by sub- 
jecting her to the trial of water, and the place at Walks' farm, near 
the ferry, is still called <• witch duck!" The Bible, it must be con- 
ceded, always countenanced these credences : but now, " a genera- 
tion more refined" tliink it their boast to say " we have no hoofs nor 
horns in our religion!" 

* Nor was the dread of witchcraft an English failing only. We may find enough of it ir» 
France also ; for six hundred persons were executed there for that alleged crime in 1609 ! 
In 1634, Grandiere, a priest of Loudun, was burnt for bewitching a whole convent of nun" ' 
In 1654, twenty women were executed in Breftagne for their witcheries ' 



Superstitions and PQ\ndar Credulity. 229 

All old record of the province, of 1G95. states tlic cusc of Robert 
Reman, presented at Chester for practising geomanty, and divining 
by a stick. The Grand Jury als(» presented the foih)\ving books 
as vicious, to wit : llidsou's Temple of \Vis(h)m, which teaches geo- 
manty. Stott's Discovery of Witchcraft, and Cornelius Agrippa's 
Teaching Negromancy— another name probably for necromancy. 
The latter latinized name forcibly remiri(is one of those curious 
similar books of great value, (even of fifty tliousand pieces of sil- 
ver,) destroyed before Paul at Ephesus— *' multi autum curiosa 
agentiuin. conferentes libros combusserunt eoram omnibus.'' 

Superstition has been called the ''seminal principle of religion," 
because it undoubtedlv has its origin in the dread of a spiritual 
world of which God is the supreme. The more vague and unde- 
fined our tlioughts about these metaphysical mysteries, tlie more 
our minds are disposed to the legends of the nursery. As the maji 
who walks in the dark, not seeing nor knowing his way, must feel 
increase of fear at possible dangers he cannot define ; so he who 
goes abroad in the broad light of day proceeds fearlessly, because 
he sees and knows as harmless all the objects which surround him. 
Wherefore we infer, that if we have less terror of imagination 
now it is ascribable to our superior light and general diffusion of 
intelligence, tliereby setting tiie mind at rest in many of these 
things. In the mean time there is a class, who will cherish their 
own distresses. They intend religious dread, but from misconcep- 
tions of its real beneficence and <' good will to men," they,— 

" Draw a wrong copy of the Christian face 
Without the smile, the sweetness, or the grace." 

We suppose some such views possessed the mind of the discrimi- 
nating Burke, when he incidentally gave in his suffrage in their 
favour, saying. " Superstition is the religion of feeble minds, and 
they must be tolerated in an intermixture of it in some shape or 
other, else you deprive weak minds of a resource, found necessary 
to the strongest." 

Doctor Christopher Witt, born in England in 1675, came to 
this country in 1704, and died at Germantown in 1765 at the age 
of 90. He' was a skilful physician and a learned religious man. 
He was reputed a magus or diviner, or in grosser terms, a conjurer. 
He was a student and a believer in all the learned absurdities 
and marvellous pretensions of the Rosie Crucian philosophy. The 
Germans of that day and many of the English practised the casting 
of nativities. As this required mathematical and astronomical 
learning, it often followed that such a competent scholar was called 
a "fortuneteller." Doctor Witt cast nativities for reward, and 
was called a conjurer, whilst his friend Christopher Lehman, who 
could do the same, and actually cast the nativities of his own chil- 
dren, (which I have seen) was called a scholar and a gentleman. 
Germantown was certainly very fruitful in credulity, and gave 



■■230 Superstitions and Fopular Crednlity, 

support to some three regular professors in the mysterious arts of 
Iiocus pocus and divination. Besides the Doctor before named, 
tliere was his disciple and once his inmate, Mr. Fraily — sometimes 
dub'd doctor also, though not possessed of learning. He was, how- 
ever, pretty skilful in several diseases. When the cows and horses, 
and even persons, got strange diseases, such as baffled ordinary 
medicines, it was often a dernier resort to consult either of these 
persons for relief, and their prescriptions, without seeing the 
patients, were also given under the idea of witchcraft somehow, 
and tlie cure was effected ! 

" Old Shrunk,'* as he was called, lived to the age of 80 and was 
also a great conjurer. Numerous persons from Philadelphia and 
elsewhere, some even from Jersey, went often to him to find out 
stolen goods and to get their fortunes told. They used to consult 
him, to learn where to go and dig for money. Several persons, 
whose names I suppress, used to go and dig for hidden treasures 
of nights. On such occasions if any one "spoke" while digging, 
or ran from terror without '* the magic ring," previously made 
with incantation round the place, the whole influence of the spell 
was lost. 

An idea was once very prevalent, especially near to the Dela- 
ware and Schuylkill rivers, that the pirates of Blackbeard's day 
had deposited treasure in the earth. The conceit w^as, that some- 
times they killed a prisoner, and interred him with it, to make his 
ghost keep his vigils there as a guard '' walking his weary round." 
Hence it w as not rare to hear of persons having seen a shpook or 
ghost, or of having dreamed of it a plurality of times ; thus crea- 
ting a sulFicient incentive to dig on the spot. 

*» Dream after dream ensues : 

And still they dream that they shall still succeed, 
And still are disappointed !" 

To procure the aid of a professor in the black art was called 
liexing; and Shrunk in particular had great fame therein. He 
affected to use a diviner's rod, (a hazel switch) with a peculiar 
artgle in it, which was to be self-turned while held in the two hands 
w hen approached to any sub-terrene minerals. Some still use the 
same kind of hazel rods to feel for hidden waters, so as thereby to 
dig in right places for wells. 

Colonel Thomas Forrest, who died in 1828 at tlie age of 83, had 
been in his early days a youth of much frolic and fun, always well 
disposed to give time and application to forw ard a joke. He found 
much to amuse himself in the credulity of some of the German 
families. I have heard him relate some of his anecdotes of the 
prestigeous kind with much humour. When he was about 21 years 
of age, a taylor who was measuring him for a suit of clothes hap- 
pened to say, " now Thomas, if you and I could only find some of 
the money of the sea-robbers, (the pirates) we might drive our 



Superstiiiuns and Popular Credulity. 231 

coach for life!" The sincerity and simplicity with which he uttered 
this, caught the attention of young Forrest, and wlien he went iionie 
he began to devise some scheme to be amused with his credulity 
and superstition. There was a prevailing belief that the pirates 
had hidden many sums of money and much of treasure about the 
banks of the Delaware. Forrest got an old parchnient, on which 
lie wrote the dying testimony of one John Hendricks, executed at 
Tyburn for piracy, in which he stated tbat he had deposited a chest 
and a pot of money at Cooper's Point in the Jerseys. This parch- 
ment he smoked, and gave to it tiie appearance of antirpiity ; cal- 
ling on his German taylor, told him he had found it among his 
father's papers, who got it in England from the j)i'isoner whom he 
visited in prison. This he showed to the taylor as a precious paper 
which he could by no means lend out of his hands. This operate<l 
tlie desired effect. 

Soon after the taylor called on Forrest witli one Ambrustcr, a 
printer, who lie introduced as capable of ''printing any spirit out 
of hell," by his knowledge of tiie black art. He asked to show 
him the parchment ; he was delighted with it, and confidently said 
he could conjure Hendricks to give up the money. A time was 
appointed to meet in an upper room of a public house in Philadel- 
phia, by night, and the inn-keeper was let into the secret by For- 
rest. By the night appointed, they had prepared by a closet a 
communication with a room above their sitting room, so as to lower 
down by a pulley the invoked ghost, who was i-epresented by a 
young man entirely sewed up in a close white dress on w liich were 
painted black eyed-sockets, mouth, and bare ribs with dashes of 
black between them, the outside and inside of the legs and thighs 
blacked, so as to make white bones conspicuous there. About 
twelve persons met in all, seated around a table. Ambruster 
^liuffled and read out cards, on which were inscribed the names of 
the New Testament saints, telling them he should bring Hendricks 
to encompass the table, visible or invisible he could not tell. At 
the words John Hendricks *■'• dnverjiuchter cum heraus,'^ the pulley 
was heard to reel, the closet door to fly open, and John Hendricks 
with gastly appearance to stand forth. The whole were dismayed 
and fled, save Forrest the brave. After this, Ambruster, on whom 
they all depended, declared that he had by spells got permission 
to take up the money. A day was therefore appointed to visit the 
Jersey shore and to dig there by night. The parchment said it 
lay between two great stones. Forrest, therefore, pi-epared two 
black men to be entirely naked except white petticoat-breeches; 
and these were to jump each on the stone whenever they came to 
the pot, which had been previously put there. These frightened 
off" the company for a little. When they next essayed they were 
assailed by cats tied two and two, to whose tails were spiral papers 
of gunpowder, which illuminated and whizzed, while the cats 
whawled. The pot was at length got up, and brought in gR'eat 



23!2 Super stitiu lis and Popular Credulity, 

triumph to Philadelphia wliarf : hut oh, sad disaster! while help 
iiig it out of the l)oat. Fori'est, who managed it, and was handing 
it up to the taylor. trod upon the gunnel and filled the hoat, and 
holding on to the pot dragged the taylor into tlie river — it was lost! 
For yeai's afterwards they reproached Forrest for that loss, and 
declared he liad got the chest by himself and was enriched thereby. 
He fa^ oiired the conceit, until at last they actually sued him on a 
w^rit of treasure trove ; but their lawyer was persuaded to give it 
u}) as idle. Some years afterwards Mr. Forrest wrote a very 
humourous play, (which I have seen printed*) which contained 
many incidents of this kind of superstition. It gave such offence 
to the parties represented, that it could not he exhibited on the 
stage. I remember some lines in it, for it had niucii of broken 
English and German-English verses, to wit: 

" My dearest wife, in all my life 
Ich neber was so frigliten'd, 
De spirit come and I did run 
'Twas juste like tunder mit lightning." 

For many years he had great reputation for hexing, [conjuring.] 
He always kept a hazel rod. scraped and smoked, with w^hich to 
divi)ie where money was hid. Once he lent it to a man, who for 
its use gave a cart-load of potatoes to the poor house. A decent 
storekeeper once got him to hex for his wife, who had conceited 
that an old Mrs. Wiggand had bewitched her and made her to 
swallow a piece of linseywoolsey. He cured her hy strong emetics 
and a })iecc of woolsey, which he showed dripping wet come out of 
her stomach ! He made his Dutch girl give up some stolen money, 
by touching her w ith cow-itch, and after laying down on his couch 
and groaning, 6cc. till she began to itch and scratch, he seemed to 
be enraged and said, now I'll put fire into your flesh, and if you do 
not immediately tell how and w hen you took my money I'll burn you 
up by conjuration, and make your ghost to be pained and tell it out 
before your face. She made full confession, and the circumstance 
got abroad and added still more to his fame. He has told me he 
has been graA'ely told many times where ghosts had been seen and 
invited to come with his hazel rod and feel if money was not there. 
All this superstition has now subsided, and can be laughed at by 
the present generation as harmless and amusing anecdotes of the 
ancient day. 

Timothy Matlack, Esq. now 95 years of age, a close observer 
of passing events in his youth, has assured me there was much 
more of superstition prevalent in olden time than now ; wherefore, 
fortune-telling, conjuration, and money-digging, were frequent in 
his youth. He declared it was a fact, before his time, that a young 
man, a stranger of decent appearance from the South, (the rogues 
lived there in the ancient days, in the transport colonies of Mary- 

* A copy of it is now in the Athanseura. 



Superstitions and Popular Credulity. 233 

knd and Virginia) gave out he was sold to the devil ! and lliat 
unless the price was raised lor his redemption hy the pious, he 
would be boi-ne off at mid-day by the purchaser in i)erson ! He 
took his lodgings at the inn in Latitia court, and at the eventful 
day he was surrounded, aiul the house too, by the people, annnig 
whom were several clergymen. Prayers and pious services of 
worship were performed, and as tlie moment approaclied for execu- 
tion, wiien all were on tiptoe, some expecting the vei'itication. and 
several discrediting it, a murmur ran tlirongh the crowd of "there 
he comes! he comes!" This instantly generated a terrible panic — 
all fled, from fear, or from the rusli of the crowd. When their 
fears a little subsided, and a calmer inquisition ensued, sure enough, 
the young man was actually gone, money and all ! 1 should have 
stated that the money was collected to pay the price ; and it lay 
upon the table in the event of the demand ! Mr. Matlack assured 
me he fully believed these transactions occurred. The story was 
as popular a tale as the story of the " Paxtang boys." 

In confirmation he told me a fact which lie witnessed. Michael 

H , Esq. well known in public life, who lived in Second street 

above Arch street, gave out (in a mental delirium it is hoped) that 
he had sold himself to the devil, and would be carried away at a 
certain time. At that time crowds actually assembled near the 
premises to witness tlie denouement and catastrophe! There must 
have been truth in this relation, because I now see by the Gazette 
of 1749, a public notice of this public gathering as an offensive act 
to the family — I see that M. H. is vindicated from some maliri<»us 
reports, which said he was distracted, c^c. and witnesses appear 
before Judge Allen and testify that he was then sane, he. It was 
certainly on every side a strange affair ! 

Something like this subject occurred when I was a child. I re- 
member very well to have been taken to a house on the south side 
of Race street, a few doors east of Second street, where was a 
black man who was stated to have sold himself to the devil, and to 
have come from Belaware or Maryland peninsula, by the aid of 
the pious in Philadelphia, to procure his I'ansom or exemption. 
I can never forget his piteous and dejected countenance, as 1 saw 
him, in the midst of praying people, working fervently at his 
exorcism in an up-stairs chamber. I heard him say he had sigjicd 
an instrument of writing with his own blood. It was probably at 
black Allen's house, as he was among the praying ones. My 
mother told me since that hundreds \Nent to see him. Among 
these were the Rev. Dr. Pilmore, who finally took him to his own 
house, where at last I understood he concluded from his habits that 
his greatest calamity was laziness. I conclude he escaped trans- 
lation, as I never heard of that. 

Several aged persons have occasionally pointed out to me the 
places where persons, to their knowledge, had dug for piixites' 
monev. The small liill once on the north side of Coatos' afreet. 
3 I 



234 Superstitions and Popular Credulity. 

near to Front street, was well remembered by John Brown as having 
been much dug. Colonel A. J. Morris, now in his 90tli year, has 
told me that in his early days very much was said of Blackbeard 
and tlic pirates, both by young and old. Tales were frequently 
current that this and that person had heard of some of his dis- 
covered treasure. Persons in tlie city were named as having pro- 
fitted by liis depredations. But he thouglit those things were not 
true. T. Matlack, Esq. told me he was once shown an oak tree, 
at the south end of Front street, which was marked KLP, at the 
foot of which was found a large sum of money. The stone which 
covered the treasure he saw at the door of the alleged finder, who 
said his ancestor was directed to it by a sailor in the Hospital in 
England. He told me too, that when his grandfather Burr died 
they opened a chest which had been left by four sailors " for a day 
or two," full twenty years before, which was found full of decayed 
silk goods. Samuel Richards and B. Graves confirmed to me what 
I had heard elsewhere, that at the sign of the Cock in Spruce street 
about 55 years ago, tliere was found in a pot in the cellar a sum of 
money of about 5000 dollars. The Cock inn was an old two story 
frame house which stood on the site of the present easternmost 
house of B. Graves' row. A Mrs. Green owned and lived in the 
Cock inn 40 to 50 years ago, and had sold it to Pcgan, who found 
the money in attempting to deepen the cellar. It became a question 
to whom the money belonged, which it seems was readily settled 
between Mrs. Green and Pegan, on the pretext that Mrs. Green's 
husband had put it there ! But it must appear sufficiently improba- 
ble that Mrs. Green should have left such a treasure on the premi- 
ses if she really knew of it when she sold the house. The greater 
probability is that neither of them had any conception how it got 
there, and they mutually agreed to support the story, so as to hush 
any other or more imposing inquiries. They admitted they found 
5000 dollars. It is quite as probable a story that the pirates had 
deposited it there before the location of the city. It was of course 
on the margin of tlie natural harbour once formed there for vessels. 
In digging the cellar of the old house at the north east corner of 
Second street and Gray's alley tlsey discovered a pot of money 
there ; also some lately at Frankford creek. 

As late as the year 1792, the shipcarpenters formed a party to 
dig for pirates' money on the Cohocksinc creek, north west of the 
causeway, under a large tree. They got frightened off. And 
it came out afterwards that a waggish neighbour had enacted 
diabulus to their discomfiture. 

In the year 1762, one Triestram Davies, of Bethlehem, adver- 
tises that he has discovered a sure means of ascertaining where 
any metals of any kind lay in the earth ; for, every metal, says he, 
has an attraction which he can feel after by his insti'uments. This 
shows some reasoii wiiy so many were credulous in digging for 
concealed money and mines in former days. 



Superstitions ayid Popular Credulity. Gjj 

Haunted houses wei'c subjects of freciuent mention. Some of 
ihem were known even down to the time of my early days. On 
the noi'th cast corner of Walnut and Fifth streets once stood a 
house very generally called "the haunted house," because of 
Mr. B. having tliere killed his wife. He gave the property to 
Hamilton, the Attorney General, to purge him from his sins by 
pleading liis acquittal at the bar. It long remained empty from 
the dread of its invisible guest — about 85 years ago. Such as I 
can still remember were these: Emlen's house, at the south west 
corner of Noble and Second streets : Naglee's house, far out Second 
street, near the rope-walk — tliere a man was to be seen hanging 
without a head; a house out by the Centre Square, where "the 
five wheelbarrow-men" committed the murder for which they were 
executed : the country seat (in ruins) at Masters' place, where is 
now Cook's farm, out noi-th Fourth street, w as another haunt of 
disturbed spirits. 

I have seen aged people who well remembered the town-talk of 
the people about seeing a black coach drove about at midnight by 
an evil spirit, having therein one of our deceased rich citizens, who 
was deemed to have died with unkind feelings to one dependant 
upon him. I suppress names and circumstances ; but tliere were peo- 
ple enough who were quite persuaded that they saw it ! This was 
before the Revolution. 

The good people of Caledonia have so long and exclusively en- 
grossed the faculty of "second sight," that it may justly surprise 
many to learn that we also have been favoured witli at least one 
case as well attested as their own ! I refer to the instance of Eli 
Yarnall of Frankford. Whatever were his first peculiarities he in 
time lost them. He fell into intemperate habits, became a wan- 
derer, and died in Virginia, a young man. He was born in Bucks 
county, and with his family emigrated to the neighbourhood of 
Pittsburg. There, when a child of seven years of age, he suddenly 
burst into a fit of laughter in the house, saying he then saw his 
father (then at a distance) running down the mountain side trying 
to catch a jug of whiskey which he had let fall. He saw him over- 
take it, &c. When the father came in, he confirmed the whole 
story, to the great surprise of all. The boy after this excited much 
wonder and talk in the neighbourhood. Two or three years after 
this, the family was visited by Robert Verree, a public Friend, with 
other visiting Friends from Bucks county. I have heard, in a very 
direct manner, from those who heard Veri-ee's narrative, that he, to 
try the lad, asked him various questions about circumstances then 
occurring at his own house in Bucks county ; all of which he after- 
wards ascertained to have been really so at that precise time! 
Some of the things mentioned were these, viz : ''I see your house is 
made partly of log and partly of stone ; before the house is a pond 
which is now let out ; in the porch sits a woman, and a man with 
gray hairs ; in the house are several men," &c. When Verree re- 



236 Superstitions and Popidar Credulity. 

turned home he ascertained that liis mill-pond before his house had 
just been let out to catch muskrats ; that the man in the porch was 
his wife's brother Jonathan ; that the men in the house were his 
mowers, wlio had all come in because of a shower of rain. In short, 
he said cvei-y iota was exactly realized. 

The habits of the hoy, when he sought for such facts, was to sit down 
and hold his head downward— his eyes often shut ; and after some 
w aiting declared what he saw in his visions. He has been found 
abroad in the fields, sitting on a stump, crying— on being asked the 
reasons, he said he saw great destruction of human life by men in 
mutual combat. His descriptions answered exactly to sea-fights 
and army battles, although he had never seen the sea, nor ships, 
nor cannon ; all of which he fully described as an actual looker-on. 
Some of the Friends who saw him became anxious for his future 
welfare, and deeming him possessed of a peculiar gift and a good 
spirit, desired to have the bringing of him up. He was therefore 
committed to the mastery of Nathan Harper, a Friend, engaged 
in the business of tanning in Frankford. There he excited consid- 
erable conversation; and so many began to visit him as to be 
troublesome to his master, who did what he could to discourage 
the calls. Questions on his part were therefore shunned as much 
as he could. He lost his fticulty by degrees, and fell into loose 
company, whicli of itself prevented serious people from having any 
further wish to interrogate him. 

To instance the kind of inquiries which were usually presented 
to him it may be stated, that wives who had missed their husbands 
long, supposed by shipwreck for instance, ^^ ould go to him and in- 
quire. He would tell them (it is said) of some still alive, what 
they were then about, &c. Another case, was a man, for banter, 
went to him to inquire who stole his pocket-book, and he was 
answeiMjd— no one ; but you stole one out of a man's pocket when 
at the vendue — and it was so ! 

His mother would not allow him "to divine for money,' lest 
he should tiiereby lose the gift, which she deemed heaven-derived. 
The idea is not novel, as may be seen in John Woolman's life, 
where lie speaks of a rare gift of healing, which was lost by taking 
a reward. 

These are strange things, evidencing matters *'not dreamecl ol 
in our philosophy." I give these facts as I heard them— I "nothing 
extenuate, nor aught set down in malice." 



237 



SPORTS AND AMUSEMENTS. 



«* We, shifting for relief, would play the shapes 
Of frolic fancy— call laughter forth, 

Deep-shaking every nerve"- 

IT may help our conceptions of the olden time to he led into an 
acquaintance with the nature of their sports and amusements ; to 
this end, the following facts may be contemplated with some ad- 
vantage, to wit : n 1 ' J. 

The dances of the polite part of society were formal minuets. 
Country or contre dances, although understood, were of rarer oc- 
currence. Hipsesaws and jigs were the common dances of the 
commonalty. It was long before dancing was encouraged m 
Pliiladelphia sufficiently to present a scliool for a dancing master. 
The aged Mrs. Shoemaker told me she supposed the first dancing 
master ever named in Pliiladelphia was one Bolton, who taught 
about 75 years ago. In the year 1730, Mrs. Ball, in Lsetitia court, 
advertises her school for French, playing on the spinet, and dan- 
cin«-, &c. When Whitfield laboured in Philadelphia, m 1739, such 
was the religious excitement of the time, that the dancing school, 
the assembly and concert room were shut up as inconsistent witb 
the gospel. This was opposed by some others ; so far so, that some 
of the gentlemen concerned broke open the doors, but no company 
went to the assembly i-oom. 

In later time, however, the dancing assembly among the gen- 
try had high vogue, partaking, before the Revolution, of the aris- 
tocratic feelings of a monarchal government— excluding the fami- 
lies of mechanics however wealthy. The subscription was three 
pound fifteen shilUngs, admitting no gentleman under 21 years, nor 
lady under 18 years. The supper consisted of tea, chocolate, and 

misk a simple cake, now never seen amidst the profusion of French 

confectionary. For then we had no spice of French in our institu- 
tions, and consequently did not know how to romp in cotillions, 
hut moved with measured dignity in grave minuets or gayer coun- 
try dances. Every thing was conducted by rule, of six married 
managers who distributed places by lot ; and partners were en- 
gaged for the evening— leaving nothing to the success of forward- 
ness or favouritism. Gentlemen always drank tea with their part- 
ners the day after the assembly— a sure means of producing a 
moi-e lasting acquaintance, if mutually desirable. 

Foxhunting formerly formed the field exercise of some of our 



238 Sports and Jimusemenis. 

wealthy citizens, within the memory of several of the aged whom 
I have conversed with. Tiiere was a kennel of hounds kept by one 
Butler, for the company. It was situated then as out of town, 
but in a place now populous enough — say on the brow of the hill 
noith of Callowhill street, descending to Pegg's run, and. at about 
60 feet westward of Second street. Butler himself dwelt in the 
low brick house adjoining the north west corner of Callowhill 
street on Second street. As population increased their game de- 
creased ; so much so, that the establishment liad to remove over to 
Gloucester, so as to make their hunts in the Jersey pines. At the 
same time the company provided for their old huntsman, Butler, 
by setting him up, in the year 1756, witii the first public stage for 
New York. Old captain Samuel Morris, dead about 20 years 
ago, was for many years the life and head of the club. I well re- 
membered to have seen the voracious and clamorous hounds in 
their kennel near Gloucester ferry. 

Horseraces appear to liave been of very early introduction, and 
bringing with them the usual evils — hard to be controlled. They 
were, at an early period, performed out ''Race street," — so popu- 
larly called because of its being the street directly leading out to 
the race-ground, cleared out for the purpose, through the forest 
trees, still long remaining there. 

As early as tlie year 1726 I see that the Gand Jury present, 
•'that since the city has become so very populous the usual custom 
of horseracing at fairs in the Sassafras street is very dangerous 
to life : also, it is an evil that they w ho erect the booths, &c. in 
that street, at the fairs, do sell all sorts of liquors, &c." It is not 
improbable, from this description, that they tlien run straight races 
along the line of the cleared street — then a street but very little 
used for travelling. 

The present very aged T. Matlack, Esq. was passionately fond 
of races in his youth. He told me of his remembrances out Race 
street. In his early days tlie woods were in commons, having sev- 
eral straggling forest trees still remaining there, and the circular 
course ranging through those trees. He said all genteel horses 
were pacers. A trotting horse was deemed a base breed I All 
these Race street races were mostly pace-races. His father and 
others kept pacing studs for propagating the breed. 

Captain Graydon in his memoirs says racing was a great pas- 
sion of his young days. The racehorses, in 1755, were kept at 
Mrs. Nicholls' stables, which extended down Fourth street, two- 
thirds of the way to Chesnut street, from the rear of her tavern then 
at the corner of High street. "The enthusiasm of the turf (says 
he) pervaded the academy ; and the most extravagant trans- 
port of that sport was transferred to the boys' foot-races round the 
w hole square in which the academy stood — stripped to the shirt, 
the head and waist bound up with handkerchiefs, and with the 
shoes off, they ran near half a mile at a heat !" 



Sports and Amusements. 239 

Thomas Bradford, Esq. telling mc of his recollections of the 
i-aces, says he was told that the earliest races were scrub and pace- 
races, on the ground now used as Race street. But in his younger 
days (he is now past 80) they were run in a circular form on a 
ground from Arch or Race street do\A n to Spruce street, and from 
Eighth street of Delaware to Schuylkill river— making thus two 
miles for a heat. About the same time they also run straight races 
of one mile, from Centre Square to Sclniylkill, out High street. 

In the year 1761. I notice the first public advertisement of a 
race; wherein is stated the terms of running the intended races 
*'at the centre race-ground — to run three times round the course 
each heat." The grounds themselves at the same time were fa- 
miliarly called "the Governor's woods." 

At the Centre Square the races used to be continued till the time 
of the war of 1775. None occurred afterwards there; and after 
the peace, tiiey were made unlawful. 

Tlic first equestrian feats performed in Philadelphia was in 
1771. hyFaulks: he executed all his wonders alone — himself ri- 
ding from one to three horses at a time. 

BuUbaiting and cockfighting were much countenanced. The 
present aged and respectable T. M. had once a great passion for 
the latter, so that some wags sometimes called him Tim GafF; 
thereby affecting to slur a latin signature which he sometimes as- 
sumed as a political writer, of which T. G. were the initials of 
his two latin words. 

As respectable a person as Doctor William Shippen, in 1735, in 
writing to Doctor Gardiner, says, " I have sent you a young game- 
cock, to be depended upon — which I would advise you to put to a 
walk by himself with the hen I sent you before — I have not sent 
an old cock — our young cockers have contrived to kill and steal 
all I had." This is the same gentleman who speaks of *' his be- 
loved friend Mr. Whitfield." 

Very aged persons have told me of a celebrated place of amuse- 
ment out Third street by Vine street. It was the place of Charles 
Quinan's — always pronounced Queen Ann's place. It stood on 
the site of Third street, not then opened ; and was famous for al- 
luring the citizens of middle life. There he kept " flying coaches 
and horses ;" tiiey were affixed to a whirligig frame. The women 
sat in boxes for coaches and the men strode on wooden horses— in 
those positions they were whirled around ! 

Aged persons inform that bullbaiting, bearbaiting, and horse- 
racing, were much more frequent in old time than since the war of 
Independence. T. B. Esq. tells me that many men of rank and 
character, as well as the butchers, reared and kept dogs for the 
sport. John Ord, an Englishman, south east corner of Second 
and High street, kept a pair of bull-dogs for the purpose of the breed. 
In the days of my youth the barbarous sport of bullbaiting was 
but too frequent on the commons in the Northern Liberties. Hap- 



240 Sports and Jmusements. 

pily, however, they have heen quite laid aside for the last twenty 
years. They were got up and supported hy hutchers — a class of 
men much more ferocious and uncivilized than now. They were 
stopped hy Squire Wharton — our sjjirited Mayor. He went out 
to the intended sport seemingly as a friendly ohserver — and so they 
expected. When all was prepared for the onset of the dogs he 
stepped suddenly into the ring, and, calling aloud, said he would, 
at the peril of his life, seize and commit the first man who should 
begin ; at the same time, calling on names present to support him 
at their peril, he advanced to the bull and unloosed him from the 
stake. He then declared he would never desist from bringing 
future abettors of such exercises to condign punishments. They 
have never been got up since — a happy circumstance, for which 
we owe him many thanks! 

In the year 1724, slack rope and tight rope dancing hy men and 
women is announced in the Gazette as to be exhibited for twenty 
evenings at the new booth on Society Hill. This was of course 
then out of town — somewhere near South and Front streets. 

They used to have a play at the time of the fairs, called '• throw- 
ing at the joke." A leather cylinder, not unlike a high candlestick, 
was placed on the ground over a hole. The adventurers placed 
their coppers on the top of the Joke, then retired to a distance and 
tos<^"d a stick at it so as to knock the whole down. The pennies 
whicn lell in the pot wei-e to belong to the thrower, those which 
fell out, to the owner of the joke. The leather was pliable and 
was easily bent to let the pennies drop. They played also at the 
fairs the wheel of fortune, nine holes, &c. 

In former days the streets were much filled with boys " skying 
a copper" — a play to toss up pennies and guess heads or tails ; 
'' pitch-penny" too, was frequent — to pitch at a white mark on 
the ground ; they pitclied also '' chuckers — a kind of pewter pen- 
nies cast by the boys tliemselves. All these plays have been 
banished from our city walks by the increased pavements, and still 
more by the multitudes of walkers who disturb such plays. 

The game for shooters much more abounded before the Revolu- 
tion than since. Fishing and fowling were once subjects of great 
recreation and success. Wild pigeons used to he innumerable, so 
also black-birds, reed-birds, and squirrels. As late as the year 
1720 an act was passed, fining five shillings for shooting pigeons, 
doves, or partridges, or other fowl, (birds) in the streets of Phila- 
delphia, or the gardens or orchards adjoining any houses within 
the said city ! In Penn's woods, westward of Broad street, used to 
be excellent pigeon shooting. 

The skaters of Philadelphia have long been preeminent. Gray- 
don in his memoirs has stated his reasons for thinking his country- 
men are the most expert and graceful in the world ! quite surpass- 
ing the Dutch and English. He thinks them also the best 
swimmers to be found in the civilized world ! 



sports and Amusements- 241 

Mr. Greorge Tyson, a broker of Pliiladclphia, weighing 180 to 
£90 pounds, is tlic greatest swimmer (save a companion, who swiiiis 
with liim) we have ever liad. not excepting Doctor Fianklin hi-.n- 
self. He and that companion have swum from Philadelphia to 
Fort Mifflin and back without ever resting, save a little while 
floating off the fort to see it ! He says he never tires with swim- 
ming, and that he can float in perfect stillness, with his arms folded, 
by the hour. He deems his sensations at that time delightful. He 
went across tl>e Delaware, drawn by a paper kite in the air. He 
is short and fat — his fat and flesh aid his specific lightness, no doubt, 
in the water, and causes him readily to swim high out of the water. 

During the oldfashioned winters, when, about N^ew Year's day, 
every one expected to see or hear of an •* Ox Roast" on the Dela- 
ware, upon the thick ribbed ice, which, without causing much 
alarm among the thousands moving in all directions upon its sur- 
face, would crack and rend itself by its own weight, without sepa- 
rating, in sounds like thunder — among the tlien multitudinous 
throng of promenaders, sliders, and skaters, visible from the 
whai'ves daily, for weeks together, all about the river as far as 
the eye could reach, in black groupes and long serpentine lines of 
pedestrians, to and from the shores, to the island, and different 
ferries in Jersey — of the very many varieties of skaters of all col- 
ours and sizes mingled together, and darting about here and there, 
*' upward and downward, mingled and convolved," a few were 
at all times discernible as being decidedly superior to the rest for 
dexterity, power, and grace — namely, William Tharpe, Doctor 
Foulke, Governor Mifflin, C. \V. Peale, George Heyl, "Joe" 
Claypoole, and some others, not forgetting, by the w ay, a black 
Othello, who, from his apparent muscle and powerful movement, 
might have sprung, as did the noble Moor, from ** men of royal 
siege." In swiftness he had no competitor; he outstripped the 
wind ; the play of his elbows in alternate movement v.ith his '' low 
gutter" skates, while darting forward and uttering occasionally a 
wild scream peculiar to the African race while in active exertion 
of body, was very imposing in appearance and effect. Of the gen- 
tlemen skaters before enumerated, and others held in general ad- 
miration by all, George Heyl took the lead in graceful skating, 
and in superior dexterity in cutting figures and "High Dutch" 
within a limited space of smooth ice. On a larger field of glass, 
among others he might be seen moving about elegantly and at per- 
fect ease, in curve lines, with folded arms, being dressed in red coat 
(as was the fashion) and buckskin " tights," his bright broad skates 
in an occasional round turn flashing upon the eye ; then again to be 
pursued by others, he might be seen suddenly changing to the back 
and heel forward movement, offering them his hand, and at tiie 
same time eluding their grasp by his dexterous and instantaneous 
deviations to the right and left, leaving them to their hard work 
of " striking out" after him with all their might and main. 
2 K 



M)i Sports and Jlmusements. 

The next very best skates', and at the same time the most noted 
sui'geon of the day. was Doctor Foulke, in Front street, opposite 
Elfreth's alley. Skating " High Dutch," and being able to cut 
the letters of his own name at one flourish, constituted the Doctor's 
fame as a skater. In the way of business, the Doctor was off-hand, 
and quick in his speech and manner, but gentlemanly withal. 

C. W. Pealc, as a skater, was only remarkable for using a re- 
markable pair of ''gutter skates," with a remarkable prong, 
capped and curved backwards, with which he moved leisurely 
about in curve lines. They looked as though they might have 
!)een ])rought to hinj from somewhere about the German ocean, as 
a subject for his Museum. 

"May-days" were much more regarded formerly than now. 
All young people went out into the country on foot, to walk and 
gather flowers. The lads too, when the woods abounded, would 
put up as many as fifty poles of their own cutting, procured by 
them without any fear of molestation. 

The '' Belsh Nichel" and St. Nicholas has been a time of 
Christmas amusement from time immemorial among us ; brought 
in, it is supposed, among the sportive frolics of the Germans. It is 
the same also observed in New York under the Dutch name of 
St. Claes. "Belsh Nichel," in high German, expresses "Nicholas 
in [lis fur" or sheep-skin clothing. He is always supposed to 
bring good things at night to good children, and a rod for those 
wlio ai"e bad. Every father in his turn remembers the excitements 
of his youth in Belsh-nichel and Christ-kinkle nights, and his 
amusements also when a fatlier, at seeing how his own children 
expressed their feelings on tlieir expectations of gifts from the 
mysterious visiter! The following fine poetry upon the subject 
must gratify the reader. 

It was the night before Christmas, when all through the house 

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse ; 

When what in the air, to my eyes should appear, 

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer ; 

With a little old driver so lively and quick, 

I knew in a moment, it must be Saint Nick I 

Soon, on to the house top, his coursers, they flew, 

With the sleigh full of toys and Saint Nicholas too— 

A.S I roU'd on my bed and was turning around, 

Down the chimney Saint Nicholas came with a bound I 

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, 

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot : 

The stump of a pipe he held fast in his teeth, 

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. 

He had a broad face and a little round belly, 

That shook when he laughed, like a bowl ftill of jelly. 

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work : 

Soon filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk f 

And laying his finger aside of his nose 



Sports and Amusements- 2.4 3 

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. 
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle 
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle ; 
And I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, 
" Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night ! 
Ill my youthful days it was a great sport with the boys to slcJ 
down hills in the city, on the snow in winter. Since the popula- 
tion and the wheel-carriages have increased, the danger of being 
run over more than foi'merly, and the rarity of the sntiw, has made 
boys leave it off for some years. Thii'ty to forty hoys and sleds 
could be seen lunning down each of the streets descending from 
Front street to tlie river. There was also much sledding down 
the streets and hills d^ending to Pegg's run. 

The boys at Friends' school in south Fourth street were formerly 
(although gravely disciplined) as mischievous and sportive as 
others. Some still alive may be amused to be reminded of their 
puerilities. When they were taught by Jonah Thompson, who 
was a man of good military port and aspect, accustomed to w alk 
at the head of his corps of scholars to week-day meetings in a long 
line of" two and two." On such occasion the town was surprised 
to see them so marcliing with wooden guns, (a kind of received 
Quaker emblem) and having withal a little flag ! These tliey liad 
succeeded to take up as they walked out of school without the 
knowledge of their chieftain, who had preceded them without deign- 
ing to look back on their array. On another occasion when Robert 
Proud, the historian, was their teacher, and was remarkable for 
retaining his large bush-wig, long after others had disused them, 
tliey bored a hole through the ceiling over his sitting place, and by 
suspending a pin-hook to a cord, so attached it to his wig as to 
draw it up, leaving it suspended as if depending Irom the ceiling. 
At anotiier time they combined at night to take to pieces a country 
wagon which they lifted on to a chimney wall then building, there 
replacing the wheels, awning, &c. to theastonishmcnt of the owner 
and the diversion of the populace. Some of those urchins lived, 
notwithstanding their misapplied talents and ingenuity, to make 
very grave and exemplary members of society. Youth is the sea- 
son of levity and mirth, and although we must ciiide its wanton 
aberrations, we may yet feel sensations of indulgence, knowing 
what we ourselves have been, and to what they with ourselves 
must come, — 

" When cherish'd fancies one by one 

Shall slowly fade from day to day ; — 

And then from weary sun to sun 

They will not have the heart to play !" 

The time was when the " uptown" and *' downtown boys" were 

rival clans, as well understood in the city precincts as the bigger 

clans of feds and anti-feds. They used to have, according to the 

streets, their regular night-battles with sticks and stones, making 



£44 Sports and Jmusements. 

the panes of glass to jingle occasionally. But the appearance of 
*' oKl Carlii^ie" and the famous West (the constable) would scat- 
ter tijern into all the hiding-places^ — peeping out from holes and 
corners when the coast was clear. Those from the south of Ches- 
nut street were frequently headed by one whose naval exploits, 
since that time, in the Mediterranean and on the Atlantic have 
secured to him imperishable fame ; also by his faithful friend and 
ardent admirer, well known since throughout the community for 
his suavity and exquisitely polished manners. They were the 
Achilles and the Patrocles of the "downtowners." 

Hie Northern Liberties about Camptown and Pegg's run used 
to be in agitation almost every Saturday night by the regular clans 
of "rough and tumble" fighting, between the shipcai-penters from 
Kensington, and the hutchers from Spring Garden — the public 
authority not even attempting to hinder them, as it was deemed an 
affair out of town. 

Al! this spirit of rivalry and lighting was the product of the war 
of Independence. Their ears, as boys, were filled with the echoes 
of battles lost or won. Tliey felt their buoyant spirits inspired 
with martial ardour too, and having no real eiiemies to encounter, 
they invented them for the occasion. In this way the academy 
boys v*ere accoutred as young soldiers, and they much piqued 
themselves as the rivals of another class of school-boys. Each 
had their oilicers, and all of them some emblems a la militaire-^ 
all aspiring to tbe marks and influence of manhood ; burning to 
get through their minority, and to take their chances in the world 
before them ! 

" Then passions wild and dark and strong, 
And hopes and powers and feelings high 
Ere manhood's thoughts, a rushing throng, 
Shall sink the cheek and dim the eye l" 



^Hmmtfatn^ 



" Thus form the mind by use of alphabetic signs." 

IT is greatly to the credit of our forefathers, that they showed aii 
early and conti^iiicd regard to the eiUication of their posterity. 
They were men of two much practical wisdom not to foresee the 
abiding advantages of jiroper instruction to the rising generation. 
What they aimed to impart was solid and substantial. If it in 
geucral bore the plaiu appellation of •• reading, writing and arith- 
metic" only, it gave these so effectively as to make many of their 
pupils persons of first-rate consequence and wisdom in the eai'ly 
annals of our country. With such gifts in their possession, many 
of tliem were enabled to become their self-instructers in numerous 
branches of science and belles lettres studies. In that day tliey 
made no glaring display, under imposing names and liigh charges, 
of teaching youth geography, use of maps and globes, dictionary, 
history, cronology, composition, &c. &c. 6cc. All these came as 
matter of course, by mere readings at home, when the mind w as 
matured and the school-acquirements were finished. They then 
learned to read on purpose to be able to pursue such branches of 
inquiry for themselves ; and having the means in possession, the 
end as certainly followed without the school-bill charge as with 
it. They thus acquired, when the mind was old enough fondly to 
enlist in tlie inquiry, all they read *' by heart," because, as it was 
mental treasure of their own seeking and attainment, it was valu- 
ed in the affection : They therefore did not perplex their youth by 
" getting" lessons by head or dint'of memory-— of mere facts, for- 
gotten as fast as learned, because above the capacity of the youth- 
ful mind to appreciate and keep for future service. All they taught 
was practical ; and, so far as it went, every lesson was efficient and 
good. The generation has not yet passed away who never '* com- 
mitted" a page of dictionary-learning in their lives, who as readily 
attained the common sense of words by use and reading, as any of 
their offspring now possess them by lessons painfully conned me- 
moriter. 

It is gratifying to add that the mass of our forefathers were also 
an instructed and reading community. A letter of Mr. Jefferson's, 
of the year 1785, well sustains this assertion, saying, *'In science 
the mass of the people in Europe is two centuries behind ours ; their 
literati is half a dozen years before us. Books, really good, ac- 
quire just reputation in that time, and so become known to us. Iv 



246 Education. 

the mean time, we are out of reach of that swarm of nonsense 
which issues from a thousand presses and perishes almost in issu- 
ing." But since then solid reading is less sought after — "the press 
must he kept going" even as ahroad. The ephemera of England 
flutter across the ocean and hreathe once more a shortlived exis- 
tence ere they finally perish. 

As early as 1683. Enoch Flower opened the first English school. 
The prices were moderate — to read English four sliillings, to write 
six shillings, and to read, write, and cast accounts eight shillings, 
and for teaching, lodging and diet 10£. per annum. A curious 
autograph letter fi-om his ancestor is preserved in my MS. Annals, 
page 334, in the Historical Society. 

In 1689, the Friends originated the Friends' puhlic school in 
Philadelphia — tl)e same which now stands in Fourth helow Ches- 
nut street. It was to be a grammar-school, and to teach the learn- 
ed languages. George Keith, a Scotch Friend and public preach- 
er, (afterwards an Episcopal clergyman and a bitter foe to 
Friends !) became the first teacher, assisted by Thomas Makin, 
who in the next year became tlie principal. This Makin was cal- 
led ''a good latinist;" we have the remains of his ability in that 
way in his long latin poem '^descriptive of Pennsylvania in 1729." 
His life was simple, and probably fettered by the " res angusti 
domi ;" for his death occurred, in 1733, in a manner indicative of his 
painstaking domestic concerns. In the Mercury of November, 
1733, it is thus announced: *'Last Tuesday night Mr. Thomas 
Makin, a very ancient man, who for many years was a schoolmas- 
ter in this city, stooping over a wharf end to get a pail of water, 
unhappily fell in and was drowned." He appears to have passed 
Meeting with SaraiiRich in 1700, the same year in which he became 
principal to the academy or school. During the same time he 
served as the clerk of tlie Assembly. 

At this early period of time, so much had the little Lewistown 
at our southern Cape the preeminence in female tuition, that 
Thomas Lloyd, the deputy Governor, preferred to send his younger 
daughters from Philadelphia to that place to finish their education. 

Our first most distinguished seminaries of learning began in tlie 
country before the academy in Philadelphia was instituted. The 
Rev. ^Yilliam Tennent, who came from Ireland, arrived at NewYork 
in 1718, and in 1721 removed to Bensalem in Bucks county; 
soon after he settled in a Presbyterian church, of small considera- 
tion, at "the forks of Ncshamina," (he had been ordained a church- 
man) where he opened a school for teaching the languages, &c. 
There he formed many of the youth of early renown. From its 
celebrity among us, it received the popular name of the *' Log Col- 
lege." He died in 1743, and was buried there. His four sons all 
became clergymen, well known to most readers, especially his sons 
Gilbert and William — the former was remarkable for his ardour 
in Whitfiehrs cause and the schism he formed in the first Presbyte 



Education. " M7 

rian church in Philadelphia, which led to the secession and the 
building of the church on the north west corner of Third and Arch 
streets. 

In connexion with this suhject wc arc to introduce the name of 
James Logan, Esq. already so favourably known to the public as 
the patron of learning in his valuable gift of our public library. As 
early as 1728 we find him the patron and endowcr of this "Log 
College ;" for, he then bestows fifty acres of his land there to the 
above named Rev. William Tennent, his cousin by his mother's side 
— this to encourage him to prosecute his views and make his 
residence near us permanent. The early fare of Mr. Tennent ac- 
corded with the rude materials of liis house and school ; for, it ap- 
pears from the correspondence of James Logan, that he was obliged 
to procure and send him provisions, at his first settlement, from 
Philadelphia. Such was the proper alma mater of the chief scho- 
lars of that early day. 

The next school of preeminence was that of the Rev. Francis 
Allison, another Irishman, who came to this country in 1735, and 
ill 174 1 opened his school at New London, in Chester county, where 
he taught the languages. tVcc. Several clergymen, of subsequent 
reputation, were educated there. He was zealous and benevolent ; 
and educated some yoimg ministers gratuitously. At one time 
he resided at Thunder Hill in Maryland, and there educated such 
men as Charles Thomson, George Reed, Thomas M'Kean, &c. — 
men Avho were remarkable in our Revolutionary struggle for their 
abilities and attachment to tiie cause of their country. In later life, 
Mr. Allison became the provost of the college of Philadelphia, 
and was, when there, accustomed to assist his pupil Doctor E wing, 
the pastor of the first Presbyterian church in High street, in occa- 
sionally serving his pulpit. He died in 1777, '-full of honours and 
full of years." 

In 1750, about the time that the Philadelphia academy and col- %/'' 
lege began to excite public interest and attention, the City Council 
expressed some sense of the subject on their minutes, to wit : A 
committee report on the advantages to be gained by the erection of 
an academy and public school, saying, '^the youth would receive a 
good education at home, and be also under the eye of their friends ; 
it would tend to raise able magistrates, kc. It would raise school- 
masters from among the poorer class, to be qualified to serve as such 
in the country under recommendation from the academy, and thus 
prevent the employment of unknown characters, who often prove to 
be vicious imported servants, or concealed papists — often corrup- 
ting the morals of the children." Upon the reading of this report, 
the board decided, unanimously, to present the trustees towards such 
a school 200 J. also 50£. per annum to charity schools, for the next 
five years ; also 50^6. per annum, for five years, for the right of 
sending one scholar yearly from the charity school to be taught in 
all the branches of learning taught in said academy. 



248 Education. 

The city academy, began in 1750 under the exertions and auspi- 
ces of Doctor Franklin, was originally built tor WiiitrK l<?'s meet- 
ing-house m 1741 ; the academy started with a subscription sum 
of 2600i?. In 1753, it was created " a college," and in 1779, ''the 
university." For further facts concerning ' • the academy" see that 
article. 

In 1770, a Mr. Griscom advertises his private academy, "free 
from the noise of the city," at the north end. It may surprise 
some to learn that this was along stone building on Front and 
Water streets a little above Vine street, being two stories high on 
Front street, and three stories on Water street, once beautifuiiy 
situated, when no population was crowded near it. and having a 
full and open view to the river : it afterwards stood a desolate, 
neglected-looking building, filled with numerous poor tenantry, 
until a few years ago. bearing with its inmates the name of " the 
College," although they had long lost the cause of such a name. 

This Mr. Griscom may be regarded as the first individual 
among us who ventured to assume the title of "Academy" to any 
private institution. The simple, unassuming apellation of "school" 
was the universal name till about the year 1795; after that time 
"academies," "seminaries," "lyceums," " institutes." &c. were 
perpetually springing up in every quarter among us. Before these 
days "ladies' academies and Misses boarding-schools" were un- 
known ; hoys and giids were accustomed to go to the same schools. 

Mr. Horton first started the idea of a separate school for girls, 
and with it the idea of instructing them in grammar and other 
learning,' and about the year 1795, Poor's " academy for young 
ladies," in Cherry street. be( ame a place of jiroud distinction to 
"finished" females ; and their annual "commencement days" and 
exhibition in the great cliurches was an affair of great interest and 
street parade. 

My facetious friend, Lang Syne, has presented a lively picture 
of the "schoolmasters" in the days last referred to, when "pre- 
ceptors," "principals, &c." were yet unnamed. Those who can 
recollect those instructers which he describes, in connexion with 
their own boyhood and school discipline, will feel the force of many 
interesting associations — long forgotten emotions will revive in 
the mind as they look on the painted picture so feelingly touched 
to the life, to wit : About that time there were no boarding-schools, 
nor "didactic seminaries" in the city. The young ladies' acade- 
my, by Mr. Poor, used to hold its commencement in the Moravian 
meeting-house. The old academy on Fourth street was the only 
one (as such) in the city for young gentlemen. The principal of 
the academy, in person, was middle size, round, and strongly built, 
habited as a clergyman in parson's gray suit, cocked hat, and full- 
bottomed powdered wig — with an imperturbable stare, and 
prominent gray eyes. Of single schools, Ly ttle, Gartly, and Yer- 
kes, were the only ones remembered. What is now knowii as 



Jidncation, 249 

^'Friends' Acadetny," in Fourth, below Chesnut, wa« at that time- 
occupied by four different masters. The west room, down stairs, 
by Robert* Proud, Latin master : the one above him, by William 
Waring, teachei* of astronomy and mathematics ; the east I'oom, up 
stairs, by Jeremiah Paul: and the one below, "last not least in 
our" remembrance, by J. Todd. — severe he was. Tlie State-house 
clock, being at the time visible from the school pavement, gave to 
the eye full notice when to brealc off marble and plug top, hastily 
collect the "stakes," and bundle in, pell mell. to the school-room, 
where, until the arrival of the " master of scholars,"* they were 
fjusily employed, every one, in finding his place, under the control, 
for the time, of a short Irishman, usher, named Jimmy M Cue. 
Ontheentranccof the master, all shuffling of the feet, "scrougeing!" 
hitting of elbows, and whispering disputes, were hastily adjusted, 
leaving a silence which migiit be felt, "not a mouse stirring." 
He, Todd, dressed after the plainest manner of Friends, but of the 
richest material, with looped cocked hat, and was at all tiuios re- 
markably nice and clean in his pei-son — a man of about 60 years, 
square built, and well sustained by bone and muscle. 

After an hour, maybe, of quiet time, every thing going smoothly 
on — boys at their tasks — no sound, but from the master's voice, 
while hearing the one standing near him — a dead calm — v, hen sud- 
denly a brisk slap on the ear or face, for something or for notliing, 
gave "dreadful note" that an irruption of the lava was now about 
to take place — next thing to be seen was "strap" in full play, overthe 
head and shoulders of Pilgarlic. The passion of the master "growing 
by what it fed on," and wanting elbow room, the chair would be quick- 
ly thrust on one side, when, with sndden gripe, he was to be seen 
dragging his struggling suppliant to the flogging ground, in the 
centre of the room — having placed his left foot upon tlie end of a 
bench, he then, with a patent jerk, peculiar to himself, would have 
tiic boy completely iiorsed across his knee, with his left elbow on 
the back of his neck, to keep him securely on. In the hurry of the 
moment he would bring his long pen with him, griped between his 
strong teeth, (visible the while) causing the both ends to descend 
to a parallel with his chin, and adding much to the terror of the 
scene. His face would assume a deep claret colour — his little bob of 
hair would disengage itself, and stand out, each "particular hair," 
as it were, " up in arms, and eager for the fray." Having his vic- 
tim thus completely at command, and all useless drapery drawn up 
to a bunch above the waistband, and the rotundity and the nankeen 
in the closest affinity possible for them to be, then, once more to the 
" staring crew," would be exhibited the dexterity of master and 
strap. By long practice he had arrived at such perfection iii the 
exercise, that, moving in quick time, the 15 inches of bridle rein 
(alia!? strap) would be seen, after every cut, elevated to a perpen- 
dicular above his head : from whence it descended like a flail upon 

* iohnTodd. 

2 L 



250 Education, 

the stretched nankeen, leaving, '* on the place beneath," a fiery reii 
streak at every slash. It was customary with him to address the 
sufferer at intervals as follows : — Does it hurt ? — (0! yes. Master, 
O! dont. Master,) then I'll make it hurt the more — I'll make thy 
flesli creep — thou shan't want a warming pan to night — intolerable 
being! — Nothing in nature is able to prevail upon thee, but my 
strap. He had one hoy named George Fudge, who usually wore 
leather breeches, with which he put strap and its master at defi- 
ance. He would never acknowledge pain — he would not "sing 
out." He seized him one day, and having gone through the evolu- 
tions of strapping, (as useless in effect as if he had been thrashing 
a flour bag,) almost breatliless with rage, he once more appealed 
to the feelings of the "reprobate," by saying — Does it not hurt? 
The a.stonishment of the school and the master was completed on 
hearing him sing out No! — Hurray for Leather Crackers! — He 
was tlirown off immediately, spraw ling on the floor, with the bene- 
diction as follows : Intolerable being ! Get out of my school — noth- 
ing in nature is able to prevail upon thee — not even my strap ! 

'Twas not his "love of learning was in fault" so much as the 
old British system of introducing learning and discipline into the 
brains of boys and soldiers by dint of punishment. The system of 
flogging on all occasions, in schools, for something or for nothing, 
being protected by law, gives free play to the passions of the mas- 
ter, which lie, for one, exercised witli great severity. The writer 
has at this moment in his * • memory" a schoolmaster, then of this 
city, who, about five years ago, went deliberately out of his school 
to purchase a cow-skin, with which, on his return, he extinguished 
his bitter revenge on a boy who had offended him. The age of 
chivalry preferred ignorance in its sons, to having tliem subjected 
to the fear of a pedagogue — believing that a boy who had quailed 
under the eye of the schoolmaster, would never face the enemy with 
boldness on the field of battle; which, it must be allowed, is a 
" swing of the pendulum" too far the^ther way. 



PRIMITIVE COURTS AND TRIALS. 



" Where gross misconduct meets the lash of law." 

IN the first judicial proceedings of the city, the Governor and 
council exercised a general Jurisdiction, so that all matters, whetlier 
original or appellate, dowii to the most trivial events, were subject 
to their decision. The punishments too, were sucli as they might 
choose to decree. These earliest records are preserved. The first 
are dated Philadelphia, 10th of 1st mo. 1682-3. Some cases which 
I deem most curious I here preserve, to wit: 

20th of 1st mo. 1683, Nathaniel Allen complained to tlie Gover- 
nor and council tliat lie had sold a servant to Henry Bowman for 
six cwt. of beef, with the hide and tallow, and six pounds sterling ; 
also that lie had hired his boat to the said Bowman, and another 
for one month, which they detained 18 weeks. The beef, tallow, 
hide and money were all detained. He prayed redress of those grie- 
vances; whereupon it was ordered that William Clarke. John 
Simcoe anS James Harrison should speak to Henry Bowman con- 
cerning this matter. The simplicity of the subject, brought before 
the Governor of a great country, reminds one strongly of the 
Patriarclial tribunal of Moses, when he was worried with petty 
complaints, until lie got him seventy of council to help him ! 

9th of 4th mo. 1683, a proclamation issued by the Governor and 
council, saying, that ye constables in this city sliould go to public 
houses to see good order kept, and the people should not stay 
longer at an ordinary than such an hour. 

20th of 4th mo. 1683, the County Court of Philadelphia is fined 
forty pounds "for giving judgment against law." The property 
for which action was brought, was a tract of land in Bucks county. 
The case was brought before the Governor and council by appeal. 
It was decided by "the board" that an appeal did not lie. They 
ventured, however, while the matter was fresh in their memory, to 
fine the County Court of Philadelphia as above stated, 

On the 26th of 4 mo. 1G83, Nicholas Bartlett, plaintiff, vs. F. 
Whitwell, who claims redress for an underrated appraisement, 
receives a decree that the defendant pay three cows and calves. 

As a sample of the condescension of the Governor and council of 
Pennsylvania, take the following extract, viz. 

8th of 7 mo. 1683, Pliilip England made his complaint against 
James Kilner, who deuieth all alleged against him, only the kick- 



;252 PriinUive Courts and Trials. 

ing of tlie maid, and tliat was for spilling a chamber-pot upon the 
deck ; otherways he was very kind to them. 

On the 24th of 8 mo. 1683, Charles Pickering, Samuel Buckley 
and Robert Feiiton, '• for putting away bad money," are put to 
their trial. Tlie foreman of the jury desired that the prisoner, 
C. P. would tell him who he had the money of that he paid to 
several people; but he sought to evade, saying "the money any 
person received of him he would change it, and that no man should 
lose by him." The Governor (William Penn) charged the jury, 
and afterwards (tiie verdict of the jury being given) gave tiie sen- 
tence of the court, that " Charles Pickering should make full satis- 
faction in good and current pay to every person that shall within 
the space of one month bring in any of tliis false, base, and coun- 
terfcitt coyne, (to be called in by pi'oclamation) and that it shall be 
melted into gross l)efoi'e retui-ned to thee, and thou shalt pay a fine 
oi fourty pounds towards the building of a court-house in this 
towne, and stand committed till payd and Jined security for thy 
good abearance.'' The sentence of Samuel Buckley was, that *' the 
court, considering thee more ingenious than he who went before 
thee, hath thought fit to fine thee ten pounds towards a public 
court-house." And Robert Fenton. '' because of his being a servant 
and of his ingenuity [candour] in confessing the truth, is to set an 
hour in the stocks oii the next day." 

16th of 2 mo. 1684. William Penn being present, the council 
determined tliat there shall be a Provincial Court of five Judges to try 
all criminal cases and titles to land, and to be a court of equity to 
decide all differences upon appeals from the County Courts. And 
it heing afterwards conceded that the Governor had the power by 
charter to choose Judges for life, he therefore, 

On the 4th of 6 mo. 1684, did appoint the first Judges, to wit : 
Nicholas Moore, William Welsh, William Wood, Robert Turner 
and John Eckley, of whom Nicholas Moore was Chief Justice. 
These were first appointed for but two years. In the next year 
it appears the council appointed Judges, and in the absence of some 
of them the council sat for making decisions. After this time, the 
same Judges often received renewed commissions under the Broad 
Seal. 

The 10th of 3 mo. 1684, the Governor informs council that he 
had called the Indians together and proposed to them to let them 
have rum if they would be contented to be punished as the English 
were, which they did agree to, provided that the law of not selling 
them rum be abolished. 

13th of 3 mo. 1684, "Andrew Johnson vs. Hanse Peterson. 
There being a difference depending between them, the Governor 
and council advis; • them to shake hands and to forgive one another, 
and ordered that tiK y sliould enter into bonds for fifty pounds apiece 
for their good abeai-ance, wh. accordingly they did. It was also 



Fnmitive Courts and Trials. 25i> 

ordered, that tlic records oicoui't coiK-erniiig that business shouM 
be burnt." 

15th of 3 mo. 1684, " Ordei-ed that four of the members of this 
board acquaint the Assembly of their breach of privilege, and that 
they seiul their amendments in, short ; and reproved Henry Stretcher 
for being disordered in driiik." 

26th of 5th mo. 1684. ••Thomas Lloyd, Thomas Holmes, and 
William Haignes appointed to draw up a charter for Philadelphia, 
to be made a burrough, consisting of a Mayor and six Aldermen, 
and to call to their assistance any of the council." 

nth of 3 mo. 1685. proclamation of James IJ. and the papei-s 
relative to ye death of Charles II. and the speech of iiis successor, 
solemnly read "before ye Governor's gate in ye towne of Phila- 
delphia." 

18th of 3 mo. 1685, ''The speaker with the Assembly attended 
this board, and declared that they were abused by Patrick Rol)in 
son, who said • you have drawn up an imi)eachment against Presi- 
dent Moore at hub nab.'* for which they desire satisfaction." 

•'The President and council taking into consideration the words 
spoken by Patrick Robinson, clerk to tliis board, concerning the 
Assembly, that the impeachment against Judge Moore was drawn 
hab nab, which expressions of his we doe unanimously declare to 
be undecent. unallowable and to be disowned." 

This subject was taken up in council a few days after, when i1 
was decided that Patrick Robinson could not be removed from 
*<his clerk's office" until he was legally convicted of the offence; 
after which, '' it is resolved that he shall be readily dismissed from 
any public office of trust in this government," and which was 
eventually done.f 

17th of 9 mo. 1685, all the families living in caves, ordered to 
appear before ye council. (What a groupe for the pencil of a Ho- 
garth !) This order was occasioned by the representations of the 
Magistrates of Philadelphia, and enforced by a letter they had 
received from the Governor, who was then in England. No one, 
however, thought proper to obey the order. The council gave * ' fur - 
ther notice, that the Governor's orders relating to the caves, will 
be put in execution in one month's time." 

9th of 11 mo. 1685, (erroneously '89 in the record,) all retailers 
of '•strong liquor" in Philadelphia, ordered to hand in their li- 
censes to tlie council, w hich were to be void after the day appointed 
for giving them in, which was ''the 15th instant," to be renewed 
by '*such as think fit." 

The preceding examples of cases are extracted t4irough the 
politeness of James Trimble, Esq. from *'the minutes of the Pro- 
vincial Executive," preserved at Harrisburg, where more of similar 

* Random. 

+ The above Patrick Robinson's house was rented by the Sheriff as the prison. I see 
him on anotiier occasion acting as a lawyer, at the court in Bucks county. 



254 Primitive Coxiris and Trials. 

anciont story remains to be explored by the industry of others, 
favourable to this kind of research. 

I have had access to some of the court records still preserved in 
Philadelphia ; being those of the Quarter Sessions and Common 
Pleas, written in curious and difficult black-letter hand. I extract 
the following facts, to wit: 

Year 1685 — John Rambo is indicted, and gives Peter and Gun- 
ner Ranibo securities in 500£. for his appearance, to answer an 
indictment preferred by Peter Cock of Riphah [all Swedish fami- 
lies I think] for his having had criminal intercourse with his 
daughter Bridget. The witnesses testify that about the time of 
Christmas, 1684, the said John Rambo came at midnight to the 
house of her father, and by pulling off a plank of the house, on the 
loft, near the chamber, he jumped down to the floor, and directly 
after got into t!ie bed wherein said Bridget and her two sisters 
(aged 16 and 19) were also laying; saying he was resolved to be 
the husband of Bridget, (even as his brother had before taken 
anotlier sister) and must therefore lie tliere. Whereupon, there 
being a crowded place, the two sisters, with strange submission, 
withdrew and lay upon the floor all night in a cold December! 
The court, after the verdict of the jury, adjudged John Rambo to 
marry Bridget before she be delivered, or then maintain the child. 
Both to be fined 10.£. each. This Bridget was sister to Lassey 
Cock — a name before mentioned in Penn's council, and was a 
Justice of Peace. Afterwards said Rambo was fined 150£. for 
noncompliance. Some may wonder w ho and where are now the 
descendants of this disputed love! The name of Rambo is still 
among us ; but the last of the whole blood of that name was Jonas 
Rambo, a good man, of Upper Merion, who died last year in his 
70th year, at the same farm held by his family 140 yeai's. 

The court about this time appointed the justices, constables, 
road overseers, kc. from time to time. William Orion is fined 
five shillings for being twice drunk. 

The Grand Jury present Joseph Knight, for suffering drunken- 
ness and evil orders iu his cave, and several drinking houses to 
debauch persons are also presented. They present also the want 
of a prison, also the want of a convenient road from Schuylkill 
ferry to Darby. They present the County Attorney, Samuel 
Herset, for not securing a robber in fetters when committed to 
him. They present the w ant of a bridge in the road at the north 
end of the town [meaning at Poole's.] They present all caves by 
the water side as unfit for houses of entertainment, and as giving 
many an occasion there to forestal the market. 

AH deeds for conveyances of land are acknowledged in this 
court, and the names, dates and quantities are recorded on its 
minutes. 

John Moon is fined 20£. and his servant, Martha Williams, 
i0£. for fornication, and to he obliged to be married before the 



Primitive Courts and Trials. '253 

delivery of the child. William Pcnii had a servant of this name 
who settled in Bucks county — a Friend. 

April, 1686— The Grand Jury present several names for selling 
drink to Indians. They present the want of a finished road by the 
new bridge (Poole's) to the Governor's mill— Globe mill ; several 
for encroaching on the streets ; and a gate in the road towards the 
said mill. 

The court, at the request of William Carter, the appointed 
Weigher of Bread, affix the value of the loaf by the price of wheat 
then current. 

The earliest attornics named in the actions arc Samuel Herset 
Pickering, David Lloyd, Thomas Clarke, John Moore, and P. 
Robinson. The Pickering just named is sui)posed to be the same 
Charles Pickei'ing the counterfeiter, and probably the same who 
was first settled at Pickering creek in Chester county. He was 
drowned at sea, on a voyage to England, and left none of his name 
in that neighbourliood. 

Year 1700 — In the court of Quarter Sessions, William Penn be- 
ing present, after his return, the Justices of Peace disputed about 
their willingness to be sworn into their new commission — some al- 
leging they could not in conscience take an oath, and others insist- 
ing it was their duty. The court was adjourned from time to time 
to determine the case, and, finally, the dilemma was settled by the 
Governor, in substituting new names in the place of those who de- 
murred, and then all were sworn. 

Lewd men and women and disorderly drinking-houses are very 
often presented. Elizabeth Glann is presented for fornication with 
Peter Packonet. She is fined 10^. or to be lashed 21 strokes. 
Nothing is said of Packonet! Perhaps he was not then before the 
court ! 

In 1703, the court appoint four persons to report the cost of a 
new prison and court-house. 

In 1703, John Bowling, Esq. is confirmed Collector of his Ma- 
jesty's Customs for the Port of Philadelphia, he having made, as 
was required, his abjuration of the Prince of Wales. This is the 
first Collector on record. In this year many roads are appointed 
to be made about the city to the country, especially of cross-roads 
from township to township. It may seem strange to many to be 
informed that the early records of Friends' monthly Meetings in 
Philadelphia show that committees were frequently appointed by 
that Meeting to lay out roads. 

I have seen a pamphlet of 19 pages, printed by William Brad- 
ford at Philadelphia in 1691-2, containing 'nhe first case of this 
nature happening in this part of the country before" — the whole 
published under the sanction of the clerk of the court, Samuel 
Hedge. It elucidates several facts of local interest ; it is entitled, 
^' Blood will out, or an Example of Justice in the Tryal, Confes- 
sion and Execution of Thomas Lutherland, who murthered John 



256 Primitive Courts and Trials. 

Clark, of Philadelpliia, Traders— Tried and Executed at Salem, 
W. J. tlie 23 Feb. 1695." The whole points in the trial are too 
long to be given in this place; but the facts and proceedings, of an 
unusual character, are preserved in my MS. Aimals, in the His- 
torical Society- page 194 to 196. All the jury took their averment. 
The *'clark" asketh : Art thou guilty r He answers — " not of the 
murthor. but of the fellony." When first apprehended, he was con- 
fronted with the corpse and bid to touch it, which he did, saying, 
♦' If I have murthered him he will bleed afresh, and saying, poor 
innocent man, why should I destroy him — if I liurt him I wish the 
earth may open and swallow me up !" 

Bold and hardened as he thus appeared, and although he had no 
direct witnesses against him, he betrayed himself, by answering 
questions, into so many contradictions concerning himself at the 
time of the murder, that he got confused, and finally came to open 
and general confession, saying the deceased was in his own little 
vessel, alone by the creek side, when he passed a rope round his 
neck in liis cabin, telling him I would not destroy him, whilst he 
said, I think you intend to choke me. I then asked him if he had 
got some money, and he said he had some w ampum, a piece-of-eight 
and some double bits. He cryed — spare my life and take all ; but I 
pulled both ends of the rope together, whilst he cryed, Lord have 
mercy upon my soul, repeatedly, even till he was dead. It does 
not appear that there was any attorney or pleadings in behalf of 
the prisoner; but the court had some one as *' King's Attorney." 
When he demanded judgment after the verdict of guilty, the court 
was much perplexed to pass sentence of death, they being only 
Justices of Peace ; but as there were '* no superior courts in the 
province," the Coroner's Inquest, the jury, and the most part of 
the country then present, joined in a written petition to the court 
to give their sentence, which was thereupon done accordingly, and 
in five days afterwards he was executed, a penitent, &c. 

In the year 1705, men were fined (by law) 20 shillings for la- 
bouring on the Sabbath-day, and 10 shillings for being found tip- 
ling in a tavern on that day. 

The same year (1705) there was made an act against fornica- 
tion and adultery. For the latter, the parties received 21 lashes 
and hard labour for one year, or pay 50£. fine, (the injured party 
had a right of divorce) and for a second offence seven years impri- 
sonment. For fornication, 21 lashes or pay 10£. fine each. Severe 
laws ! as the lecherous would judge now! At that time men were 
fined 12 pence for smoking in the streets ! Think of this, ye moderns! 

In 1720, Edward and Martha Hunt, man and wife, are sen- 
tenced to death for making and passing counterfeit dollars. It lis 
said to be the first case in which death was inflicted in the colony 
for a like offence. 



i57 



CRIMES AjSD punishments. 



" Self-banishcd from society, prefer 
Their hateful crime to honourable toil." 

WE have been so long happily delivered from the former exhi- 
bitions of the pillory, whipping-post, ducking-stool, wheelbarrow- 
men, and even hanging itself, that it may serve to show the aspect 
of quite another age, to exjjose the facts in the days of our fore- 
fathers, as derived from the presentments of Grand Juries, trials 
in the Mayor's court, or from the Gazettes, to wit : 

1702 — John Simes, ordinary, and others, are prosecuted "for 
keeping a disorderly house to debauch the youth, — John Smith 
was disguised in women's clothes walking the streets openly, and 
going from house to house, against the laws of God and this pro- 
vince, to the staining of holy profession, and against the law of 
nature — Edward James, a like offender, at an uni*easonable time 
of night — Dorothy, wife of Richard Canterill, is indicted also for 
being masked in men's clothes, walking and dancing in the house 
of said Jolm Simes at ten o'clock at night. — Sarah Stiver, wife of 
John Stiver, was also at the same house, dressed in men's clothes, 
and walked the streets, and went from house to house, to the encour- 
aging of vice," &c. — the house was in Front street. Probably 
there was no further attempt at *' Masquerade Ball" from tiiat 
time till about 14 years ago. when some foreigner publicly proposed 
to introduce them at his dancing room. It was promptly suppressed 
by an act of the Legislature, got up, before the nigiit of intended 
execution, by John Sargent, Esq. It was then supposed for a while 
that the steady habits of our citizens would have frowned down any 
future attempt ; but the inroads of luxury have since succeeded to 
evade the force of law, by getting through two " Fancy Balls," so 
called, without molestation, and even without any expose by them- 
selves of their rare enactments in " monstrous novelty and strange 
disguise." We have heard, however, it was a strange medley of 
strange personages and habiliments. 

" Oh, a Fancy Ball's a strange affair, 
Made up of silks and leathers, 
Light heads, light heels, false hearts, false hair, 
Pins, paint, and ostrich feathers : 
There dullest wight in all the town 
One night may shine a droll one : 
And rakes, who have not half a crown, 
Look royal with a whole one." 
2 M 



258 Crimes and Punishments. 

1702 — George Robinson, butcher, is indicted as a commoitE 
swearer and drunkard, ''for swearing three oaths in the market- 
place, and for uttering two very bad curses. " 

They afterwards present the same George Robinson for " utter- 
ing a grievous oath, on the 13th of 7 mo. and another on the 10th 
day of the 8th month." In those days all cases of drunkenness and 
profane swearing were punished. 

A riot was committed at Israel Townsend's inn, sign of the 
Broad Axe, in Chesnut street, [close by Hudson's alley] where 
they beat the constables with clubs. 

1702 — The Grand Jury present, to wit: Sons and servants rob- 
bing orchards on the First or Lord's day ; tlie ill consequence of 
many negroes assembling and acting tumultuously on the same day ; 
the loss of slieep by unnecessary (juantity of dogs : the evil of 
having so many hay and reed stacks in the yards of city houses in 
case of fires ; the great annoyance, daily occurring, of butchers 
killing their meat in the street, [at the market-place probably] ami 
leaving their blood and oifals there. 

1703 — The Grand Jury present Henry Brooks, the Queen's 
Collector at the Hore-kills, [Lewestown] and tliree others, for 
raising a great disturbance and riot in the city at the dead of 
night. They present all houses and persons individually known 
to play at cards publicly, and they give the names of all the per- 
sons so concerned. They present nine persons at one time, for 
selling strong drink without license* Three barbers are pre- 
sented for trimming people on First-day. John Walker is presented 
for using Sassafras street as a rope-walk for the last year; and 
John Jones, Alderman, is presented for making encroachments on 
Mulberry street, by setting up therein a great reed stack, and 
making a close fence about the same. These Grand Juries, almost 
all of them affirm — very few swear. 

1704 — 1st of 7 mo. — The Grand Jury present some of the young 
gentry, for an assault on James Wood, constable, and James Dough, 
watch, — making a riot at the inn of Enoch Story by night — {in 
Combes' alley.] The names were William Penn, jun. (Proprie- 
tary's son,) John Finny, tlie sheriff, Thomas Gray, scrivener, and 
Joseph Ralph. [Quondam infidel, and friend of Benjamin Franklin?] 
It is stated that young Penn called for pistols to pistol them, &c. 
Their host, Story, was also of their party. 

1705 — They present Thomas Docherty, barber, for trimming, 
about three w eeks ago, on the first day of the week. 

1715 — The Grand Jury find 35 true bills against unlicensed 
taverns, in one session. 

1717 — Women are publicly whipt for having an illegitimate 
child ; and poor runaway apprentices and others, who are whipt, 
are charged six shillings for the unwelcome service. 

* All tavern licenses are petitioned for, and granted generally to widow-women — occa- 
sionally to decrepit or unfortunate prudent men. 



Crimes and Funishments. 259 

1718— William Wright, merchant, is presented lor imhlicly and 
maliciously declaring aloud that our Saviour was a hastard. 
V 1721— Nicholas Gaulau/(a foreigner, hy his name) -hy colour 
of his art. as a hutcher. did, with his breath and wind, blow up ^ 
the meat of his calf. \\ liercby the meat was made unwholesome to 
the human body." He was fined thii-teen shillings and four pence 
for introducing this odious practice— still known amo)ig some of iis. 
1729 — Charles Calaghan A\as convicted of intent to ravish a 
child of 10 years— he was whipt round the town at the cart's 
tail, and received 35 lashes. Another man, at the same time, 
receiAcd 21 lashes for stealing a saddle. 

Several executions occasionally occur, as mentioned in the Ga- 
zettes. Prouse and Mitchell, who were to be executed together, 
were reprieved under the gallows. 

1730— G. Jones, and one Glasgow, an Indian, stood an hour in 
the pillorv, and were whipt rouiul tlie toMn, at the cart's tail — 
both for 'assaults, with intent to ravisii— the one, a girl of six 
years of age. Margaret Casli is also whipt for stealing. 

I find it remarked, that the number of criminal offences occur 
from the great emigi-ation of evil persons, who bouglit their pas- 
sages by servitude. 

1731 — At New Castle, Catharine Bevan is ordered to be burned 
alive, for the murder of her husband ; and Peter Murphy, the ser- 
vant who assisted her, to be hanged. It was designed to strangle 
her dead by the previous hanging over the fire, and before it could 
reach her; but the fire "broke out in a stream directly on the 
rope round her neck, a)id l)urnt off instantly, so that she fell alive 
into the fiames, and was seeji to struggle therein !" A shocking 
spectacle for our country ! 

1733 — December — There was the greatest number of felons ar- 
raigned for crimes, ever known in Philadelphia, at one Quarter 
Sessions. Thirteen men and women were convicted of grand lar- 
ceny, and sentenced to be whipt. 

1738 — Three negro men were hung for poisoning sundry persons 
in Jersey. They said they had poisoned Judge William Trent, 
the founder of Trenton, among that number — but when he died, 
none were then suspected. A lad of fi\e years of age, who had 
heard much of their lianging, took it into his head to make some 
imitations, and actually hung himself to (k\ath from the stake of a 
fence! 

A negro man of Robert Hooper's, Esq. of Rocky Hill, in Somer- 
set, New Jersey, w^s executed by fire, for having killed the child 
of his overseer, and firing his master's barn. 

1743 — A black man, brought up to the whipping-post to be whipt, 
took out his knife and cut his thi'oat before the crowd, so that he 
died immediately — in Philadelphia. 

1750-1 — About this time, a great deal of hanging occurs. They 
hang for house-breaking, liorse-stealing, and counterfeiting. It 



260 Crimes and Punishments. 

seems that imported criminals swell the list, and many evil persons 
come out as j-edemptioners. Tiiis remark is made, to wit: " When 
we see our papers filled so often with accounts of the most audacious 
rol)beries, the most cruel murders, and other villanies, perpetrated 
by convicts from Europe — what will hecome of our posterity ! In 
what could Britain injure us more, than emptying her jails on us ! 
What must we think of those merchants, who, for the sake of a 
little palti-y gain, will be concerned in importing and disposing of 
these abominable cargoes!" It is probable they got premiums 
abroad for bringing them out here. 

1759 — I observe that the number of criminal ofTences and execu- 
tions appear much diminished for some time — so far as the silence 
of the Gazettes respecting them may be evidence. 

1761 — A strange freak seized the minds of some of the young 
citizens, which was shown *'in several women being stabbed in 
the streets," in the evening, " by some unknown persons." The 
terror being great, the Governor offered a reward for their appre- 
hension. The evil was probably magnified according to the terror 
of the relaters. In time, however, it was so far brought to light 
as t])at the Wardens got hold of the facts. The venerable Charles 
Thomson having been one of those city officers, and acquainted 
with the facts, ventured to tell them after many years had elapsed 
and the parties concerned were likely to pass unmolested. It was 
to the follow ing effect, to wit : 

The insulting of several women in the streets, by cutting their 
gowns and petticoats with a razor, rendered it dangerous for them 
to appear tiierein without protection, as also breaking of knockers 
and bells, cutting the spouts. &c. was nightly committed, and 
caused considerable alarm. The soldiei-s in the barracks were at 
first blamed for it, but by an arrangement with their commanding 
oihcer it was immediately discovered they were not implicated. 
The W ardens then silently increased the watch more than one 
half, and soon came across these blades in their depredations. They 
proved the sons and relations of some of the most respectable citi- 
zens, and whose parents and friends thought them absent from the 
city, as at New York, Lancaster, Chester county, &c. By day 
they lay concealed and slept in the tavern at the south west corner 
of Chesnut and Fourth streets, and from thence sallied forth at 
night to commit their depredations. Robert M. liad a brother 
among them ; Anthony W. a son ; Doctor A. a son ; Mr. W, 
a brother, kc. In the morning they were carried before the Mayor, 
appeared penitent, received a very serious lecture, auid their friends 
gave iiigh bail for their good behaviour and appearance, and made 
restitution to all persons who had been injured by them. On this 
discovery the city instantly became safe and orderly as usual, and 
the thing was suffered to sleep. I believe they were never prose- 
cuted. 



^1 



THE EXCELLENCIES 

OF PENN'S L.AWS. 



-To the general good 



SubnnUing, aiming, and conducting all. 
For this the patriot council met — the full, 
The free, and fairly represented Wtiole ; 
And with joint force, oppression chaining — set 
Imperial justice at the helm." 

THERE is probably no subject witbin the scope of our history, 
to which a Pennsylvaiiian may look with morejust pride and satis- 
faction, than to the wliole tenor of the laws instituted for the wel- 
fare of the people by the Founder and his successors. 

Every thing in our laws has been popularly constituted, even 
from the begiiniing. The Founder, although born and brought up 
within the precincts of an arbitrary Court, was essentially a re- 
publican in its best acceptation. In this his wisdom was advanced 
a century beyond the light of his generation. It was not learned 
of his cotemporaries ; but was a beam of light derived from that 
book of gospel statutes, rarely regarded by Rulers, but whicli he 
made his manual. Following its plain dictates, that we were all 
children of one common Father, and *-all ye are brethren," he 
struck at once upon the disinterested and magnanimous effort of 
framing a form of government, which, while it should "be an ex- 
ample," should also "show men as free and happy as they 
could be ! " 

Freedom of mind and conscience had here free operation, leaving 
it solely to "the Almighty, the only lord of conscience, to judge." 
"Privilege and toleration," words of such deep import in Europe, 
were terms unknown to Penn's laws. We possessed the right, 
without the grant, to w orship freely. 

His first frame of government provided instantly for universal 
suffrage. No distinctions of rank, fortune, or freehold, then ob- 
tained ; and the ballot-box, which, where it is indulged, produces 
more valuable revolutions than the sword, was introduced, "prob- 
ably for the first time, on this continent." 

The controlling power of the Governors was restrained with the 
most cautious limitations. They had no other influence in the pas- 
sage of the laws than what they could derive from presiding at the 
council-board. 

The Judges were even more limited in their dependence on the 



£62 The Excellencies of Penn*s Laws* 

people than has since been claimed by any free people. They were 
at first appointed annually by the Governors, from lists elected by 
the Provincial Council. Tlje people at the same time might appear 
and ''plead their own causes! " They could say — 

" The toils (A'hw, laid to perplex the truth, 
And lengthen simple justice into trade, 
How glorious was the day — that saw thee broke. 
And every man within the reach of right." 

Even the children were the subject of public care. They should 
early learn their duties to society, by reading " the laws that shall 
be printed, and taught in schools." It was expressly provided tliat 
*' all chihlren of tvvfelve years of age, without discrimination, should 
be taught some useful trade." It was also enacted that "■ all chil- 
dren sliould be taught to read and \M'ite by twelve years of age — 
thus determining betimes that all should be first educated, and then 
usefully employed ! 

AVith a mind so intent on the happiness and just freedom of men, 
we are prepared to expect that the evils of " woful Europe" should 
find some marked correctives in his statutes : We, therefore, find 
such beneficent novelties in legislation as the age had not elsewhere 
produced. We may name such as follow, to wit : 

Aliens, who by the laws of England are debarred of almost eve- 
ry common benefit and privilege, were here made integral members 
oVthe common stock. In England an alien is disabled from hold- 
ing land, either by lease or purchase ; and, if a manufacturer or 
mechanic, he is forbidden to work on his own account. If he be 
even naturalized by special act, at nuich expense, he can never be 
admitted to any office of whatever kind. Penn early perceived the 
hardship of such restrictive laws, and made it the law of his new 
country that the property of an alien should be held entire and sa- 
cred to tlie alien and his heirs. 

He excluded every thing like the ''game laws" of his own coun- 
ti'y — declaring, that "the food and sustenance which God hath 
freely afforded" should be freely used; wherefore, all might "fowl 
and hunt upon the lands they hold, and fish in all the rivers and 
rivulets." 

The English laws seize upon the estate of all suicides, leaving 
their helpless families in penury and want ; but the good sense of 
our Founder rejected this severity, by enacting that "if any per- 
son, through temptation or melancholy, shall destroy himself, his 
estate shall, notwithstanding, descend to his wife and children or 
relatives." 

At a single stroke of his .pen he struck off all the sanguinary 
laws of his parent country respecting felonies, substituting, in lieu 
of death, temperate punishment and hard labour — the Great Law 
saying, "all prisons shall be workhouses." Indeed, informer 
times " the workhouse" was the prevalent name of o«r jails. These 



The Excellencies of Penn's Laivs^ 2(t'o 

mild laws, however, causiMl the offence and severe rebuke of tlie 
Privy Council in England — they ordered that the English laws 
should be enforced. Our Assembly, thus resisted, continisedto re- 
enact. a>id to so retain their first principles as to preserve a miti- 
gation of punishment for many years ; and, finally, w hen they had, 
to yield totlie necessity of the case, they took the earliest occasion, 
produced by the Revolution, for establishing codes of prison discip- 
line and reformation, which has made tliis State peculiar among 
the nations. 

He suifered not in this land the English law of descents, where- 
by, when a son dies leaving a real estate, it cannot go to his father, 
although he had no children, but must pass to other relatives, how- 
ever remote they may be. But Penn's law declared, in such case, one 
half should go to the parents, and the other half to his next of kin. 

He introduced a simple means of making lands pay debts, not- 
withstanding all English precedents were against such a measure ; 
and, to avoid the wordy redundancy of Englisli conveyancing, 
briefer forms of transfer were enacted, and used until repealed by 
a later Assembly. 

The law of primogeniture, so grateful to the lordly feelings of 
great families, was excluded from our Great Law at the very out- 
set. It declared the equal distribution among all t!ie children. 
So very early was the spirit of aristocratical selfishness and pride 
repressed by the wholesome and distributive rules of equal justice 
to all.* 

With such marked condescension and good feeling in tlie Ruler, 
and such cherished freedom in the governed, it was but matter of 
r.ourse that changes from good to better and to best should occur, 
where all were intent on the general good. Penn's charters, there- 
tore, soon underwent three several changes, to wit : 

In the beginning of his colony, say on the 2d of April, 1683, he 
gave his second charter, to supersede the first, before formed in 
theory when still in England, and which was found encumbered 
mth an inconvenient number of Assemblymen, it calling for 200 
I'rom the then six counties, which were only able to furnish 72 
members. Although this second charter reduced the council to 18, 
and the Assembly to 36, a third charter, granted in November, 
1696, reduced that number to one-third less ; at the same time the 
former general right of suffrage was restricted to such as were 
worth 50£. or possessed of 50 acres of land, and had been two 
years before the Election resident in the province ; it also admitted 
the right of affirmation. On the 28tii of October, 1701, the Foun- 
der himself being in the colony, and just before his final leave, 
granted his people his last and final cliarter — the same which en- 
dured till dissolved by our Revolution. 

•As early as 1703, and subsequent, measures were repeatedly taken to restrain, and 
finally to prevent the importation of slaves, which were as often defeated by the Privy 
Council. 



264 The Excellencies of Venn's Laws. 

The liberal and enlightened expression of principles which gov- 
erned and directed this distinguished Foundei', deserve, for liis just 
fame, to be engraved in capitals of gold. In his first frame of 
government, he says: *' We have, with reverence to God, and good 
conscience to man, to the best of our skill, contrived and composed 
the frame and law of this government, viz. to support power in 
reverence with the people, and to secure the people from the abuse 
of power; that they may be free by tlieir just obedience, and the 
magistrates honourable for their just administration ; for liberty 
without obedience, is confusion, and obedience without liberty, is 
slavery. Where the laws rule, and the people are a party, any 
government is free ; more than this is tyranny, oligarchy, or con- 
fusion." In his letter of 1681, he says: '* For the matters of liberty 
and privilege, I purpose that Miiich is extraordinary, and to leave 
myself and successors no power of doing mischief — that the will 
of one man may not hinder ti)e good of a whole country." 

Embued with such maxims of government, it was to be expected 
that the efficiency of his practical philosophy should have an in- 
structive and benign influence on other communities of men, — 
wherefore this article may properly conclude in the energetic 
eulogy of a modern observer, (T. I. Wharton, Esq.*) to wit : ''In 
the early constitutions of Pennsylvania are to be found the distinct 
enunciation of every great principle — the germ, if not the develope- 
ment, of every valuable improvement in government or legislation 
whicli have been introduced into the political systems of more mo- 
dern epochs. Name to me, says he, any valuable feature in the 
constitutions of oui' confederacy, or for which patriots are contend- 
ing in other quarters of the globe, and I will show you tliat our 
Pennsylvania statesmen before the Revolution, had sought out the 
principle, and either incorporated it with their system, or struggled 
with the rulers of the darkness of the old world for its adoption." 

We mean no disparagement in comparing facts. The facts were, 
that there was in Penn's institutions a general adherence to equality, 
not seen among the other colonies at any given time in the same 
degree ; for, if we advert to the South, there was a Baronial and 
Lordly style of ascendancy over the poor and the enslaved, while 
in New England there was, from the beginning, a dictatorial con- 
trol in the Congregational and Presbyterian clergy. While these 
assumed a rigid control of religious sentiments there, the minis- 
ters of the established church ruled the minds of the people of the 
South, until the Revolution, by divesting them of their salaries, 
destroyed their power. 

* See his able and instructive discourse before the Pena Society, 1826. 



Q6S' 



THE 
PHILADELPHIA BAK. 



<' Theirs be the task to mark with awe 
The mighty edifice of law ! " 

IT would have been gratifying to have been able to make some 
notices of the gentlemen composing the Bar of Philadelphia from 
its earliest known period ; but although unusual efforts were be- 
stowed, and applications made to those who should have imi)arted 
something, almost nothing was attained. It was certainly once a 
diminutive concern, compared with the present, when all the courts 
managed their business in the chambers of the small court-house on 
Second and High streets— now used for city watchmen. This build- 
ing was used for some of the courts long after the present state- 
house was built, and afforded some of the bar a more enlarged and 
genteel accommodation. 

The earliest names of attornies which have come to my knowl- 
edge, as pleaders or counsellors in the primitive city, were Samuel 
Herset, David Lloyd. P. Robinson, Thomas Clarke. Nicholas and 
John Moore, Judge Mompesson, and Pickering. This last I have 
suspected to have been the same person, called Charles Pickering, 
who was prosecuted for uttering base money. I supposed he was 
the same person who owned lands at Pickering creek in Charles 
township in Chester county, and a large city lot in Front street, 
between High and Chesnut streets. If it was him. he was drowned 
at sea in going to England, and has left no posterity among us. 
The Patrick Robinson above-named was also clerk to the Pro- 
vincial Council, and owner of the first hired prison. In 1685 he 
gave offence to the Council, and they resolved, '<that the words 
spoken by him concerning the impeachment against Judge Moore 
was drawn hab nab, which expressions of his we do unanimously 
declare to be undecent, unallowable, and to be disowned. " Soon af- 
ter it w as further resolved, that Patrick Robinson could not be re- 
moved from his clerks-office until he was legally convicted of the 
offence. They, however, determine ^'that he shall be readily dis- 
missed from any public office of trust in this government." — The 
same was eventually done. He appears afterwards named in suit? 
in Bucks countv, 

9 N 



^66 The Philadelphia Bar. 

Tlie MS. correspondence of Secretary R. Peters with the pro- 
prietaries, wliich I have seen, for ten years — say from 1739 to '47, 
often speaks disparagingly of the Philadelphia Bar — whether truly 
or from nmhrage is not made out, as they are hut simple declara- 
tions of opinion, without the I'easons assigned. From his letters I 
perceive that in July, 1740, Mr. Murray and Mr. Smith, lawyers 
f>f eminence, were engaged from New York to cope with Mr. An- 
drew Haniilton, then the hest lawyer at Philadelphia. In 1743, he 
speaks of John Ross as heing successful heyond his merit, hy en- 
grossing as much as all the others, Hamilton only excepted. In 
1749, lie says of them generally — ''all of whom, except Francis 
and Moland, are persons of no knowledge, and, I had almost said, 
of no principle." Hamilton was always represented as a man of 
high honour and ability, hoth by Mr. Peters and by James Logan. 
The Bush-hill estate was given to him, by the advice of Logan, for 
his retained services for the proprietaries' interest. John Ross 
acquired a good estate, and had his dwelling '*well out of town," 
— the building now the Farmer's and Mechanic's Bank. 

The bringing of lawyers from New York to manage an impor- 
tant cause had been before matched by our furnishing the New 
York Bar with one of our champions, who acquitted himself with 
great eclat. The case was this : In 1735, the above-named An- 
drew Hamilton went on to New York a volunteer in the case of the 
persecuted printer, J. P. Zengcr, whom he succeeded to bring off 
triumphant " from the arbitrary Governor and Council," to the 
great joy of the people. The City Council was so grateful to Ham- 
iltoji, that they presented him the freedom of the city — in a gold 
snuflf-box with many classical inscriptions. Where is it now ? 

When lawyers practised in the old court-house, lawyers Ross and 
Lawrence held their oflices in the small alley called since Chance- 
ry Lane — a name derived from them. It would now be deemed an 
ignoble place for such an honoured profession ; but it marked "the 
day of small things," and verified the toast called for by the same 
John Ross of Mark Watson : (both being wits and jesters) — "The 
day he hoped for — when two lawyers should have to ride on one 
horse ! " 

In the absence of more substantial facts I may here supply a lit- 
tle of the comic of the bar. A fragment of poetic wit, by Collinson 
Reed, has fallen into my hands, and which we shall call, by waj 
of distinction, the Case of Catharine Kutx>en. 

Mr. Collinson Read was cotemporary with Joseph Thomas and Ed- 
ward Tilghman, at the Philadelphia Bar, or a little before them. He 
was not very distinguished, but had a respectable rank in the profession; 
he was the author of the first " Digest" of the Laws of Pennsylvania, 
from which the Digests of Mr. Purdon are evidently formed. He was a 
man of considerable wit, and well read as a classical scholar. The fol- 
lowing sprightly latin sapphic verses were written by him, for a Mr. J. 
C, a subordinate, but a decent lawyer, whose morals were much more 



The Philadelphia Bar. ^67 

respectable than his learning or judgment. He had not a quick sense 
o see the point and humour of the lines, and it is said either actually 
did or attempted to file thera, as a declaration in an action of slander 
which he had instituted, and which this declaration states with much 
drollery. It may be added merely, that it is in fact almost an exact trans- 
lation into latin of the ordinary declaration or plaint in suits for slander 
JSTarr. de Termino Decemhriy 1763. 
Catherina Kutzen attachiata fuit-— 
Ad respondendum Johanni Currie 
De placito transgrcssionis super 

Casum, 8c c'a. 
Et unde idem quaeritur Johannis 
Quod eam sit bonus, verus et fidelis. 
Subditus status bonorum nominis 

Atque geslurae. 
Ac per totum tempus vitae retroactum 
Ab omni mode sceleris nee stupri, 
Totius intactus, liber et immunis, 

Adhuc remansit. 
Per quod favorem ac benevolentiam 
Omnium vicinorum, nee non aliorum 
Quibus natus erat, sibi non immerito 
Conciliavit. 
Cumque per multos annos jam elapsosv 
Fuit, et adhuc est, unus alternatum 
De communi banco, ad Philadelphiam 
Legi peritus. 
Rationi inde diversis sectis 
Magni mementi, in eadem curia, 
Tam prosequendo, quam defendendo 
Retentus fuit. 
Unde, profectus magnos, et ingente? 
Denariorum summas acquesivit, 
In meliorem manutenentiam, 

Ejus famitiae. 
Predicta tamen Catherina Kutzen 
Sciens premissa, sed malitiose 
Intendens ipsum Johannem Currie 

Scandalizare. 
Vigenti die mensis Decembri 
Anno predicto, ad Philadelphiam 
Hac falsa ficta scandalosa verba 

De illo dixit. 
Scilicet " He, eandem Johannem 
Currie, innuendo, is a whoremaster 
And has a bastard, at his mill in Saucon, 

And I can prove it." 
Quarum pretextu idem Johannis 
Non solum bonis nomine et fama 
Quibus prjeantea reputabatur 

Laesus cxistit 



268 The Fhiladelphia Bar. 

Verumque multae graves personac 
Ipsum in sectis suis retinere 
Nee non cum eo, quicquid habere, 
Penitus recusant. 
Undeque dixit quod sustinuit damna 
Centum Librorum et produxit sectam 
Sunt atque plegii de prosequendo 

John Doe et Richard Roe, 

We shall close this article with the outline characters of such 
gentlemen of the bar as flourished about the period of the Revolu- 
tion. Their names, persons and talents are such as still dwell 
upon the memory of many of our aged citizens — such as Wilson, 
Sergeant, Lewis, Ingersoll, Edward Biddle, George Ross, &c. 
Their cotemporary, the elder Rawle, still among us, has drawn 
his recollections of them to the following effect, to wit : 

" Mr. Chew was one of the prominent characters of earlier times. In 
1772, he was preferred to the bench. Perhaps no one exceeded him in 
an accurate knowledge of common law, or in the sound exposition of 
statutes — His solid judgment, tenacious memory, and persevering in- 
dustry, rendered him a safe and steady guide. At the bar his language 
was pertinent and correct, but seldom characterized by efFusions of elo- 
quence—his arguments were close and frequently methodised on the 
strict rules of logic ; his object always seemed to be to produce convic- 
tion, not to obtain applause. 

" But in those times the sphere of the lawyer was somewhat limited. 
In provincial courts no great questions of international law were dis- 
cussed — no arguments on the construction of treaties — no comparisons 
of legislative powers with constitutional restrictions — even admiralty 
cases had little interest— every thing great and imposing was reserved 
for the mother country. Till the ebullitions produced by the stamp act, 
political interests were local and confined.— Pennsylvania was divided 
between two parties, that of the proprietaries, and a considerable section 
of the people. 

" Two lawyers, Galloway and Dickinson, took active parts in this con- 
troversy. Each published a speech which he had delivered in the legis- 
lative assembly ; and it was remarkable that the introduction to each 
(one composed by Dr. Franklin, who co-operated with Galloway in op- 
posing the proprietary interest, and the other by Dr. Smith, the coadju- 
tor of Dickinson,) were at the time more admired than the principal 
compositions. Yet they were both men of talents. 

" Of Galloway's manner I have no personal knowledge ; from inspec- 
tion of the dockets his practice appears to have been extensive. He 
adhered to the royal cause, and migrated to England, where, after ex- 
citing considerable public attention, by attacks on the conduct of Sir W, 
Howe in this country, he remained till his death. 

" Very different were the opinions and conduct of Dickinson. At the 
commencement of our difficulties with Great Britain, he displayed his 
powers with fervour and courage in defence of what he deemed his 
country's rights. Assuming the title of a Pennsylvania Farmer, he 
assailed with a due proportion of learning and an irresistible cogency o^ 



The Philadelpfda Bar. 269 

argument the unjust attempt of tlui British itgislature to impose internal 
taxation on the colonies. 

" These pubUcations had the happiest effect. The resistance which 
seemed at first to be founded rather on natural impulse than deliberate 
research was clearly shown, not only to be meritorious in itself, but justi- 
fiable under the laws and constitution, by which all British subjects ought 
to be governed. 

<■<■ Of Dickinson's manner of speaking I have some recollection — he 
possessed, I think, considerable fluency, with a sweetness of tone and 
agreeable modulation of voice, not well calculated, however, for a large 
audience. His law knowledge was respectable, though not remarkably 
extensive, for his attention was more directed to historical and political 
studies. In his defensive publications against the attacks of Valerius, in 
1783, the man of taste will be gratified by a pure and elegant style, 
though the statesman must discover some political errors. Wholly en- 
gaged in public life, he left the bar soon after the commencement of thc 
Revolution. — At this period a new band arose. 

" They contributed with other instances to prove, notwithstanding the 
arrogance of European prediction, that America, even at the instant of 
putting on the toga virilis was equal to the duties of mature and accom- 
plished man. 

" I have already given some names, I will more particularly describe 
two or three others. 

" Perhaps few of those now present can recollect Wilson in the splen- 
dour of his talents, and the fullness of his practice. 

" Classically educated, and in the outset employed as a tutor in a. 
public seminary, his subsequent success in a narrow circle of country 
courts, encouraged him to embark in the storm which after the departure 
of the British troops agitated the forum of Philadelphia. 

" The adherents to the royal cause were the necessary subjects ol 

prosecution, and popular prejudice seemed to bar the avenues of justice. 

" But Wilson and Lewis, and George Ross, never shrunk from such 

contests, and if their efforts frequently failed, it was not from want of 

pains or fear of danger. 

" Other questions of the highest moment also became the daily subject 
of forensic discussion, questions for which previous study no doubt had 
qualified them, but with which no previous practice had familiarized them. 
" In respect to them, Wilson soon became conspicuous. The views 
which he took, were luminous and comprehensive. His knowledge and 
information ahvays appeared adequate to the highest subject, and justly 
administered to the particular aspect in whicli it was presented. His 
person and manner were dignified, his voice powerful, though not melo- 
dious, his cadences judiciously though somewhat artificially regulated. 

" His discourse was generally of a reasonable length ; he did not affect 
conciseness nor minuteness, he struck at the great features of the case, 
and neither wearied his hearers by a verbose prolongation, nor disap' 
pointed them by an abrupt conclusion. 

" But his manner was rather imposing than persuasive, his habitual 
effort seemed to be to subdue without conciliating, and the impression 
left was more like that of submission to a stem, than a humane conqueror. 
" It must, however, be confessed, that Mr. Wilson on the bench, was 
not equal to Mr, Wilson at the bar, nor did his law lectures entirely 
meet the expectation that had been formed. 



270 The Philadelphia Bar. 

" The talents ot George Ross were much above mediocrity. His 
manner was insinuating and persuasive, accompanied with a species of 
pleasantry and habitual good humour. His knowledge of the law was 
sufficient to obtain respect from the court, and his familiar manner secured 
the attention of the jury. But he was not industrious, and his career af- 
ter the commencement of the Revolution was short. 

" The powers of Reed were of a higher order. His mind was per- 
spicuous, his perceptions quick, his penetration great, his industry unre- 
mitted. Before the Revolution he had a considerable share of the cur- 
rent practice. His manner of speaking, was not, I think, pleasing ; his 
reasoning, however, was well conducted, and seldom failed to bear upon 
the proper points of controversy. When he had the conclusion of a 
cause, he was formidable. I have heard an old practitioner say that 
there was no one at the bar whom he so little liked to be behind him, as 
Joseph Reed. 

" Bradford was the youngest of those who flourished at this active and 
interesting period, and his history merits the attention of the younger 
part of my brethren, as indicating that however discouraging the pros- 
pects may be, one should never despair. 

" I have understood, that for three or four years after his admission, 
he had scarcely a single client, his circumstances were so slender, and 
his hopes so faint, that he had at one time determined to relinquish the 
profession, and go to sea; but his abilities, though known to few, were 
justly appreciated by Mr. Reed, then President of the Supreme Execu- 
tive Council." 

" On the resignation of Mr. Sergeant, in 1780, he was unexpectedly 
appointed Attorney General. At that time, the office required no feeble 
hand. The executive administration was involved in the most serious 
responsibilities. The ability of his predecessor had been eminently use- 
ful to them. If Bradford had proved unequal to its duties, the appoint- 
ment would have covered both him and the administration with disgrace — 
if otherwise, it elevated him to honour, while it highly promoted the po- 
litical interests he belonged to — the latter was the result. 

" Those of his brethren who had only noticed him as a mute and 
humble attendant on the courts, now watched his progress with political 
if not professional jealousy, and soon perceived with surprise the first 
displays of eloquence in a style not common, of knowledge not suspect- 
ed, of judicious management not frequent in youth. 

" He advanced with a rapid progress to an eminence of reputation 
which never was defaced by petty artifices of practice, or ignoble asso- 
ciations of thought — his course was lofty as his mind was pure--his elo- 
quence was of the best kind — his language was uniformly classical — his 
fancy frequently interwove some of those graceful ornaments which de- 
light when they are not too frequent, and do not interrupt the chain of 
argument. 

" His temper was seldom ruffled, and his speeches were generally 
marked by mildness. — The only instance in which I remember much 
animation was in a branch of the case of Gerard vs. Basse and Soyer, 
which is not in print. The principal case is in I Dallas, 119; he was 
concerned for the unfortunate Soyer." 

All those lawyers once exercised in the small old court-house on 
Second and High streets. 



271 



MIL.ITIA 

AND 

COlONXAXi DErZSNCS. 

" Where duty placed them at their country's side." 

IT lias been long a received opinion that the first militia of Penn- 
sylvania was originated by the exertions of Dr. Franklin, in oppo- 
sition to the pacific wishes of the Friends employed in the colonial 
government. This misconception most probably arose from the first 
act for a militia which he procured to be passed in the year 1755. 
But we learn from facts derived from several sources that there 
was such a thing as a voluntary militia, deriving commissions from 
the Governors, at much earlier periods. 

A letter from William Penn, of 1703, says, '' Colonel Hamilton 
(the Governor) did grant a commission to raise a militia on pur- 
pose to quell the complaints, to government, of Colonel Quarry ; 
and then it was, that Quarry and his party fiercely opposed it ! " 
He opposed it on the pretext of its inequality in resting the defence 
on those who would fight, while it would exempt those, like the 
Friends, who were averse to defence. 

In 1704 ''they raised three companies in town, three in New 
Castle, two in Kent, and two in Sussex." And when Colonel 
Markham, the former deputy, died in Philadelphia, they buried 
him with the honours of war. 

James Logan's letter, 1702, to Penn says, <' The Governor, (An- 
drew Hamilton) upon publishing his commission in 1701, put the 
people in expectation of a militia. This he always intended after 
he should learn that his office had been confirmed. However, it 
will be found shortly necessary, both in the opinion of the gov- 
ernment at home and many here, that some defence of this place 
should be provided. Should we be attacked by the Iroquois, (we,) 
who are quite destitute of Indians, are in the worst condition. I 
am sure it is worth thy consideration." He further adds, -'Thy 
dispute at home, the war without defence here, the example of the 
Jerseys' surrendering, (back to the crown) makes this government 
too precarious to be called one." 

It is manifest from the preceding and other facts [derived from 
the Logan MSS.) that James Logan, although he was a Friend, 
held it admissible to sustain defensive war. 



27a i^litia and Colonial Defence. 

In 1707, Governoi- Evans had a kind of tovt constructed at New 
Castle, and there required a tribute from vessels passing to pay, 
for "powder money." A spirited Friend went down in his vessel 
and resisted the claim valiantly. Evans tried some expedients, but 
without success, to raise a militia spirit. 

It might serve to show the simplicity of the time and the defence- 
less state of the city and river to cite a fact from the records of the 
Common Council of May, 1706. to wit : "Whereas, the Governor 
having received an express from the Governor of Maryland of sev- 
eral vessels lately seen some few leagues off the Capes of Virginia, 
and two of them chasing and firing sevei-al shots at an English 
vessel bound to Virginia or Maryland, which are supposed to be 
French vessels, and probably may have a design u\wn some of the 
Queen's colonies, it is therefore Ordered that the watch of this ci- 
ty be carefully and duly kept, and that the constables at their peril 
take care of the same ; and in case there appears any show of dan- 
ger of the enemy, that they give the alarm by ringing of the mar- 
ket bell ! — and further, that every night one of the Aldern^en see 
the watch, and see that two constables be set thereon, till further 
orders." 

In 1718, William Penn, jun. in writing to Governor Keith, 
speaks for a militia, saying — "if you can procure a militia to be 
settled by law." About the same time Sir William celebrates the 
death of the father in a martial funeral, w ith his city militia of 
volunteers ! 

In the year 1744, the time of the war with France, there being 
then no law for a militia, Benjamin Franklin proposed the scheme 
of voluntary associations, to be founded upon their individual sub- 
scriptions. Immediately 1200 signers were found in Philadelphia, 
and Franklin was nominated to the colonelcy but declined the ser- 
vice. It was said the paper gained 10,000 signers in the province? 

In the year 1748, there was great efforts made in Philadelphia 
to raise a defence for the city. Some of the Friends, then in gov- 
ernment, admitted the right of defensive war — among these the 
most conspicuous was James Logan. I have seen several letters 
on this subject from Benjamin Franklin to James Logan, recorded 
in the Logan MS. selections. Franklin appeared to be a lead- 
ing man in this measure,* having seen, he said, similar efforts 
at Boston, in 1743, by the volunteers there training in like manner 
at the Castle, &c. He expressed great satisfaction at finding 
James Logan '« approved of their proceedings." They proposed 
to fortify at Red Bank, because of the difficulties there from a nar- 
row channel. The soldiers were all to he volunteers — "much unan- 
imity prevailed in all ranks." They called themselves ' ' the Asso- 
ciation" — 800 persons signed at the outset. "The Dutch ( i. e. 
Germans) were as l>earty in the measure as the English,? and one 

• Secretary Peters, in his letter to the Penns, in 1747, says he eoncerted the first mca- 
tures, by araeeUng held at Chaucelier's sail loft. 



Militia and Colonial Defence. 273 

entii'e company was formed of Dutchmen. Thoy trained men to 
be their gunners, by forming an artillery club to go down weekly 
to the battery to excercise the cannon. " In this, following the ex- 
ample of the Bostonians, who by similar exercises formed from 
their tradesmen and shopkeepers the best engineers against Cape 
Breton." The soldiers of Philadelphia were described as making 
fine reviews — as meeting as often as once a week in general mus- 
ter, and several of them in scpiads three or four times a week. 
They purchased 39 battering caimon, of Spanish make, at Boston, 
for 1500£ — 15 of them of 28 pounders, and 24 of them of 14 poun- 
ders. They were brought over land from New York for fear of a 
Spanish armed vessel off the coast. Secretary Peters says fourteen 
of the battery guns were borrowed from New York. 

At this time they erected the ''Association Battery," of 400 feet 
long, a little below the Swedes' church. Tbey had before erected 
anot'jcr battery, called "the Battery on Attwood's wharf," con- 
sisting of 13 guns of 6 and 9 pounders.* Its situation was, I pre- 
sume, under the bank of Society Hill in Southwark. I observe 
that as early as 1734, "the guns on Society Hill, probably then a 
redoubt on the hill, were then fired because of the arrival of tlie 
Governor, John Penn. The shot for all tiiose cannon were cast 
for them by John Pass.f The cartridges, &c. were prepared by a 
committee of citizens. The expenses of these defences were defi'ay- 
ed mostly by lotteries, and by individual subscriptions.}; The Ger- 
mans (called Dutchmen then) were influenced by addresses called 
*•' Plain Truth," " The Association," kc. translated and printed in 
German. It was a time of great excitement in Philadelphia among 
all ranks — it disturbed many of the Friends — it brought out John 
Churchman to some public acts as a public Friend against defence, 
and, under his advice and leadings, some public declarations from 
the Society, to advise Friends to refrain from participating in war 
measures, fkc. 

For the same reasons that the new battery was called " the Asso- 
ciation Battery," the i-egiments of volunteers, formed in the winter 
of 1747-8, were also called the " Association Regiments" — to 
form 13 companies in Philadelphia, and as many in the counties 
as 100 companies in all; all being understood as done by the 
voluntary contrivance of the people, w ithout the legislative sanc- 
tion, which was still too much under the spirit and influence of the 
Friends* Meetings to come into such a measure by any public 
sanction of the Legislature. Thus showing the majorities of Friends 

* This is said to be the place, afterwards Cuthbert's wharf, between Pine and South 
streets — so remembered by Colonel Morris, who, 75 years ago, recollects that he used to 
go witii boys to swim thereabouts, at a place they then called " the Batteiy," though no signs 
of defence then existed. It had probably been erected as a water battery — below the sup- 
posed redoubt, above it, on the hill, where " the flag staft"" is ofteH mentioned as a preach- 
ing place for Whitfield, &c. The petition of the Common Council, of 1744, to the King, 
says, however, " the city is without batteries or any kind of fortification^: " 

t The same who re-cast the state house bell. 

•: The City Corporation subscribed for 2000 tickets in the lo'terv 
9. O 



274 Militia and Colonial Defenct. 

that still ruled tlier^', and their firmer depeiidcnc^e on ''the arm of 
the Lord," and the '* Great Watcher of Israel." 

The regiments of association of the- winter of 1748, had the 
colours given to them by tlie ladies, wijo procured their material 
by their subscription. Some of their mottos or devices were 
striking. I name such as these, (told in the Gazette of tlie day) 
to wit : ''A Deo Victoria," — " Deus adjuvat Fortes," — " In God 
we trust,"* — "Pro Aris et focis," &c. The drums were also 
given by them. 

An old gentleman, B. L. tells nje he remembers to have seen 
several of the stockades still standing in his youth. They were of 
heavy pieces of timber 20 feet long. Every county also raised 
volunteers in companies, and it was concerted with them that in 
case the city was menaced by a foe, they should all march to 
Philadelphia and be there quartered giatis among the people. 

The exciting cause of these military measures arose from fre- 
quent threats given out in the Vfest Indies and at Havanua, that 
their privateers should come and sack Philadelphia ; also from the 
fact of a French privateer coining into the hay in December, 1747, 
and there committing some depredations nearly as high up as New 
Castle. The citizens thereupon met at the *' new Meeting house," 
now" at the north west corsier of Third and Arcii streets, and con- 
certed their resolves of defence — they projected a lottery to raise 
3000£. The Rev. Gilbert Tennent, the minister there, soon after- 
wards preached them a sertnon on the lawfulness of war, and in 
favour of the association for defence. To this the Friends published 
a rejoinder. On the whole it was a moving and busy time of deep 
excitement. 

Several publications ai>peared at the same time, says Kalm, pro 
and con, and when tlie danger appeai'ed imminent, many with- 
drew their opposition. They feared that Frencli and Spanish 

privateers liad combined an expedition in the West Indies So 

was the town talk and alarm ! 

Familiar as the public became with military parade, and embued, 
as the rising youth felt, with " the pomp and circumstance of war" 
from seeing its operations for a few years, with much to allure the 
eye, and no experience of disaster, the mind grew better prepared 
in time to approbate any legal enactments which might be suggested 
for a permanent defence at the public expense. This period arrived 
in the year 1755, by the occasion of Braddock's defeat. The panic 
then became extreme in the country from the fear of savage in- 
roads. Alarms were frequent at Tulpehocken — at the present 
Harrisburg — at Lancaster, Ace. They had fearful rumours of 
French and Indian invaders i On this exciting occasion Franklin 
dexterously introduced a militia law and procured it to be passed, 
he became at the same time the colonel of a regiment of 1200 men 

* The very moUos the Friends would have used without the arms ! 



Militia and Colonial Defence. ^275 

in Philadelphia. How very few of the admirers of his chai actor 
and renown Iiave ever named liiin as Colonel Frankiin ! 

This memorahle first militia act was passed on the 25th of 
November, 1755, and was of peculiar consti'uction. It was so 
formed as to pass the sanction of the Legislature, even while a ma- 
jority of the Assembly were Friends, and for whom therefore the 
act itself provided a salvo foi- c()iis( ionce. It declares that to com- 
pel men to defence against the will, would be a violation of their 
constitutional rights : and that as men formerly chose officers with- 
out law, the present is to sanctioti them with law. The militia, 
therefore, wei'c to he volunteers and to choose their own officers, «^c. 
At the same time they vote 50,000£. to raise additional troops by 
voluntary enlistment* and offer 200 acres of land severally to such 
as bountv. These w ere all strange things for the pacific and re- 
Inctant Friends— but the a\ orld around them was fast growing be- 
yond their control and management. Yet it was a i)art of the 
original grant to the pacific Penn himself— that he and his heirs 
should *' muster and train — make war and vanquish, or put to 
death all enemies by sea and land !" Vide his patent. 

We arc not, Ijowever. to }>resume that the preceding notices of 
military citizens formed the only anay of war which our forefathers 
had witnessed. There had been occasional enlistments for the 
crown for foreign countries, and often very active exertions and 
armaments in tlie way of privateering, as will be briefly stated, 
to wit : 

In 1740, eight companies of infantry go fi-om Philadelphia county 
under captains appointed over them by the Governor. TJiey go 
out to the West Indies to join Admiral Veruon in his expedition 
against the Spaniards. Similar companies, under voluntary en- 
listments, go also at the same time from Virginia and Caroliua— 
all of them to rendezvous at Jamaica. It was i)robably on this 
occasion that our General Washington once purposed to join 
Admiral Vernon as a midshipman. 

In the French war of 1744, the Governor of Jamaica sends his 
lieutenants to Philadelphia to enlist for his regiments tiiere. The 
men were to have six shillings sterling per week extra, and after tlie 
term of their service to receive land there. Families were to go 
passage free. The recruiting officer gave his attendance for enlist- 
ments at the widow Roberts' coffee house in Front street.* At the 
same time i-ecruits are solicited by the Gazette — for recruits to join 
Oalzel's regiment in Antigua.. 

In June, 1744, proclamation is made at Philadelphia of war with 
France, and vessels are promptly fitted out as cruisers. Several 
advertisements forthwith appear for '' gentlemen sailors." They 
soon compute 113 pi-ivateers sent out by the colonies! Soon after 
this, prizes appear named in almost every Gazette. During the 
years 1747-8, almost every column under the Philadelphia and 

* Then a little below Blackhorse alley. 



276 Militia and Colonial Defence. 

New York head, is fillcil with privateer news. It w6uld seem as 
if this pursuit, engrossed the attention of all. The peace occurs in 
Octoi>er, 1748. 

In 1745, the rejoicings were excessive all through the colonies 
for the A'uerican prowess displayed at the capture of Louishurgh, — 
it is called ■' a perpetual honour to his Majesty's American arms." 
The New Euglanders held themselves very liigh on this event — 
an expedition plainied hy a lawyer, and executed hy a farmer, 
with a merchant to lead them on ! Our self-gratulation was so 
high it rather alarmed Great Britain to see our rising military 
ability and ardour, and they, to mortify us as it was then believed by 
many, gave it up at the peace of 1748. It was tlien a heart-burn- 
ing surrender to the Americans. Every child of that day was 
familiar with "the Walls of Breton" — singing in the streets, 
*' Here we go round — here we go round the walls of Bretoon, the 
walls of Bretoon," &c. Great fireworks were exhibited on floating 
machines on tlie Delaware to commemorate the important conquest! 

In 1748, the Governor recommends measures to be taken to 
support a vessel of war at our capes. Then John Churchman, the 
public Friend, goes, by permission, *'with a message" to the As- 
sembly to advise them against sucli measures of defence as is 
incompatible with true Friends* principles. 

About the same time it appears that the Otter sloop of war is 
up at Philadelphia — a novel sight, I presume, there ! and tlie city 
authorities, to animate gallantry in their behalf> (vide Council pro- 
ceedings) present her captain with a pipe of wine and other stores. 

Captain Ballat, however, notwithstanding his good cheering, 
soon gave great umbrage by his backwardness to help their 
cause ; for a Spanish privateer (as represented in Secretary Peters' 
letter to the Penns, of 1748) stole up as far as Elsenborough, ** 35 
miles from the city," near Salem, and intended to sack and burn 
New Castle. But an Englishman on board leaped overboard and 
swam ashore in the night, and so prepared the people by the morn- 
ing. In this exti'emity, the authorities applied to Captain Ballat 
to be their champion, but no entreaties could avail with him till his 
careening should be accomplished. Thus tardy he was, although 
every assistance was offered him, and he was purposely sent for 
their protection ! 

As early as the year 1744, the citizens for themselves, and the 
Common C(nmcil in behalf of the city, (vide the minutes in this 
book) prepared and forwarded a petition to the king to send them 
a military force, saying, as a part of their argument, that the preva- 
lence of the Quaker principle " denies them that security wliich 
is the main end of society." The citizens' petition is signed by 
several names, well known as nominal Friends at least. Their 
names may be seen to the copy of the petition in my MS. Annals 
in the Philadelphia Library, page 245. 

The first foreign military, however, that ever reached our peace- 



Militia and Colonial Defence. 277 

fill city of brotherly love, was those ariiviiig and preparing for 
Braddock's expedition to the West. All tlie Highlanders encamped 
in the Northern Liberties — whence the popular name of •' Camp- 
ing-town," — and all the British were arrayed in South wark. After 
the defeat, in 1755, sucli troops as returned, occupied for a time 
the same positions. Those in Southwark, under Colonel Dunbai', 
were located several montiis on the ground west of Fourtli street, 
and between Pine and South streets. It was soon after this that 
tlie long ranges of barracks in the Northern Liberties were con- 
structed. The history of which, and tlie occurrences there, before 
their demolition, will be found under its appropriate head. 

I should have mentioned also that after the peace, in 1750, the 
proprietaries' present of fourteen new pieces of cannon (18 poun- 
ders) ari-ived at Philadelphia for the use of the Association Batte- 
ry — thus making them upwards of 50 pieces of cannon in all. 
There was among them a 32 pounder, presented by the Schuylkill 
Company, which, in after years, was called the Old Schuylkill. 
This got its trunnions broken off by us when abandoning the city 
to the British, and it has since had its rest at Fort Miillin. 

In April, 1765, there was much surprise and uneasiness excited 
at Philadelphia by finding that all the great guns at the fort, (at 
Wiccacoa) and all those at the barracks, in the Northern Liberties, 
were found to be spiked up ! — Many conjectures were abroad — fi- 
nally it was deemed the act of mere wantonness, and a person was 
arrested as the perpetrator. 

As a conclusion to the whole, I give the following facts of more 
modern times, as the reminiscences of my fiiend Lang Syne, to wit. 
City Volunteers. 

From the peace of 1783, until the famous western expedition of 
1794. the pride, pomp, and circumstance of the glorious war of in- 
dependence, continued to be shadowed out in this city on muster 
days, and on the glorious fourth of July, by two regiments of mili- 
tia, flanked on the parade ground, by the only two volunteer com- 
panies (1791) then in the city. — During this "piping time of peace" 
the only connnand obtainable was in the militia ; and such com- 
mand, it seems, ^^ as sought after, and held by gentlemen of the first 
respectability at the time, either for wealth, or services rendered 
by them during the war. Every thing relative to uniform or tac- 
tics still partook, largely, of the old school, colonial, or revolu- 
tionary models, framed by that oracle in the art of war, in this 
country. Baron Steuben. Tradition says, the regiment '' down 
town" was commanded by Colonel Daniel Smith, Majois Joseph 
Sims and Philip Pancake. The one "up town" by Colonel Wil- 
liam Will, (Sheriff at the time) Majors Andrew Geyer and Alex- 
ander Boyd. The two regiments forming the one, and the only 
brigade in the city, under the command of Brigadier-General 
Francis Gurney. 



273 .Militia and Colonial Defence. 

In this article it is intended merely to revive in the memory of 
some, and to place before the mind"s eye of others, but now in their 
majority, wlio are ^^ natives here, and to the manner horn." who, 
consequently, may have a symi)athetir feeling, and relish for the 
recollections of Lang Sync, in our beloved city : as articles snatch- 
ed, like drift wood, floating on the stiramof time, which otherwise 
would naturally seek the ocean of oblivion forever, and be to them 
as the unrecorded years before the flood. 

The ** Buck Tail Company" was commanded originally by Cap- 
tain Sproat, who was viewed at tlie time by tlie ladies, and others 
who spoke of him, as a model, in his day, of smartness and milita- 
ry elegance on parade. The uniform consisted of a short dark blue 
cloth coatee, lappelled with red, and turned up with red at the 
skirts : Avhite dimity vest, and breeches, (tights,) white cotton 
stockings, black knee-bands, short gaiters, sharp pointed, long 
quartered shoes, and buckles. The Captain, and every member of 
the company, wore a long cue, or club of powdered liair. pendent 
behind. The head was suj-mounted by a felt hat or cap, tlie front 
presenting a flat surface, being tui-ncd up smartly, in an oval shape, 
above the crown, and ornamented by m ay of plume or potnpon, with 
a tail (Buck Tail) separated from the diied undressed hide of the 
forest buck or deer. The other flank company was of the ai'tillery, 
commanded by Captain .Teremiah Fisher. He, .and some of his 
company, had served during the war, having fought in famous bat- 
tles, under the gallant Colonel Proctor, The artillery uniform 
consisted of a long dark blue coat, lappelled, witli gilt buttons 
down the front, and turned up with red at the skirts, aiul reaching 
almost to the heels ; yellow vest and breeches : stiffened wide ruf- 
fles; white cotton stockings, and black leggings, buttoned down 
the side; sharp-toed shoes, and large buckles, almost covering 
tlie toes. In conformity with the universal fashion at the time, 
they all wore long hair, imwdered, clubb'd or cued, and dangling 
below the shoulder blade. They also wore the large '•artillery 
cocked hat," square to tlic front, in marching, with a long black 
feather waving aloft at evei'v step. 



"• riie world accounts an honourable man, 
Because, forsooth, his courage iias been tried 
And stood the test, — perhaps on the wrong side." 

HARD is the force of tyrant cnstoni, whicli constrains men to 
seek its sanctions, even when opposed to their better reason and 
against the common feelings of nature and humanity. The 
"world's dread laugh which scarce the firm ])hilosopher can 
scorn" has its fi'cquent victims, in those chiefly who make its ap- 
plauses their all. The combatant, seeking "the bubble reputatioji," 
feels sensibly his flinging away his life in the midst of his years, even 
while the allurements and blandishments of the world he is about 
leaving, or, perchance, the fond family he is about bereaving, may 
be still clinging to his heart. Yet he must wrap himself up in his 
solitary and secret misery — making himself of sterner stufl' than his 
common nature, and freezing with the necessary dread that in a 
few hours he may be a cold and bloody corse. This is appalling 
enough, and all further fate he smothers, as needs he must, in 
<• heroic want of thought." Cheerless they go to their appointment 
witii countenances pale and scowling, or reddened with internal 
emotions — wrapped in moody silence, and inwardly cursing the 
silly cjistom to which they thus sacrifice present and future peace. 
The heartless apathy of some, whose indifference proceeds from 
atheism — wlio believe in no offended God. and rest their liope " in 
an eternal sleep," — these may scout '' the anguish of a wound," and 
brave deatli on terms too unequal for a better informed mind. Ou 
wliatever terms they occur, they are always an evil deeply to be 
deplored. Many aged persons have deemed them of such rare 
occurrence among our citizens as not to have been known before 
the Revolution, but as I have found here and there a trace of them 
in all former times, I have been induced to note them, not for com- 
memoration or perpetuity, but as marking the state of society at 
every time, and in all its relations, to wit : 

It may sound *• passing strange" that a gentleman of the holy 
office, should possess the scandalous pre-eminence of being the first 
nn the list in the peaceful city of Pcnn. He did not indeed fight. 



280 Duels. 

I)tit his demeanniir was so far sccuralized as to provoke and receive 
a challenge. The case was this, to \^ it : 

In the year 1715, the court enter proceedings against Peter 
Evans, gentleman, for sending a challenge to Francis Phillips, 
clergyman. The oi'iginal challenge in the clerks office has heen 
in my possession, and, as a curiosity, reads as follows, to wit : 

^' To Mr. Francis Phillips, Philadelphia, — Sir, You have basely 
scandalized a gentlewoman that I have a profound respect for. And 
for my part shall give you a fair opportunity to defend yourself to- 
moi'row morning on the west side of Joseph Carpenter's garden, 
[the present Ai-cade, I believe,] betwixt seven and eight, where 1 
shall expect t«j meet you gladio cindus, in failure whereof, depend 
upon the usage you deserve from — y'r ever — 

PETER EVANS, 
at the Pewter Platter, [Inn.] 

At the same time a billa vera is found against the clergyman 
himself, for some mal conduct, and not long after, his people, sensi- 
ble of his misconduct, dismiss him from his pastoral care. 

1721 — The Grand Jury present the case of Selom Fry, mariner, 
who challenged Francis Jones to fight with swords — and both were 
wounded. 

1750 — Thomas Crosse, gentleman, challenges Hugh Davy to 
fight witli swords, whereby the latter was wounded. 

About the time of the Revolution there wore three cases of duels : 
Colonel Cadwallader accepted the challenge, and fought General 
Conway ; the latter was wounded. Doctor W. fought a duel with 
another gentleman about a young Quaker lady. — The former shot 
ins pistol in the air, and so made it a bloodless case and a drawn 
battle. A singular case of duel occurred in 1778 or '79, be- 
tween Henry Laurens, President of Congress, and John Penn, 
member of Congress from North Carolina. The parties w^ere 
fellow boarders, and breakfasted together the same morning. They 
started to go out Chesnut street to the vacant lot vis a vis present 
Masonic Hall. In crossing at Fifth street, where was then a deep 
slough, Mr. Penn kindly offered his hand to aid Mr. Laurens, 
who was much the oldest, and when it was accepted he suggested 
to him that their meeting (solicited by Laurens) was a foolish 

affair, kc to which Mr. L. assenting it was made up on the 

spot. This Penn Avas no relative of William Penn. 

While tlie Congress sat in Philadelpiiia, about the year 1798-9, 
the Hon. James A. Bayard, then a member, fought a duel with 
another member in a disused saw-pit shed, then standing at the 
north end of Front street, at the corner where the roads lead over 
tlie stone bridge to Kensington. It was a rainy day, and they took 
shelter there. Both this place, and that above-mentioned, pre- 
sent themselves to our minds now as strangely exposed places, 
by present public resort, for fighting duels ' But these facts evinc»» 



Duels. 281 

iiow surprisingly population has extended westward and north- 
ward. 

In the year 1824, there appeared in the Philadelphia *' City 
Register," and other Gazettes, a detailed account of all tlie known 
duels occurring in the United States from the year 1 801 — published 
wnth a design •* to awaken more attention to tlic wide-spread and 
overwhelming misery occasioned by duelling." I notice it for the 
purpose of preserving the fact of such an unusual record ; but 
especially to notice a comparison of cases between Philadelphia 
and New York. The black list exhibits the names of nearly 100 
killed. Of the iluellists more than thirty were officers of the navy, 
and nearly thirty were officers of tlie army : This too, although 
the rules and articles of war say *' the parties shall be cashiered." 
In the list we see the names of candidates for the late Presidency, 
to wit : In i 802, William H. Crawford kills Peter Van Allen, in 
Georgia. In 1804, the same Mr. Crawford challenged General 
Clark, and was prevented by the civil power. — In 1806, thoy fight, 
and Crawford is wounded. In 1806, General Andrew Jackson 
fights and kills Charles Dickerson, at Nashville. Another candi- 
date, the Hon. Henry Clay, in 1809, fights and wounds H. Mar- 
shall; in Kentucky. 

List of Duels at Philadelphia, or by Philadelphians, from the begin- 
ning of this century, compared with Mw Fork for the same time, 
to wit: [Note — k. for killed, w. for wounded.] 

Philadelphia. 

1809— P. A. Browne— R. Rush. 

1809 — Sir George Macklin, of Great Britain, fought at Phila- 
delphia with Capt. F. of the French army — both wounded. 
1816— P. M. Potter, k. Lieutenant *>t»tha»sr- -S^Bxtr/- . 
1823 — General T. Cadwallader, w. Patison. 

JSTexv Fork. 

1801 — Livingston, k. Williamson, at Basseterre, (Midship- 
man.) 
K. Van Rensselear, k. G.R.Turner, — Cape Francaise, 

(officer.) 
Philip Hamilton, k. Backer, at Hoboken, (son of Gen.) 
1802 — Thomas Swartwout, k. Midshipman — Algesiras. 

Colonel Swartwout, w. Gov. De Witt Clinton— N. Y. 
1804 — Gen. A. Hamilton, k. A. Burr — New York. 
1808— Eli E. Danielson, k. P. P. Schuyler, (Midshipman.) 
1815 — Isaac Governeur, k. Unknown — New York. 
1816 — Benjamin Price, k. Green, w, — Ne^Y York. 
« P 



282 Duels. 

1S17— J. Gibbs, k. Unknown — New York. 
Heath, k. J. Hopkins — New York. 
1818— Heath— 0. H. Perry— New York. 
1821 — Unknown, k. Unknown, (navy officer.) 

In the foregoing comparison New York has a distinction — "^ all 
her own ; " and we, as Phila-Delphians, with more consistency of 
character, have shown the least breach of " brotherly love." 



THE 
DRAWBRIDGE AND DOCK CUREK. 



[iilusthated bt a plate.] 



AS early as the year 1691 it appears from '<the petition of the 
inliabitants of Philadelphia to the Governor and Council," signed 
by 32 inhabitants, that there was then a request made that the open 
area of Dock swamp, kc. might he forever left open as a public 
liighway for the general benefit of the citizens. The petition ap- 
pears to have been occasioned by Jeremiah Elfreth, and others, at- 
tempting to build on some parts of it. I abstract the pith of the 
reading in the words following, to wit : 

" Whereasi, Philadelphia was located because of its natural advantages 
of easy landing and contiguous coves, that by little labour might be made 
safe and commodious harbours for vessels, safe from winter and storms, 
[T'lis alludes to Dock swamp, and probably the area from Green street 
to Kensington Point Pleasant.] Accordingly the first settlers, invited by 
those conveniencies, seated them there, in the year 1682, and landed their 
goods at that low sandy beach, since called the Blue Anchor — (tavern.) 
[This beach means the lot of 100 feet breadth on Front street, in front of 
Budd's row, (as then called) being the first ten houses north of the Draw- 
bridge, and extending 250 feet into the river.] Since then all persons 
have used it as a common free landing for stones, logs, hay, lumber, 
and such other goods as could not with like ease and safety be 
landed at any other wharf and place — We, the inhabitants, to our great 
grief, have been informed that some persons, obtaining a grant from the 
Commissioners, have encroached on a part of that public flat sandy beach, 
and thus diminishing the common landing — and knowing no landing is so 
convenient, we beseech the Governor and Council would be pleased to 
order the bounds and breadth of the same." 

" And we also further beg, that all, or at least so much of the cove, at 
the Blue Anchor, [the house now Garrett's tobacco store, north west cor- 
ner of Front and Dock streets,] as possible may be laid out for a conve- 
nient harbour, to secure shipping against ice or other dangers of the winter, 
— there being no other place by nature so convenient for the ends pro- 
posed." Signed, by — Humphrey Murrey, [called " Mayor,"] John 
Holme, [Surveyor General,] David Lloyd, [Speaker of Assembly, and 
clerk of court,] Thomas Budd, [owner of the row,] WiUiam Bradford, 
[the first printer, and who was printer of the New York government for 
fifty years,] James Fox, Nathaniel Allen, Philip Howell, William Say, 
Thomas Griffith, Andrew Griscom, Philip Richards, and 20 others. 

It appears that a meeting of the Governor and Council was according' 



-84 The Drawbridge and Dock Creek. 

ly convened on the 3d of 6 mo. 1691. — Present, Thomas Lloyd, Deputy 
Governor, and John Simcock, John Delavall, Thomas Duckett, Griffith 
Owen, William Stockdale, and John Bristow, — and they proceed to de- 
cree and order " that in consequence of the application of the Mayor, 
Humphrey Murrey, in behalf of the said city," praying them " to regu- 
late the landing place, the end of the street, near the Blue Anchor, being 
the only cartable landing place to serve the south end of the town, and 
has been so used and enjoyed, till of late it was granted away by the Com- 
missioners of Property ; whereupon it is ordei-ed, that the said Mayor and 
Aldermen [of course it is probable the preceding petition signed by thir- 
ty-two inhabitants were them] have notice to attend the Governor and 
Council, to view the same — [which was done accordingly.] And upon 
the subject of a harbour for shipping, &c. near where the Blue Anchor 
stood, the Governor and Council duly weighing the powers granted by 
the King to Governor Penn for erecting keys, harbours, and landing, it 
is hereby declared and ordered, that there shall be left a vacancy between 
the north side of John Austin's frame of a house, upon the bank, and So- 
ciety Hill, extending about 400 feet in breadth towards the point of said 
hill, for a public landing place and harbour for the safety of ships and 
other vessels, and the same so to continue, until the proprietary's pleasure 
be known to the contrary ,(which it is certain he never did signify, and more 
especially as his city charter, of 1 70 1 , did confirm this very area,) not- 
withstanding any encroachments, grants, or patents, made of the said va- 
cancy by the Commissionersof Property to any person whatsoever." 

" And it is further ordered, that Jeremiah Elfreth, and all other persons 
concerned, pretending to have any title or right to the said vacancy or 
landing place, [meaning in front of Budd's row, and north of the Draw- 
bridge] shall desist and forbear encumbering the same, — but that they be 
repaid for their materials put upon the same." 

It appears, respecting the premises, that the Commissioners of Proper- 
ty, who had granted the above invasions, became dissatisfied with the 
above supreme decree of the Council, they therefore did what they 
could, by a nugatory protest under date of the 19th of 1 1 mo. 1691, to 
wit: Captain William Markham, Robert Turner, and John Goodson, say- 
ing, " Whereas, complaint was made to us by William Salloway, Grif- 
fith Jones, and Jeremiah Elfreth, that Thomas Lloyd, (Governor) Hum- 
phrey Murrey, (Mayor) and others, did often last summer come on their 
bank lots, and commanded their workmen to desist, to their delay and 
damage ; and whereas, William Salloway was refused by David Lloyd, 
clerk of court, to have his patent recorded — all which enoranities we con- 
sider to infringe on the rights of the proprietary to dispose of all lots and 
lands within this province. Sec. by his commission to us; therefore, we 
do in his name assert the patents granted by us to the above-named per- 
sons to be good and sufficient to them." 

[It now becomes a question, which are the places referred to above — 
I should judge that John Austin's frame house must have stood on the 
area, now open, north of the Drawbridge, on the east side of Front street ; 
and that the 400 feet was to extend from the north side of that house, 
down town, southward, to the extreme projecting point (towards the riv- 
er) of Society Hill, (which lay below Spruce street) and had its bounda- 
ry northward, about the 6th house below Spruce, in Front street, and 



The Drawbridge and Dock Creek. 285 

ihence it inclined south-eastward, over Water street to the river, having 
its margin watered by the Dock swamp. We ought, therefore, by this 
grant, to have had now an open view, from about the present Hamilton's 
wharf and store, down towards Pine street, of as much extent, as it now 
is, from Front to Second street, which is so near 400 feet as to be 396 feet. 
I infer, that what was called the ^' sandy beach," before Budd's row, was 
called also the bank lots, because it was in the line of Front street, which 
are, and were, so called ; and especially because the complaints of El- 
freth and others, who encroached on the beach, said they were molested 
on their bank lots.] 

In the year 1701, October 25, William Penn grants the charter 
of the city of Philadelphia, and therein ordains, that the landing 
place now and hereafter used at the Penny-pot house, [Vine street] 
and the Blue Andior. [Drawbridge] saving to all persons their just 
and legal rights and properties in the land so to be open : as also 
the swamp, between Budd's buildings and the Society Hill, shall be 
left open and common lor the use and service of the said city and 
all others, with liberty to dig docks and make harbours for ships 
and vessels in all or any part of said swamp. 

''The first house (says R. Proud) was built by George Guest, 
and not finished at the time of the proprietor's arrival.'* This 
Iiouse of Guest's was in Budd's row, and was kept by him as a 
tavern, called the Blue Anchor— the same afterwards called the 
Boatswain and Call, and lately superseded by a new building as a 
large tobacco-house, by Garrett. 

Robert Turner, in his letter of 1685 to William Penn, says, 
John Wheeler, from New England, is building a good brick house 
by the Blue Anchor— Arthur Cook is building him a brave brick 
house, near William Trampton's, on the Front street— and William 
Trampton has since built a good brick house by his brewhouseand 
bakehouse, and let the other for an ordinary. 

Mrs. Lvle, an ancient inhabitant, seen by Charles Thomson, 
who had come out with William Penn, said they chose to locate on 
the Dock creek as a place of business, because of its convenient and 
beautiful stream, which afforded them the means of having vessels 
come up close under their bakehouse, located below Second street. 
The ancient Mrs. Claypole, too, who lived on the north side of 
Walnut street, east of Second street, spoke much of the beautiful 
prospect before their door, down a green hank to the pretty Dock 
creek stream; 

Henry Reynolds, of Nottingham, Md. a public Friend, lived to 
the age of 94 years, and at his 84th year came to Philadelphia with 
his grandson Israel, who since told me of it.— He there showed him 
an old low hipp'd-roof house in Front street, above the Drawbridge, 
(western side) at which place he said he had often cultivated corn. 
He said he often used to sit in a canoe in Dock creek, at the back 
end of that lot, (which belonged to him,) and there caught many an 
excellent fish. He told him also of many occasions in which he 



286 The Drawbridge and Dock Creek. 

was in the company and converse of William Penn, both before and 
after his leaving Chichester in England, from which said Henry 
came. 

AVhat is cnrious in the above case, is, that the above-described 
lot of Henry Reynolds, which ran from Front to Second street quite 
across the creek, was at first so little regarded by him (who had 
gone to his lands, of 1000 acres, at Nottingham, near the line, and 
deemed at the time as within Penn's province,) that he took no mea- 
sures nor pains to exclude the city squatters. It was assumed by 
others ; and the pacific principles of the owner would not allow him 
to contend for it. The holders had procured a fictitious title, from 
two maiden women of the name, in Jersey, but they were not rela- 
tives, and had made no claim! The present Israel Reynolds, of 
Nottingham, and otlicr heirs, Avhere the family is numerous, tried 
the case of ejectment some years ago before Judge M'Kean, who 
charged the Jury not to allow such long unmolested possession to 
prevail, as a necessary means of preventing numerous other con- 
tentions ; for, in truth, many of the counti-y settlers who became 
entitled to corresponding city lots, so little regarded their value, as 
to utterly neglect them — or, at best, they leased them for a trifle 
for 100 years, which they then deemed equivalent to an eternity ; 
but which now, in several cases, I am told, is becoming an object 
to reclaim by unexpected heirs, or, more properly, by sordid per- 
sons with no better titles than their knowing the defects in the 
titles of present and long Iwidisputed occupants. 

In 1699, the only two tanyards, then in the city, were then on 
Dock creek, viz. Hudson's and Lambert's, and but few houses 
near them ; and yet, from those few houses, many died of yellow 
fever, communicated from Lambert, who sickened and died in 
two days ! 

In 1704, the Grand Jury present *'the bridge, going over the 
dock at the south cud of the town," as insuflicient and dangerous 
to man and beast. It w as for awhile before used as a ferry i)lace. 
In 1706, the Grand Jury again speak of tiie place of the bridge, 
saying they have viewed the same and found the bridge had been 
broken down, and carried away by storm, and recommend it to be 
rebuilt. 

They present also the wharves between Anthony Morris' brew - 
house [above the bridge] and John Jones', as vei-y injurious to the 
people along King street — [now AVater street.] 

In 1712, they again present the public kennel there as full of 
standing water. 

In 1713, they present, as not passable, the Drawbridge [the first 
time so named !] at the south end of Front street, and the causeway 

at the end of said bridge And again, they say "the bridge at 

the dock mouth," and the causeway betwixt that and Society Hill, 

vant repair — so also the bridge over the dock and Second street. 

Iv. 1739, the citizens present a petition that the six tanners on 



The Di-axvhridgc and Dock Creek. 28 r 

Dock creek sliall be obliged to remove tbeir yards out of the town, 
and as being nuisances and choking up the dock, which used to he 
navigable formerly as high as Third street. They compromise, 
by agreeing to pave their yards, &c. and not thereafter to buri* 
their tan on the premises, so as to smoke the neighbourhood. 

In 1739, Hamilton's fine new buildings near the bridge [the 
same place now bearing his name, on the north side of the dock,] 
took fire, and were called a great loss, as an ornament to tbe town. 
They were consumed before they were finished. Only three ycarr; 
before, Budd's long row took fire, but was extinguislied. 

In 1741, the Grand Jury present the streets laid out along each 
side of the dock between Second and Third streets, as well as the 
said dock, as much encumbered, by laying great heaps of tan 
therein. In High street the water-course, from the widow" Har- 
man*s to the common-shore across High street, is very much gul- 
lied and dangerous. Thus intimating, as I conceive, that there 
was then a common-shore or landing for wood, &c. as high up 
Dock creek as to the corner of Fourth and High streets. 

In 1742, John Budd, as heir to <* Budd's long row," claims the 
ends of the lots bordering on the dock, and publicly proposes to 
convey '* the whole swamp" (the present Dock street) to any 
who will buy his titles. 

In 1747, tlie Grand Jury present that it is the universal com- 
plaint of all the neighbours adjacent to the dock, that a swamp, 
near it, for w ant of cleansing, &c. [by not draining along Spruce 
street, I presume,] has been of fatal consequence to the neighbour- 
hood in the last summer. 

In 1747 — October — On a representation made to the Common- 
Council, that '' the swamp between Budd's row and Society Hill," 
as it now lies, is a great nuisance, and injurious to the healtli of 
those near it, it was resolved to appoint Benjamin Franklin, 
AVilliam Logan, &c. as a committee to consider of the best means 
of removing the nuisance, and of improving the said sw amp — [lay- 
ing along on the north side of Spruce street, whei*e is now the city 
lot.] At the same time an address was moved to the proprietor oil 
the same occasion. Afterwards, in February, 1748, the committee 
report, that there be a convenient dock of sixty feet wide as far as 
the said swamp extends westwards, — a brancli of thirty feet wide 
on the soutii west, and forty feet wide on the nortli west, to be left 
open for the reception of flats, boats, and other small craft — that 
the remainder ougljt to be filled up above the side, and walled in 

with a stone wall, and made landing places for wood, kc that 

the said dock be dug out, so deep that the bottom may always be 
covered with water — that the common sewer on the south west 
branch (Little Dock street now) be continued to the dock. They 
further add, that the owners, adjoining to the dock, have agreed 
to dig out their respective shares, provided the city bear the expense 
of the floodgates at the several bridges. 



28S The Drawbridge and Dock Creek. 

In 1748, Secretary Peters, in writing to the proprietaries, speaks 
of filling up the dock swaiDp groimd on the northern side of Spruce 
street, by using the ground from the neighbouring hills. As the 
Dock creek, by neglect, was suffered to nil up. and so have its 
bottom exposed to the eye and to the sun-beams, it was deemed by 
some likely to be pernicious to health. Such physicians as were 
unfriendly to its continuance open declared it pernicious. Doctor 
Bond, for instance, asserted that fewer ounces of bark would be 
used, after its filling up. than pounds before ! Doctor Rush, aftei- 
him, in later time, gave his influence to have it filled up, by ex- 
citing the people to an alarm for their health ; for some time he 
stood quite unsupported. On the other hand, those who thought 
a stream of water, changing with the tide, an ornament to the 
city, (among whom Tench Francis appeared as a leader and a 
writer,) were streiuious in endeavouring to pieserve the original 
creek. In the present day, we are aware that a dredge could keep 
it deep enough, and the rich deposit for the use of land might de- 
fray the expense. 

In 1750, they present the arch over the Dock creek, on Chesnut 
street, as fallen down and dangerous, — and 

In 1751, they present that part of Front street southward of the 
Drawbridge, and opposite to the city lots, as impassable for want 
of filling up, &c. — and 

In 1753, they present Spruce street, from Front to near Second 
street, as impassable. 

In 1753, "The Mayor and Commonalty of Philadelphia" pro- 
pose to let the lot of ground of 100 feet in breadth on the east side 
of Front street, north of the Drawbridge, thence 250 feet into the 
river. In consequence of this, the Wardens, Commissioners, As- 
sessors, and Overseers of the poor, at the retiuest of the Freemen 
of this city, present a memorial to the Mayor and Commonalty, 
assembled on the 16th of February, 1753; an abstract of which 
reads, to wit : '^ That by the mutual consent of our worthy pro- 
prietary and the inhabitants, the two public landing places, at the 
Penny-pot house and Blue Anchor, were appointed to be left oper 
and common, for the use of the inhabitants, and as much so a? 
any of the streets." — 

'' That the landing place at the Blue Anchor, was at first very 
large and commodious, and of much greater extent than it is at 

present That in or about the year 1689, the proprietary commis- 

sioners made grants to several persons for lots on the river Dela 
ware, which were a part of the said landing place." — 

'•That the Mayor and inhabitants, knowing these grants were 
an infraction of their rights in the same, petitioned the Governor 
and Council for redress ; that therefore, the said Governor and 
Council decreed the removal and clearance of materials from the 
same, so as to restore the same to the original design of a public 
and common landing : that therefore, the landing place remained 



The Drawbridge and Dock Creek. 289 

free and open upwards of 60 years— that the charter of 1701 or- 
dained the said landing places to be left open and common Tliat 

by long experience, the said landings appear to be of great service, 
affording landing for fire-wood, charcoal, bark, timber, boards, 
stones — That the inhabitants are much dissatisfied with the pro- 
posal to let the said landing place on ground-rent for ever, and 
therefore, hope they will rescind their Resolutions to let the same." 
It was not let. 

In 1764, the Common Council resolve to build a fish market, "for 
the purpose of filling up the vacancy between the new stone bridge 
on Front street and the wooden bridge on King street, (Water 
street) — The stone bridge was built the year preceding. About 
this time parts of Front and Water streets were paved. The same 
building wiiich was the fislj market is still staiidijig, in altered con- 
dition, as a store. — It was raised chiefly by subscription. 

The present aged Colonel A. J. Morris told me he remembered, 
in his youth, seeing men digging for the foundation of tiie Second 
street bridge over Dock creek, to make a bridge of stone. There 
he saw the Irish diggers rejoicing, and saying they had dug up pure 
Irish turf ! He saw lumps, from a great depth, having a conge- 
ries of black roots. This agrees with tlie fact of having to drive 
piles for the Insurance Oflice on the north east corner, and also 
with the fact of having to dig seventeen feet for the foundation of 
F. West's house in Dock street, where, at twelve to thirteen feet, 
they came to complete turf. 

1767 — The Walnut street and Third street bridges, across the 
Dock creek, existed as late as this time, because both are publicly 
referred to then, in relation to a bill of sale for ground there. 
Very lately too, remains of the Third sti'eet bridge were found un> 
der ground in digging near Girard's Bank. 

The aged Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Congress, told me 
he remembered an acquaintance who came out at the first settle- 
ment with Penn, and wintered his vessel at the lower part of Dock 
harbour, as a security against the ice. He also told me that he 
had himself seen sloops and schooners loading and unloading flour, 
grain, &c. in all the length of Dock creek, up to Second street 
bridge. The foot-pavements of Dock street are much higher now 
than then, probably as much as 4 to 5 feet. Some of the old houses 
lately in Dock street would prove this, by going down steps to the 
first floor, where they originally were up a step or two above groimd. 
The making a great tunnel through Dock creek, and filling up so 
much earth, was a labour of great magnitude, in the year 1784, 
when it was executed. Tanyards on Third street, south of Girard'g 
Bank, adjacent to Dock creek, remained there until a few years 
ago, resting full three feet lower than the level of Third street. 

I am much indebted to the intelligence and observation of the 
late Samuel Ricfiards, a long resident of "Budd's row,** for his 
accurate knowledge of facts and occurrences in his neighbourhood, 
2 Q 



29U The Drawbridge and Dock Creek. 

He was a silversmith — of the Society of Friends — died in Septem- 
ber, 1827, in his 59th year. I connect his communications with 
the following facts, to wit : 

Budd's row was formerly ten houses in all. Five houses on the west 
side of Front street nearest to the Drawbridge, on the north end, were 
built first; then five more in continuation and further north. They were 
the first built houses in Philadelphia — (that is, the first five, and the " sixth 
house" was the house, now down, the second door north of Walnut 
street, on the west side of Front street.) The houses of Budd's row, 
Mere all two stories, were first framed of heavy timber and filled with 
bricks ; the wood was, however, concealed, and only showed the lintels 
or plate pieces over the windows and doors, which were covered with 
mouldings ; the uprights for windows and doors were grooved into that 
cross timber, and looked like ordinary door and windqvv frames. The 
whole buildings were founded under ground on a layer of sap slab-boards, 
and yet, strange to tell, when some of them were taken up, 12 years ago, 
by Richards, to build his present three story brick house. No, 136, they 
were all hard and sound ; but after a week's exposure to the sun and air, 
crumbled into dust 1 

This " row" of houses were so much lower than the present Front 
street, that for many years (I remember it) the paved carriage-street 
was three to four feet higher towards the Drawbridge than the foot-pave- 
jTient along the row, and therefore there was at the gutter-way a wall of 
defence, to keep the pebble pavement from falling in on the foot-pave- 
ment, and a line of posts and hand-rail also protected it. At the south end 
df the foot-pavement, to ascend up into the Dock street, there was a 
flight of four steps and a hand-rail — this was before the old tavern then 
called the Boatswain and Call, but which was originally Guest's " Blue 
Anchor," the first built house in Philadelphia, and where William Penn 
nrst landed from Chester. 

The houses now numbered 126 and 128, are the only houses now re- 
maining of the original row, and they were of the second row. They 
have heavy girders exposed along the ceiling over head, and have had 
their lower floors raised, and they are still below the street ; they are 
very respectable looking houses, now modernized with large bulk win- 
dows. The whole row of ten houses went up to the " stone house" of 
Andrew Doe, nov/ plastered over. All the houses once had leaden 
framed windows, of diagonal squares, and all the cellars were paved, and 
ysed to have water in them occasionally. 

The houses on the east side of Front street, too, of the first day, were 
all lower than the street, and had also a wall of defence ; the descent of 
Front street began at the " stone house" on the west, and on the east 
side as high up as the present high observatory house — (probably the 
tenth house from the present south end.) Morris' malthouse was there, 
and his brewhouse was on the east side of Water street. In one of these 
the Baptists, in 1700, kept their Meeting. 

Dock street was left open, forming a square (oblong) at the Draw- 
bridge, so as to be dug out, down to Spruce street, for ships ; but while 
it was in a state of whortleberry swamp (or unchanged from that, its 
original state) old Benjamin Loxley, who died in 1801, at the age of 82, 
filled it up, when a young man, for his board-yard. Old John Lownes 



Tlie Drawbridge and Dock Creek. 2i)l 

(who lived in Budd's row) told Richards that he often gathered whortle- * 
berries in the swamp, on the north side of Spruce street. He and others 
told Richards too, that Uock creek, before directed out under the present 
bridge, used more naturally, or at least equally so, to go out to the river 
across Spruce, west of Front street, and then traversed Water street, 
north of Sims' house. 

Samuel Richards, when digging down the old cellar to lay a deeper 
foundation to build his present house, (No. 136,) at the depth often feet, 
came to the root or stump of a tree 18 inches diameter, and in its roots, 
at their junction with the stump, he found a six pound cannon bail, of 
whicli he made me a present ; it was not imbedded, but appeared to 
have been shot into the cluster of roots. 

At the house. No. 132, Front street, where John Crowley now lives, 
■which was built up in 1800, and Budd's house taken down, for Judge 
Mark Wiicox, near the first cellar wall, and deeper than the first foun- 
dation, (below the slabs,) they came to an entire box of white pipes ! 
Richards saw them. 

Richards' father, and others, often told him that tidewaters used to go 
as high up Little Dock street water as to St. Peter's church. The t\m- 
nel now goes there in the old bed and under the lot which was Parson • 
Duche's house. They also told Richards, that when Penn first came to 
the city, he came in a boat from Chester, and landed at Guest's Blue 
Anchor tavern — this was an undoubted tradition, and was then, no doubt, 
the easiest means of transportation or travelling. — [Guest was a Friend, 
and was in the first Assembly.] When Richards was a boy (and before 
his time,) the Blue Anchor was kept by three Friends in succession — • 
say, Rees Price, Peter Howard, and Benjamin Humphrey? — -they told of 
Penn's landing there. 

In rebuilding Garrett's house, on the site of the Blue Anchor jnn, they 
had to drive piles thirty to forty feet deep to get a solid foundation ; they 
cost 800 dollars. [Does not this indicate a much deeper original creek 
rn Dock street than is generally remembered !] 

A foot bridge used to cross Dock creek, frqm the west end of Gar- 
rett's stores, (on the south end of Dock street) over to near Hollings- 
%vorth's stone house. It was a bridge with hand-rails, and was very high 
to permit vessels to pass under it. 

In the cellar door area of Levi Hollingsworth's stone house there was 
formerly a very celebrated spring, which was much resorted to ; and 
John Townsend, aged 78, an uncle of Richards', told me he often drank 
excellent water from it — it still exists, and is covered over in Hollings- 
worth's cellar. Formerly there was a frame house directly in front of the 
stone house — both were owned by William Brown — a Friend. 

A little north of this spring stood a high mast pole surmounted at the 
top with what was called " the nine gun battery," being a triangle, on 
each angle of which were three wooden guns, with their tomkins in, &c. 
Isaac Vannost was a pumpmaker, and this was his sign; before his yard 
lay many pine logs floating in the dock. 

The lots appertaining to Budd's row all run out to Dock street, and 
now one of the ancient houses i-emain there, a two story brick ; which is 
♦hree feet below the pavement. 

Mr. Menzies, a watchmaker, at the south west corner ot Spruce and 



292 Th& Drawbridge and Dock Creek. 

.Front streets, and Paul Freno, a neighbour, aged 65, told me that 
Loxley told them, that about 20 years ago at digging the pump -well in 
Spruce street, before B. Graves' door, the diggers dug into something 
like the stern part of a vessel, and that the blue earth which came up, 
when dried and put to the fire, inflamed like g\mpowder, which he be- 
lieved it was. Menzies seemed to discredit this ; but Freno believed, 
and so did the sisters of Loxley, (son of the old Captain Loxley) whom 
I consulted, and who said they saw the blue earth, and heard it said it 
would inflame. 

These stories, being somewhat current, induced a belief that when 
Gr.ves, some six years ago, took down the old buildings along Spruce 
street tiiere to rebuild his present three houses, that he should probably 
find some remains of a vessel, and also that it would prove a boggy 
foundation. He, therefore, prepared large flat stones to found his foun- 
dation upon ; but, to his surprise, it was not necessary, and he found at 
a proper depth good sand. But as the imagination was active, some of 
the workmen, whom I saw, told me they had actually come to the deck 
of a vessel ! But I am satisfied it was merely the remains of a kind of 
tanyard, which had sunk hogsheads and such slender vats for lime-pits, 
as Mr. Graves assured me he was satisfied they were. Some of the 
boards there they took for a deck ! 

There is direct evidence that the river came, in some early da^r, up 
Spruce street, probably to Little Water street, because all the houses on 
the south side of Spruce street have now to have very shallow cellars, 
and as high up as P. Freno's house. No. 28, (three doors west of Graves') 
water still occasionally overflows his shallow cellar ; Graves' cellars are 
all very shallow. The houses on both sides of Front street, below Spruce 
street, to the fifth house on the west, and to the sixth house on the east, 
have all water in their cellars, and some have sink wells, and others have 
■wells and pumps in them. The bakehouse, No. 146, (an old house on 
the west side) is now emptied every morning of some water, and 
the house at the south east corner of Spruce and Front streets is 
pumped out every day. None of these houses on the east side of 
Front street have any privies in their cellars, because of the inability 
to dig them there. The house on the east side of Water street. 
No. 135, at the corner of the first alley below Spruce street, has a 
drain, running down that alley (Wain's) to the river. It was discovered 
bv Mr. P. Freno, 20 years ago, while he lived there ; he told me he found 
the pebble pavement to cave in just in front of the sill of his cellar door, 
and he had the curiosity to dig down to it — at two feet below the cellar 
level, he found a wooden trunk of two and a half feet square, somewhat 
decayed ; before he came to it, he could distinctly hear the flapping of 
fish in it from the river ; he believed it traversed Water street, and was 
an original drain from the dock water in Front street, &c. Other persons 
tell me that that alley has since several times caved in and been filled 
up, but without digging down to examine the cause. I expect the wharf 
has now cut off" the drain. 

Mr. Freno told me, that in laying the water pipes, they found in Spruce 
street, near Graves', small brick tunnels as if intended for drains origi- 
nally from the houses, and at the corner of Spruce and Front streets 
there appear two or three drains of flat stones, inclining towards th^ 



The Drawbridge and Dock Creek. 293 

river. At about the sixth house in Front below Spruce street, the gravel 
hill of Society Hill begins to show itself in digging to lay the water pipes. 
Mrs. Jones, aged 60, and Mrs. Rees, aged 50, daughters of old 
Captain Benjamin Loxley, who died in 1801, at 82 years of age, related 
to me that they were told by their father, that when he built the row of 
three 3 story brick houses in which they dwell, called Loxley's Court, 
(probably 1 30 feet back from the south side of Spruce street) he built it 
near the margin of Society Hill, and there were then no houses in advance 
of him on Spruce street, as there is now. His court yard, now of thirty 
feet depth, in which used to be a fine green bank and beautiful fruit 
trees, (which the British cut down,) went to the extreme margin of the 
original swamp ground. His houses were cut into the hill, for the gar- 
den of his house in the rear is full five feet higher than the front lot 
yard. 

He told his daughters, that all the open square on the north side of 
Spruce street, from Front up to Little Dock street, he had filled up at 
great expense and with many thousand loads of earth, for the use of 
the area for a term of years for a lumber yard. [I find he advertises 
lumber there for sale in 1755."] He told them it was all a whortleberry 
swamp before he began to fill it up. 

He told them he had gone in a boat up the south west branch of the 
dock water, in high tides, up as high as Union and Third streets. 

He told them he had heard Whitfield preach from the balcony of his 
house. No. 177, south Second street, at the corner of Little Dock street, 
and that there was a spring open then opposite, at the foot of a rising 
ground, on the lot where Captain Cadwallader lived, and where Girard 
has since built four large houses. He had to drive piles to make the 
foundation over the spring. Samuel Coates confirmed this same fact to 
me of the spring, and Whitfield's preaching there. 

Some amusing traits of old Captain Loxley's usefulness as an artillery 
man, to defend the city against the Paxtang boys, is told by Graydon in 
his memoirs. He was made a lieutenant of artillery, in 1756, on the 
alarm of Braddock's defeat the year before. 

Mr. Thomas Wood told me he remembered Dock street water — 
the sides of the water passage were all of hewn stone, and had sev- 
eral steps occasionally down to the water. He remembered several 
tanyards on the western side, near to the southern end, viz. Mor- 
ris'", Rutherford's, Snowden's ; and next to these was Isaac Van- 
nost's pump and block shop, having many pine logs laying before 
it in the water. 

At Thomas Shield's house, No. 13, Dock street, in digging for 
a foundation, they came to a regular hearth and chimney ; the 
hearth lay 1 h feet below springtide mark. It might be question 
ed whether tides rose so high formerly as since. 

On page 279 of my MS. Annals in the City Library is a draft 
of the general neighbourhood of Dock creek landing — the houses in 
it, representing Budd's long row, were constructed of frame work, 
and filled in with small bricks, imported with the first settlers, as 
was much of the lighter i>art of the more intricate frame work. 
The windows were all lattice-paned in lead, and all the buildings 



294 The Drawbridge and Dock Creek. 

in the rear were formed of boards of more modern construction. 
Over the Dock creek to the western side of Dock street was a nar- 
row foot bridge, over which single horses sometimes went. A lofty 
mast was erected at tlie western end of the bridge surmounted with 
a pump and a triangular frame, on each of which angles projected 
3 wooden guns — the whole bearing the popular name of Vannost's 
*' nine gun battery." It was all intended as his si^n, as a mast- 
maker, pumpmaker, &c. 

Those houses, called '' the row," although originally so elevated 
above the common surface of tlie surrounding earth as to have steps 
up to their first floors, became in time, by the raising of the Front 
street, fully 3 feet lower than the street at its southern end. 

The streets verging to Dock street had formerly a very consid- 
erable descent — thus down Walnut street, from Third street, was 
once a hill, and the same could be said of its going downliill from 
Walnut street towards Girard's Bank. Where Little Dock street 
joins to Second street some of the houses, still there, show that the 
street has been raised above them fully 4 feet; there was originally 
a hollow there. 

Mr. Samuel Richards told me he saw the laying of the first tun- 
nel (in 1784) along the line of Dock creek — it is laid on logs framed 
together and then planked, and thus the semicircular arch rests up- 
on that base. He thinks nothing remarkable was seen or dug out, 
as they did not go deeper tlian the loose mire required. He said 
boys were often drowned there before it was filled up. Much of 
the earth used in filling it up was drawn from Pear street hill, and 
from Society Hill — from that part of it which lay on the west side 
of Front street, between Lombard and South streets. It was there 
10 feet higher than the present street. While digging there the 
bank fell in and smothered four boys in their play ! 



r^ 



.■A- 







^ 



A 



^i 



THE 

OLD COURT HOUSE 

4ND 

rRISNDS' MEETXNG. 

[illustrated by a PLATE.] 



THIS once venerable building, long divested of its original hon- 
ours by being appropriated during the years of tlie present genera- 
tion to the humble purposes of offices and lumber rooms for city 
watchmen and clerks of the markets, &c. had long been regarded 
by many as a rude and undistinguished edifice, — 

But this structure, diminutive and ignoble as it may now appear 
to our modern conceptions, was the chef (Vouvre and largest en- 
deavour of our pilgrim fathers. Assessments, gifts, and fines, were 
all combined to give it the amplitude of the *' Great Town House," 
or ^* Guild Hall," as it was occasionally at first called. In the 
then general surrounding waste, (having a duck pond on its nor- 
thern aspect,) it was deemed no ill-graced intrusion to place it in 
the middle of the intended unencumbered and wide street ; — an ex- 
ception, however, to which it became in early days exposed, by 
pamphlets, pasquinades, &c. eliciting on one occasion "the second 
(angry) address of Andrew Marvell," &c. 

Before its erection, in 1707, its place was the lionoured site of 
the great town bell, erected upon a mast, whence royal and provin- 
cial proclamations, &c. were announced. That bell, now the cen- 
tenary incumbent of the cupola, could it rehearse its former doings, 
might, to our ears, *' a tale unfold " of times and incidents by-gone, 
which might wonder-strike our citizens ! — 

T 'would tell of things so old, " that history's pages 
Contain no records of its early ages !" 

Among the relics which I have preserved of this building, is a 
picturesque view, as it stood in primitive times, having a pillory, 
prison cage, &c. on its eastern side, and the " Great Meeting- 
house" of Friends on the south, secluded within its brick wall-en- 
closure, on ground bestowed by the Founder "for truth's and 
Friends* sake." I have, too, an original MS. paper, giving in de- 



296 The old Court House and Friends* Meeting. 

tail the whole expenses of the structure, and the payments, "hy tiie 
penny tax," received for tlie same, and showing, in that day, a loss 
of " old currency " of ^, to reduce it to new, — and withal, present- 
ing a curious exhibit of the prices of materials and labour in that 
early day — sucli as bricks at 29s. 6d. per m. and bricklaying at 
14s. per m. making, in all, an expense of 616£. Samuel Powell, 
who acquired so much wealth by city property, was the carpenter. 

The window casements were originally constructed with little 
panes set in leaden frames — and the basement story, set on arches, 
had one corner for an auction room, and the remainder was occu- 
pied by the millers and their meal, and by the linen and stocking 
makers from Germantown. Without the walls on the western side 
stood some moveable shambles, until superseded, in 1720, by a 
short brick market house. 

We have long since transferred our affections and notices to its 
successor, (the now celebrated 'Hall of Independence," i. e. our 
present State-house,) now about to revive its fame under very 
cheering auspices, — but, this Town House was once the National 
Hall of legislation and legal learning. In its chambers sat our Co- 
lonial Assemblies : tiiere they strove nobly and often for the pub- 
lic weal ; opposing themselves against the royal prerogatives of 
the Governors ; and though often defeated in their enactments by 
royal vetos or the Board of Trade, returning to their efforts under 
new forms and titles of enactments, till they worried kingly or 
proprietary power into acquiescence or acknowledgement. — With- 
in those walls were early cherished those principles of civil liber- 
ty, which, when matured, manifested themselves in the full spirit 
of our national Independence. Here David Lloyd and Sir William 
Keith agitated the Assemblies as leaders of the opposition, com- 
bining and plotting with their colleagues, and forming cabals that 
were not for the good of the people nor of the proprietaries. Here 
Isaac Norris was almost perpetually President, being, for his pop- 
ularity and excellence, as necessary an appendage of colonial en- 
actments as was the celebrated Abram Newland to the paper cur- 
rency of England^ Here came the Governors in state to make 
their " speeches." On some occasions they prepared here great 
feasts to perpetuate and honour such rulers, making the tables, on 
which they sometimes placed their squibs and plans of discord, be- 
come the festive board of jocund glee and happy union. From the 
balcony in front, the newly arrived or installed Governors made 
their addresses to the clieering populace below. — On the steps, de- 
pending formerly from the balcony on either side, tustled and wor- 
ried the fretted Electors ; ascending by one side to give in their 
votes at the door at the balcony, and thence descending southward 
on the opposite side. On the adjacent ground occurred "the bloody 
Election" of 1742— a time, when the sailors, coopers, &c. com- 
bined to carry their candidates by exercise of oaken clubs, to the 
great terror and scandal of the good citizens — when some said 



The old Court House and Friends^ Meeting. 297 

Judge Allen set tlicm on, and others that they were instigated by 
young Enilen; but the point was gained — to drive ''theNonis 
partisans" from -'the stairs." where, as they alleged, they '*for 
years kept tlie place," to the exclusion of other voters. I have in 
my possession sevei-al caricatures, intended to traduce and stigma- 
tize the leadei's in those days. Two of them, of about the year 
1765, give the Election groupes at the stairs and in the street ; 
and appended to the grotesque pictures, pro and con, are many 
verses: — One is called ''the Election Medley and Squire Lilliput," 
and the other is "the Counter Medley and Answer to the Dunces." 
fn these we sec many of the ancestors of present respectable fami- 
lies portrayed in ludicrous and lampooned characters. Now the 
combatants all rest in peace, and if the scandal was revived, it 
would be much more likely to amuse than to offend the families in- 
terested. Then arrests, indictments and trials ensued for the in- 
glorious "riot," which kept "thctowne" in perpetual agitation! 
A still greater but more peaceful crowd surrounded that balcony, 
when Whitfield, the eloquent pulpit orator, stirred and affected the 
crowd below, raising his voice "to be readily heard by boatmen 
on the Delaware!" — "praising faith," and "attacking works," 
and good Bishop Tillotson : and incensing the papists among us 
greatly. The Friends, in many instances, thought him "not in 
sober mood" — and, among themselves, imputed much of his influ- 
ence on the minds of the unstable '*to priestcraft, although in him- 
self a very clever conversable man." From the same stand, stood 
and preached one Michael Welfare, "one of the cliristian philoso- 
phers of Conestoga," having a linen hat, a full beard, and his pil- 
grim staff, declaring himself sent to announce the vengeance of the 
Almighty against the guilty province! and selling his "warning 
voice" for 4d. 

Such were the various uses to which this Towne House was ap- 
- propriated, until the time of "the new State-house, erected in 1735; 
after wiiich, this before venerated Hall was supplanted and degra- 
ded to inferior purposes ; but long, very long, it furnished the on- 
ly chambers for the courts of the province. There began tlie first 
lawyers to tax their skill to make "the worst appear the better 
cause," — enrolling on its first page of fame the names of David 
Lloyd, Samuel Herset, Mr. Clark, Patrick Robinson, the renter of 
the first "hired prison," and Mr. Pickering, for aught we now 
know, the early counterfeiter. Tlien presided J udges * ' quite scru- 
pulous to take or administer oaths," and "some, for conscience 
sake," refusing Penn their services after their appointment. In 
aftertimes John Ross and Andrew Hamilton divided the honours 
of the bar — the latter, in 1735, having gone to New York to man- 
age the cause of poor Zenger, the persecuted printer, (by tlie Gov- 
ernor and council there) gave such signal satisfaction to the city 
rulers and people, that the corporation conferred on him the free- 
dom of the city, "in an elegant golden snulF-box with maiiy classi 
2 R 



£J98 The old Court House and Friends* Meeting. 

cal allusions." Descending in the scale to later times, and before 
the Revolution, we find such names, tliere schooled to their future 
and more enlarged practice, as Wilson, Sergeant, Lew is, Edward 
Biddle, George Ross, Reed, Cliew, Galloway, &c. — This last had 
much practice — became celebrated in the war for his union to Sir 
William Howe when in Pliiladelphia, suffered the confiscation of 
his estate, and, when in England, wrote publicly to disparage the 
inefficient measures of his friend the General, in subduing <'the un- 
natural rebellion" of his countrymen. — These men have long 
since left their renown and ''gone to their reward," leaving only, 
as a connecting link with the bar of the present day, such men as 
Judge Peters, and William Rawle, Esq. to give us passing recol- 
lections of what they may have seen most conspicuous and interest- 
ing in their manners or characters as public pleaders. 

Finally, ''the busy stir of man," and the rapid growth of the 
"busy mart," has long since made it a necessary remove of busi- 
ness from tlie old court house. Surrounding commerce has 
"choked up the loaded street with foreign plenty." But, while 
we discard the venerable pile from its former ennobling services, 
let us strive to cherish a lively remembrance of its departed glory, 
and w ith it associate the best affections due to our pilgrim ances- 
tors, though disused, not forgotten. 

The following facts will serve still further to enlarge and illus- 
trate the leading history of the building, to wit : 

High street, since called Market street, was never intended for 
a market place by Pcnn. — Both it and the court house, and all 
public buildings, as we are told by Oldmixon, were intended to 
have been placed at the Centre Square. When the court house 
was actually placed at Second and High streets, they were com- 
plained of by some as an infraction of the city scheme, and as mar- 
ring of its beauty. Proud calls it and the market buildings "a 
shameful and inconvenient obstruction." 

In the year 1705, the Grand Inquest resolved to recommend a 
tax of Id. per £. to be levied, to build a courthouse on pillars where 
the bell now stands. They also before present the market place 
as a receptacle for much rainwater. On another occasion they 
present a dirty place in Second street over against the '* Great 
Meeting-house," and a low dirty place in High street over against 
the free pump, near Doctor Hodgson's house. 

As early as the year 1684, ( 1st of 2d mo.) William Penn and 
council determined there should be a Provincial Court, of five Jud- 
ges, to try all criminal cases, and titles to land, and to be a Court 
of Equity, to decide all differences upon appeals from the county 
courts. Soon after the first Judges were appointed, to wit : Nicho- 
las Moore, Chief Justice ; William Welsh ; William Wood ; Rob- 
ert Turner, and John Eckley. 

In the year 1717, the court house being then ten years built, the 
Grand Jury present the county and city court house as very scan- 



The old Court House and Friends' Meeting. 299 

(lalous for want of being finished ; and whereas the several sums 
heretofore raised, for bridges, &c. have not been enough, tiiey re- 
commend a fuither tax, for those objects and to complete the court 
house, of id. per £. 

In the year 1736, Mr. Abel Noble preached, on Monday, from 
the court 'house steps, to a large congregation standing in Market 
sti'eet, on the subject of keeping the Sabbath. In the same year 
Michael Welfare appeared there to give his "warning voice." 
What was done by the celebrated Whitfield in this way will he 
found under his proper name. 

In the year 1740, the Gazette descriljes ''the customary feast at 
the court house, at the expiration of the Mayoralty," at which were 
present — the Governor and council, the corporation, and many ol 
the citizens. 

In 1742, on the vacation of the office of '• Public Vendue, for- 
merly held under the court house in Second street," John Clifton 
proposes to pay for it 1 10£. and Reese Meredith proposes to give 
100£. per annum, to be allowed to enjoy tlie privilege.* This of- 
fice seems to have been in the north west corner. The general va- 
cancy was a meal market ; and in tiie south east corner, in Timo- 
thy Matlack's time, they had a temporary prison under the steps;! 
in the north east corner, in T. Bradford's early days, was the 
stocks. — Both of these were under the stairs on Second street, de- 
pending on either side from the balcony over the arch, making an 
angle at the corner, so as to land the people in High street. 

On i)age 328 of my MS. Annals in the Historical Society is an 
original manuscript, showing the first cost of materials, &c. em- 
ployed in the construction of the court house, to wit : 616£. 

-' The Great Meeting House'' of Friends, 

At the south west corner of Second and High streets, w as origi- 
nally constructed in 1695; and ''great" as it was in the ideas of 
the primitive population, it was taken down in 1755, to build grea- 
ter. That, in time, became so shut in, and disturbed by the street- 
noise of increased population, that it was deemed expedient to sell 
off the premises, in the year 1808, and construct the large Meet- 
ing on their Arch street ground. 

This "Market street Meeting," as it was often called, had its 
original lot through the gift of George Fox, "for truth's and 
Friends' sake," he giving at the same time the lot at Fairhill for 
a like purpose. His idea was, that it might be located in the cen- 
tre of the town, and have as much as two acres as a ground to put 
their horses in ! The land itself was due to him under some promise 

* The vendue room in the north west corner, was rented by Council to Patrick Baird, in 
1730, at 8£. per annum. 

t I'his place under the steps in Second street, was originally constinicted by an order of 
•he City Council, of the year 1711 , " for a shop, to be let out to the best advantage." 



300 The old Court House and Friends- Meeting, 

of William Pcnn, and it is known that Penn was reluctant to have 
it chosen where it was, saying he was not consulted on the occa- 
sion by his commissioners, &c. In the final sale of it, for the pres- 
ent dozen liouses wliich stand upon the original site along High 
street a)id Second street, it produced a large sum of money to the 
Society. 

The first meeting-house was surmounted on tlie centre of its 4 
angled roof, by a raised trame of glass work, so constructed as to 
pass light down into the Meeting below, after the manner of the 
former Burlington meeting-house. 

The few facts concerning this house, in some instances, have 
fallen into other portions of this work. Only one anecdote remains 
to offer here: When the Friends were rebuilding in 1755-6, for 
the purpose of enlargement, one Davis, who had been expelled, 
seeing the work progressing, waggishly observed to the overseers : 
— "Only continue to weed the garden well, and you may yet find 
room enough ! " 



HIGH STREET PRISON 

AND 

MARKET SHAMBLES. 

[illustrated bt a plate."' 



" The gloomy jail where misery moans, — 
Spotted with all crimes." 

IN primitive days, wlien culprits were few, and society sample 
and sincere, the first prisons were small and of but slender mate- 
rials. There was at first a small cage for offenders — next a hired 
house with bars and fetters — then a brick prison on the site of the 
present Jersey market, fronting towards the old court house, at 
100 feet of distance. The facts are these, viz. 

Year 1682 — 16th of 11 mo. — The Council ordered that William 
Clayton, one of the Provincial Council, should build a cage against 
the next council-day. of seven feet long by five feet broad. 

1685 — The High Sheriff declared in court, that the hired house 
of Patrick Robinson, [tiie clerk of the Provincial Council. &c.] 
used by liim as a prison, was refitting, and that, with the fetters 
and chains, kc. and liis own attendance and deputies, he has 
a sufficient gaol ; and if any escapes occui-red lie would not blame 
the county, for want of a gaol, nor for tlie insufficiency of said 
house; whereupon, at the request of said Robinson, the yearly 
rent began this day for said house. 

It became a matter of curiosity in modern times to learn the 
primitive site of such a hired prison. No direct testimony could 
be found ; but several facts establish the idea that it occupied 
the ground on the western side of Second street, between High 
street and the Christ church — for instance, Mr. C. Graff, the pre- 
sent owner of the house on the north west corner of Second and 
High streets, (the premises first owned by Arthur Cook) has a 
patent of the year 1684, which speaks of the prison on his northern 
line, to wit : " I, William Penn, proprietary, kc. Whereas, there is 
a certain lott of land in said city, containing in breadth 50 feet, and 
in length 102 feet, bounded northward with the prison, eastward with 
the Second street, southward witli the High street, westward with 
a vacant lott, &c." — Then grants tlie same to Arthur Cook, by- 
patent dated *'6 mo. 14th 1684. — Signed William Penn." 

The foregoing prison is confirmed by some modern facts : — Some 
years ago, when pulling down an old house which stood upon 



30£ Ulgk street i'rison and Market Shambles. 

Second street, on the site on which S. North, druggist, huilt the 
house No. 14, north Second street, they discovered the party walls, 
as they supposed, of the old jail — it was of four inch poplar plank, 
dove-tailed at the corners. Old Isaac Parrish, who told this and 
witnessed the disclosure, ^^ as pleased to add, tliat as he was show- 
ing it to Judge M'Kean, the latter remarked : — Times are changed 

indeed formerly wood was sufficient for confinement ; hut now, 

stone itself is no match for the rogues ! On searching the original 
patent for North's lot, it appears to have heen granted hy Penn 
on the 1st of December, 1688. and makes no reference to a prison. 
Mr. North has informed me that in digging along the northern 
line of his yard he has found, under ground, a very thick stone 
wall — such as might have been a prison wall. 

As late as the year 1692, we have facts to evince that there was 
a prison held within a private dwelling-house,— for, at that time 
it appears in George Keith's Journal, that W illiam Bradford, the 
first printer, and John Macomb, were then its inmates, for Keithien 
measures, and they refusing to give securities in tiieir case. Keith 
says, their opponents pretended they were not so imprisoned, but 
tiiat he, to make out an affecting story for tiicm, went to the porch 
of the prison to sign and date a paper of complaint against the 
Quakers, just as if he had been its inmate! To repel this, he ad- 
duces the paper of their Sam\iel Jennings, to show that he there 
admits that they, Bradfoinl and Macomb, ''signed a paper from 
the prison, when they signed it in the entry common to the prison 
and tlie next house." Thus evincing, as I presume, tinit in the 
hired house of Patrick Robinson the prison was held on one side 
of a common entry, and the family lived on the other side of it. 
George Keith proceeds to say, that tlie real facts were, that as 
Bradford and Macomb were delayed to be brought to trial, the 
jailer, after some time, granted them "the favour to go home,— 
"and, as they were still prisoners, when they wished to petition for 
their trial at tljc next sessions, they then went to the prison to 
write and sign it there ; but it happened the jailer was gone abroad 
and had the key of the prison with him ; so, as they could not get 
in, they signed that paper in the entry or porch !" Such was the sim- 
ple character and state of the first prison used in Philadelphia. 
Something more formidable is about to be told of the 
Prison on High street, viz. 
It seems tliat something more imposing than the hired house 
was desired as early as the year 1685, and was afterwards, from 
time to time, laid aside, till its execution about the year 1695. 

In 1685, the Court of Quarter Sessions receives a report on the 
subject of building a prison, to wit : Samuel Carpenter, H. Mur- 
vay, and Nathaniel Allen, &c. report that they have treated with 
workmen about the many qualities and charges of a prison, and 
have advised with Andrew Griscamb, carpenter, and William 



ITigh Street Prison and Market Shambles^ 303 

Hudson, bricklayer, about the form aud dimensions, which is as 
followcth : The house 20 feet h)ng and 14 feet Midc in the clear, 
two stories high— tlie upper 7 ff^et, and the under 6^ feet, of which 
4 feet under ground, with all convenient lights and doors, and 
casements — strong ajul substantial, w ith good brick, lime, sand and, 
stone, as also floors and roofs very substantial ; a i)artition of 
brick in the middle through tlie house, so that there will be four 
rooms, four chimnies, and the cock-loft, which will serve for a 
prison; and the gaoler may well live in any part of it, if need be— 
the whole to cost 140i?. 

The late aged Miss Powell, a Friend, told me her aged mother 
used to describe to her that prison as standing once in the middle 
of High street, eastward of the court house on Second street. 

On the 3d of February, 1685-6, the Grand Jury then present the want 
of a prison. 

In 1702, the Grand Jury present the prison-house and prison-yard, as 
it now stands in the High street, as a common nuisance. 

In 1703, the Court of Quarter Sessions appoints four persons to report 
the cost of a new prison and court liouse. 

In 1705 — July — the Common Council order that Alderman Carter, and 
John Parsons, do oversee the repairs of the old cage, to be converted 
into a watch-house, for present occasion. They had before ordered, in 
December, 1704, that a watch-house should be built in the market place, 
of 16 feet long, and 14 feet wide. 

In September, 1705, the same Alderman Carter is continued by the 
Council to see the repairs of the watch-house, and is also appointed to 
take care of the building a pair of stocks with a whipping post and pil- 
lory, with all expedition. 

in 1706, a pethion of 44 poor debtors, (some of them imprisoned) all 
wrote in their proper hands, in good easy free style, is offered to 
Governor John Evans, stating their great objections to the fee bill for 
debts under 40 shillings, creating an expense, in case of Shcrifl"'s execu- 
tion, of 17 shillings each, which was formerly, when in the Magistrate's 
hand, but 3 shillings ; and » some of your poor petitioners (say they) have 
been kept in the common gaol until they could Jind fiersons to sell them- 
selves unto for a term of years to pay the same, and redeem their bo- 
dies!" See act of Assembly in the case. It might surprise many moderns, 
who see and hear of So many, now a days, who ••' break" with indifference, 
to learn, that fifty years ago it Avas the custom to sell single men foK 
debt ; and it had then a very wholesome restraint on prodigals — few then 
got into gaol, for then those who saw their debts burthensome would go 
betimes and seek a friendly purchaser, and so pay off their debts. 

In 1707, the Grand Jury present tlie gaol of this city, in that the upper 
and middle windows of the said gaol are not sufficient. And they pre- 
sent the want of a pair of stocks, whipping post, and pillory. 

In 1712, the Grand Jury present " as a nuisance the prison and wall 
standing in the High street, and the insufficiency of the county gaol not 
fit to secure prisoners." This latter clause might seem to intimate two 
characters of prisons at once. The words " common jail" in the follow- 
ing paragraph might ilitimate some one different from that of " county 
gaol." 



304 High Street Prison and Market Shambles. 

In 1716, the Grand Jury " present the common gaol as insufficient, 
and concur and agree with the County Grand Jury that the same be re- 
moved from the place it now stands upon ; and we do all concur Avith 
the County Grand Jury, in laying a tax of one penny per pound, to be 
assessed and levied on the inhabitants — April 4th, 1716. Two years af- 
ter this the act for a big prison, on the corner of Third and High Street, 
was passed. 

In the year 1717, sundry persons offered large subscriptions for erect- 
ing a new prison at the new site. 

The Grand Jury present at this time (1717) the great need of a duck- 
ing stool, saying, that whereas it has been frequently and often presented 
by several former Grand Juries, the necessity of a ducking stool and 
house of correction for the just punishment of scolding drunken women, 
as well as divers other profligates and unruly persons, who are become 
a public nuisance, — they therefore earnestly pray the court it may no 
longer be delayed. I have never understood that it was adopted. 

In 1719, the Grand Jury present " the prison and dead walls in the 
street." 

In 1722 — April — It was ordered by the Common Council "that the 
old prison be sold to the highest bidder," 8cc. Perhaps there are houses 
at this day in the use of part of those materials ! 

At or about the year 1723, the new prison, at the south west corner 
of Third and High streets, was finished, and about the same time the 
Grand Jury present '< the old prison much in the way and spread over 
the street." 

As appurtenant to the High street prison there stood the market 
shambles, on the site of the present Jersey market. They were at first 
moveable, and were not placed there in the line of the prison till about 
ten years after the town had erected the permanent brick market at the 
western end of the court house. The facts are these, to wit : 

In 1729 — January — The Common Council agreed to erect twenty- 
stalls, for the accommodation of such as bring provisions from the Jer- 
seys — to be erected between the court house and the river, at 100 feel 
eastward from the court house, and 

In October, 1 740, the Coimcil agreed to place moving stalls on the 
east side of the court house as far as Laetitia court, and it is ordered that 
the middle of the street, from the pillory to the said Laetitia court, be 
forthwith posted and gravelled, to the breadth of twenty feet. 

Mr. Davenport Merrot, an aged person, told me the permanent Jer- 
sey market, when finally built about the year 1765, was many years with- 
out a foot-pavement on the inside of it. 

In May, 1763, the Common Council, having put the Market street, 
eastward from the Second street, under regulation and pavement, the 
former wooden stalls of the " Jersey market" being ruinous, they order 
that they shall be pulled down, and their place supplied with stalls, brick 
pillars, and roofed — the eastern end to serve the purpose for greens 
and roots, as a " green market," and also at the end thereof an Exchange, 
and that the sum of 500^. be applied out of the " Exchange Stock," to 
defray the expense. The latter, however, was not attempted — but the 
fund was applied afterwards to the City Hall. 




-I«^» 







r 



TlOi STONE PRISON, 

SOUTH WEST CORNER OF THIRD AM) HIGH STREETS 



'iLLUSrilATLD BY A PLATF. 



'^' There see the rock-built prison's tlrcadful face." 

Poem. [1'":9.] 

AS the city enlarged its bounds by increase of population it be- 
. anic necessary to seek out a new prison establishnient of greater 
dimensions, and wirli nt >re loom about it — such as could be then 
found well out of the town. All those advantages were deemed suf- 
ficiently attained when they accomplished this stone prison, under 
the act of Assembly of 1718. As it was a very popular measure, 
it appears that in the year iri7, sundry persons offered large sub- 
scriptions to v/aids defraying the expense of it and '"to he made 
upon the ground intended for that use," — besides this, tiie Grand 
Jury joined in recommending a tax on tiie city and county for ef- 
fecting the same. 

When finished, about tlic year 1723, the pile consisted of a t\yo 
story stone bui{(]!'i,L% irotiting on High street, for the debtors jail, 
and another tv.o .lory sim:i.u- liuilding, fronting on Third street, 
for the criminals, culled the workiiouse — the latter some distance 
from the former, but joined to it by a high wall forming a part of 
the yard-enclosure. The buildings were of hewn stone; half of 
the cellar story was above ground ; the roofs wei-e sharp j)itched, 
and the garrets furnished rooms for prisonei-s. As i)opulation in- 
creased, even ibis place was found too much in tiie town, and 
another remove had to be made to the >yainut street jirison by 
Sixth street, Tliis was done in 1784— tiic year in which tlie 
prisons spoken of in this article, were demolished. 

The aged Mrs. Shoemaker, who died in 1825, at the age of 95 
-v cars, told me, when she w as a girl she could easily, from Third 
"ilreet near the prison, look over to Fourth street, so as to see the 
people walking the streets — meaning thereby there were not houses 
enough then built up to intercept the view. The Dock creek was 
Lso open then, and showed a considerable gully. There weie also 

\eral paths by which to make a short cut across the siiuare. 

I observed several evidences on the old houses on the northern 
side of High street near this prison, to indicate tirat the former 
2 S 



306 The Stone Prison, Sf. W. corner of Third and High Streets. 

grounds in this neighbourhood were originally three feet higher 
than now. As early as tlie year 1708, it was complained of by the 
Grand Jury, as having no proper water-passage then, so that the 
crossing tliere was much impeded " by a deep dirty place where 
the public water gathers and stops for want of a passage, to the 
great damage of the neighbourhood." 

In 1729, some city poet has given some graphic touches of the 
neighbourhood, to wit : 

" Thence half a furlong west, declining pace, 

And see the rock-built prison's dreadful face, 

Twixt and beyond all these, near twice as far 

As from a sling a stone might pass in air, 

The forging shops of sooty smiths are set — 

And wheelwrights' frames — with vacant lots " to let"— 

A neighbourhood of smiths, and piercing dins 

From trades — from prison grates — and public inns 1" 

Kalm, who was here in 1748, speaks of those furnaces, saying 
•'they have several about the town for melting iron out of ore." 

The barbarous appendages of whippingpost, pillory and stocks 
were placed full in the public eye, hard by, on High street directly 
in front of the market, and on the eastern side of Third street. The 
last remembered exhibition there was that of a genteel storekeeper, 
— quite as clever as several who now escape. He had made too 
free with other names to support his sinking credit, and there 
made his amends, by having his face pelted with innumerable eggs, 
and his ears dipt adroitly by the '^ delicate pocket scissors" of the 
SherifF—he holding up his clippings to the gaze and shouts of th» 
populace ! 

These barbarous measures of punislmient were not in accordance 
with the spirit and feelings of our forefathers, who early aimed at 
commuting work and confinement for crime; but the parent country, 
familiar with its sanguinary code, always revoked the laws formed 
upon oup schemes of reformation. They therefore generally pre- 
vailed till the time of our self-government, when measures were 
speedily taken, first by societies of citizens, and afterwards by the 
Legislature, to introduce those reforms into prison discipline, &c. 
^*hich have made our city and State to be celebrated for its early 
** Penitentiary System." The measures pursued by the Society 
formed in 1787, "for alleviating the miseries of public prisons," 
form already a small history, which may be profitably read in the 
hook called "'^ Notices of the Prison," k<\ by Roberts Vaux, Esq. 



m 



MARKET HOUSEJ^. 



PHILADELPHIA has long been distinguislied foi- its long 
i'ange of market buildings, and equally so for the general excellence 
of its marketing. It is not much known, howeiei-, that it was not 
according to the oi'iginal plan of the city to have such an extended 
market house, and still less to have had it located in High street. 
Penn expected it to have been placed at the Centre Square, in the 
event of settling the chief population there. We shall see in tlie 
course of the present notice, that objections were from time to time 
made against the extension of markets in High street : and Proud 
has called it ''a shameful and inconvenient obstruction." 

The first notice of a permanent market house appears in the min- 
utes of City Council in July, 1709, to wit: — ^'The new market 
house being thought to be of great service to the town, 'twas put 
to the vote how money should be raised for the doing thereof, and 
voted that every Alderman shall contribute and pay double what 
the Common Council-men should do." And in May, iriO,it was 
unanimously agreed that it should be built up with all expedition. 
It appeared that the members severally subscribed the fund neces- 
sary as a loan, to be repaid to them out of the rents from the butch- 
ers. The market so made extended from the court house about 
half-way to Tliird street. 

In January, 1729, the Council agreed to erect twenty stalls on 
the site of the present Jersey market, for the accommodation of 
such as brought provisions from the Jerseys. 

In 1737, the Clerk of the market complained to the Council of 
several nuisances — ''that of persons who blow their meat — selling 
goods — bringing empty carts and lying of horses in the market 
place." 

In a poetic description of High street in 1729, the court house 
and market house are thus described, to wit : 

" An yew bow's distance from the key-built strand 
Our court house fronts Caesarea's pine tree land, 
Through the arch'd dome, and on each side, the street 
Divided runs, remote again to meet. 
Here, eastward, stand the traps for obloquy 
find petty crimes— stocks, posts, and pillory • 



^. 



308 Market Houses. 

And, twice a week, beyond, light stalls are set, 
Loaded with fruits and fowls and Jersey's meat. 
\Vest\vard, conjoin, tlic shambles grace the court, 
Brick piles, their long extended roof support. 
Oft, west from these, the country wains are seen 
To crowd each hand, and leave a breadth between." 
At a subsequent period the market was extended up to Third 
street, where, for man)' years, its Third street front was marked 
w itli the appendages of pillory, stocks, and whippingpost. 

About the year 1773, tlie subject was agitated for constructing 
anollier market, to extend in continuation from Thii'd to Fourtli 
j,ti'cet — a measure mucli opposed by property-holders along High 
street, wiio preferred an open wide street. In some of the paper 
discussions, wliicli appeare«l in print at that time, it was proposed 
to take the market out of Higli street altogether, and to locate it in 
the centime of the square from High street to Chesnut street, and 
from Third to Foui'th street,* leaving the dwelling houses still on 
the fro)it streets, on Third and Fourth streets ; to pull down tlie 
stone prisons on the south w est corner of Third antl High streets, 
and to erect there a court house, town liouse, &c. In tinte, howev- 
er, the advocates for the market prevailed, and tlie building went 
on daily ; but a measure, not foreseen, occurred evci-y night : — 
The housekeepers w ho lived along the line of the market, employ- 
ed pei'sons in the night-tin»e to pull dow n the mason-work of the 
day. — This being persevered in for some time excited considerable 
interest. 

Something like a similar excitement occurred ahout the year 
1749, when the older market was extended from Bank alley up to 
Third street. While some then pulled down by night wliat was 
set up by day, Andrew Marvell's addresses came out to the peo- 
ple, denouncing the building thereof, saying, in his second address, 
that "the persons who befqre bought lots on High street, because 
of its superior width, were thus to have their expectations and in- 
terests ruined thereby, by creating a greater grievance than they 
I'emove." He adds, that " the advice of several eminent counsel 
in the law has satisfied the people that an opposition is not only le- 
gal and justifiable, but also their duty ; for the lawyers have as- 
sured them the corporation has no right, either in charter, laws, 
or custom, to sustain the building of shambles in any street of the 
city ; but on the contrary have pointed out some laws which limit 
and restrict their power in this instance," 

We have all heard of Fairs once held in our markets before the 
Revolution, but few of the present generation have any proper 
judgment of what manner of things they were. A few remarks on 
them shall close this article, to wit : 

A Fair was opened by oral proclamation in these words, (Vide a 
city ordinance of 1753,) saying : "O yez ! &c. Silence is com- 

* The place of Doctor Franklin's 



Market Hmiscs. GOO 

Uiiintled wliilc the Fail* is ppoclaiming, upon pain ot punishment ! 
A. 15. Esq. Mayor of the city ol Thiladelphia, doth liereby in the 
King's name strictly charge and command all j)ersons ti'adingand 
negotiating witiiin the Fair to keep the King's peace, and tliat no 
person presume to set up any booth or stall for the vending of strong 
liquors within tliis Fair — that none carry any unlawful weapon, or 
gallop or strain horses within the built part of the city — And if 
any person be hurt by another let him repair to the Mayor here 
present. God save the King ! " 

The Fair-times in our market were every May and November, 
and continued three days. In them you could purchase every de- 
scription of dry-goods, and millinery of all kinds, cakes, toys, and 
confectionaries, 6cc. The stalls were fancifully decorated, and in* 
closed with well made patchwork coverlets. The place w as always 
thronged, a)id your ears were perpetually saluted w ith toy trum- 
pets, hautboys, fiddles, and whistles, to catch tlie attention of the 
young fry who on such occasions crowded for their long promised 
presents at Fair-time. They w^ere finally discontinued, by an Act of 
the Legislature, somewhere about the year 1787. It is really sur- 
prising they should ever have been adopted in any country where 
regular stores and busiMess is ordinarily found sufficient for all pur- 
poses of ti-ade ' 



THE 

ARCH STKEET BRIDOE 

AT FRONT STREET. 

[itlUSTBATKD BX A PLATE.] 



THE tradition of such a bridge, over a place where there was 
no water, (taken down about the year 1721,) had been so far lost, 
that none among the most aged could be found to give a reason for 
Mulberry street, over which the bridge or arch stood, being called 
"Arch street." My MS. Annals in the City Library, pages 24, 
31 and 46, show three several reasons given by tlie most aged 
citizens for the change of name to Arch street, all of which were 
erroneous. The truth is, I should not have known the cause but 
by perceiving it was implied in the presentments of the Grand 
Juries, 6cc. The facts were, that in the neighbourhood of Front 
and Mulberry streets was originally a hill, or knoll, rising above 
the common elevation of the river bank. In opening the street 
down Mulberry street to the river as a necessai'y landing place, 
they found the Front street on each side of it so high, that in 
preference to cutting it down, they constructed a bridge there so 
as to make the passage up and down Front street over the Mul- 
berry street. As they usually called such a bridge an arch, and 
that arch was a notable enterprise then, all things in the neigh- 
bourhood was referred to it, so that the street itself Avhere stood 
" the great arch," became subject to its name, i. e. the Arch street. 

The neighbourhood was made conspicuous too by the house of 
Robert Turner, (still standing) constructed of brick as a pattern 
model for others, and also by two of those early houses, whose flat 
roofs, by the primitive regulations, were not to intercept the river 
prospect along the eastern side of Front street. 

The folloAving facts will serve to illustrate and confirm the pre- 
ceding introduction, to wit : 

Robert Turner in his letter, of 1685, to WilHam Penn, says : " Since I 
built my brick house, [at the north east corner of Front and Arch streets,] 
the foundation of which was laid at my going, which I design after a 
good manner to encourage others, and that from (their) not building 



312 The Arch Street Bridge at Front Street. 

with wood ; it being the first, many take example, and some that built 
wooden houses are sorry for it. Brick building is said to be as cheap, 
and bricks are exceeding good, and better and cheaper than when I 
built, say now at 16 shillings English per thousand, and many good brick 
buildings are going up, with good cellars." 

"•' I am building another brick house by mine, [on the east side of 
Front street, No. 77,] which is three large stories high, besides a good 
large brick cellar under it of two bricks and a half thickness in the wall, 
and the next [i. e. Front street first story] half under ground. The cel- 
lar has an arched door [still visible there] for a vault to go (under the 
street) to the river, and so to bring in goods or deliver out." The first 
story " half under ground," — now no longer so, was doubtless owing to 
the highness of the ground then in the street, and intended afterwards 
to be cut down. 

Gabriel Thomas in his account of the city, as he saw it before the 
year 1698, thus speaks of his impressions, saying, '^ they have curious 
wharfs and large timber yards, especially before Robert Turner's great 
and famous house, where are built ships cjf considerable burthen — they 
cart their goods fi'om that wharf into the city under an arch, over which 
part of the street is built. 

In 1704, the Grand Jury present Edward Smout, sawyer of logs, Sec. 
for encumbering " the free wharf, used as a landing, on the east end of 
Mulberry street, with his logs and timber left too long there." In the 
same report, it is stated to be for " encumbering the street and wharf 
near the arch." 

Patty Powell, an aged Friend, told me her mother told her of seeing 
the arch, and that it was so high that carts, &.c. passed under it to the 
river, so that those who went up and down Front street went over it. 

At a Common Council held at " the Colfy House," Decembei', 1704, 
a committee was appointed to view the arch in the Front street, and to 
report how to repair the same, &c. — found to be 12^. whereupon it 
was ordered that the ground on each side of the arch, fronting King 
street, (Water street now) be built upon by such persons as shall be 
willing to take the sanae on groundrent. 

In the year 1712, the Grand Jury present " that it is highly necessary 
to repair the arch, by paving the same, and fencing it on either side 
above." Another Grand Jury, at the next session, pi-esent the passage 
down under the arch, for that it is worn in holes and gullies, and is not 
passable — it wants a fence upon the walls of the said arch — it being 
dangerous in the night both to man and beast. At another session, they 
present the want of walls to secure the street in the going down to the 
arch, also two fences (palisades) on the top of it to secure people from 
falling down. 

In 1713, they again present the arch in the Front street, for that it is 
very dangerous for children in the day time, and for strangers in the 
nigiit ; neither is it passable underneath for carriages. 

In 1717, the Grand Jury present " the great arch" in the Front street, 
-—the arch in Second street — as insufficient for man and beast to pass 
over. The pump at the great arch, being now out of use and standing 
much in the street, ought to be removed. King street, as a cart-way^ 
they recommend to be kept 30 feet wide. 



The Arch Street Bridge at Front Street. 313 

In 1718, they present the arch at the east end of Mulberry street, as 
so much out of repair as to endanger life, and as injurious to the neigh- 
bourhood, by stopping the channels from descending to the river, and 
they therefore recornmend, as most advantageous to the handsome 
prospect of the Front street, [of course it must have been high and con- 
spicuous] to pull down the said arch, and to regulate the two streets 
there. 

In 1720 — December — It was fully debated in Common Council 
whether to pull down the arch. The parties aggrieved being then again 
heard, and the charges of continual repairs considered, it is the opinion 
it will be for the general good to take it down — even to those who then 
petition against the same. 

Year 1723 — The Grand Jury present deep gullies from Front street, 
" V. here the arch stood, to the arch wharf." Thus intimating that the 
arch had been taken away. 

In April, 1723, the Common Council in ordering the old prison to be 
sold, determine the money shall be applied to making good the Arch 
street and wharf as far as the same will go. They state as a reason that 
the end 6f Mulberry street, from the east side of the Front street to the 
river, since the arch was removed, had been very ruinous by reason of 
the late great rains, for want of a free passage for the water. It being 
thougiit impracticable then to lay a tax for that and other needful things, 
the Mayor, James Logan, with great liberality, (to prevent further dam- 
age) presented the corporation with 20^. to be laid out there, — which 
was accepted with hearty thanks, and workmen to be ordered to pave 
the channel and to set posts, &c. The same generous Mayor invites 
the company of the board to a public dinner with him, provided at the 
Plume of Feathers. 

In 1727, the Grand Jury present two ponds of water " in Arch street" 
[the first time I have seen it so named] between Front and Second streets. 

In 1736, a ship near Arch street wharf took fire within as they were 
burning her bottom without, occasioned by a flaw in one of her planks. 
This was not perhaps a ship-yard then, but used as a careening place. 

The former higl» elevation of the grounds near " the arch" are 
even now peculiarly marked. The house No. 10, Arch street, on 
the south side, two doors west of Front street, presents a clear evi- 
dence that the second story was once the level of the street there, 
and that the present first story which goes up several steps, was 
originally so much cellar part under ground. It is proved by 
showing now tlie lines and marks in the second story of the side 
alley once there and afterwards filled up ! J. P. Norris, Esq. told 
me it was so explained to him in his youth by aged persons who 
remembered the facts. The present three story house there was 
therefore originally but a two story house. The present north west 
corner house tliere had its door out of the present second story ; 
the Friends' Meeting-liouse near there, though originally on a 
high level, was left on a hank of ten feet elevation, and we know, 
by an ordinance of 1713, that the gutters were then declared, by 
law, as rinming from Arch street down to Higli street ! 

I Jiad an opportunitv in April, 1825, to witness unexpectedly a 
2 T 



314 r/te .irck Street Bridge at Front Street. 

relic of the primitive manger of topping the Water street bank side 
houses, as originally constructed, when intended not to intercept 
the view of the river from the Front street. The very ancient 
brick house in Water street (jjart of the block of two two story 
old frame houses on Front street above Arch street. No. 83 and 85,) 
has now the oi-iginal flat roof with which it was originally covered. 
It has been well preserved by having since constructed over it, at 
one story additional elevation, a cedar roof, — by this act the first 
roof was made a floor of small descent. I found it made of two 
inch yellow pine plank, laid on wliitc pine boards-^the planks 
are caulked with oakum, with deep grooves near the seams to bear 
off the Avatcr, and the whole lias now much remains of the original 
pitch which covered the whole. The elevation of this floor-roof is 
about eight feet above the present Front street, and as the street 
there has been cut down full six feet or more, it proves tiie former 
elevation of that roof. The general aged appearance of tiie premi- 
ses, now about to be pulled down, indicate a very early structure. 
It is said there was once a ship-yard here about. 

I have observed otlier cinious facts in digging out the cel- 
lars of tlie two houses adjoining them on the northern side, to 
wit : No. 87 and 89. — In digging down to the level of Water 
street, in the Front street bank (which is of fine red gravel) they 
came, at about 12 feet from the line of Front street, to a regular 
stone wall of 16 inches thickness, 8 feet high, and of 12 feet 
square : (all this was below the former cellar there,) in a corner of 
the wall it appeared smoked, as if the remains of a chimney. I 
thought it indicated an original cave. The area of the squai'e was 
nearly filled up with loose stones, a considerable part of which were 
of flat slabs of marble of one inch thick, smoothed on one surface, 
and broken into irregular fragments of one to two feet width. In 
clearing away these stones, they came to a grave head-stone, standi 
ing somewhat declined ; on which were engraved '' Anthony Wil- 
kinson — London — died 1748.*' — The stone is about 14 inches by 2^ 
feet high — [some small bones also found there.] On further inquiry 
I learn, that Anthony Wilkinson was an eai'ly and primitive settler 
on that spot. The Cuthbert family are descended from him, and 
one of them is now named Anthony Wilkinson Cuthbert. Mr. T, 
Latimer, merchant, near there, claims the head-stone, as a relative, 
and says old Mr. Cuthbert, who died when he was a boy, told him 
and others of the family, that old Anthony Wilkinson had his cabin 
once in this bank, which got blown up by a drunken Indian laying 
his pipe on some gunpowder in r^. 




^tuiyini y n"V_s<-, \, ,:>,■!■,, iol_ ^tr.rt. 




ru<^l Cltnsf Chunk, P/uLd 



SHIPPEN'S HOUSE. 

[iLLvsrnATED nr A piatx.] 



THIS venerable etlifice long bore tbe name of "tbc Governor's 
House." It was built in tbe early rise of tbe city— received tben tbe 
name of *' Sbippey's Great House." wbile Sbippen biinsolf was pro- 
verbially distinguisbed for tbree great tbings— ''tbe biggest per- 
s ' the biggest bouse, and tbe biggest coacii." 

L was for many years after its construction beautifully situa- 
t'^ and surrounded witii rural beauty, being originally on a small 
ejriinence, witb a tall row of yellow pines in its rear, a full orcbard 
of best fruit trees close by, overlooking tbe rising ( ity beyond the 
Bock creek, and having on its front view a beautiful green lawn, 
gent:', sloping to the then pleasant Dock creek and Drawbridge, 
an;t i'>,e whole prospect unobstructed to tlie Delaware and tbe Jer» 
sey shore. It was indeed a princely place for that day, and caused 
the iionest heart of Gabriel Thomas to overllow at its recollection, 
as lie spoke of it in the year 1698, saying of it, that ''Edward 
Shippey, who lives near the capital city, has an orcljard and gar- 
dens adjoining to bis great house that equals any I have ever seen, 
being a very famous and pleasant summer bouse, erected in tiic 
middle of his garden, and abounding witb tulips, carnations, roses, 
lilies, kc. with many wild plants of the country besides." 

Such was the place enjoyed by Edward Sbippen, tbe first May- 
or under the regular charter of tlie year 1700. Sbipjien was a 
Friend, from England, who had suffered ''for truth's and Friends' 
sake" at Boston by a public punishment from the misguided rulers 
there. Possessing such a mansion and tbe means to be hospitable, 
he made it the temporary residence of William Penn and his fami- 
ly, for about a month, when they arrived in 1699. About the year 
1720 it was held by Governor Keith, and in 1756 it became tbe 
residence of Governor Denny. As it usually bore tbe name of 
*'the Govei-nor's house" in aftertimes, it was probably occupied by 
other rulers. 

A minute of tlie City Council of the year 1720, while it shows 
tbe tben residence of Sir William Keith on the premises, shoAvs al- 
so tbe fact of keeping open and beautifying the prospect to the riv- 
er, to wit: "The Governor having requested the Mayor to pro- 
pose to tbe board tbe grant of tbe piece of ground on the south west 
side of the dock, over against the house be now lives in, for such 
term as tbe corporation shall think fit, and proposes to drain and 
ditch tbe same, tiiis board agree the Governor may enjoy tbe same 
for the space of s^ven years, should he so long contiinie in tbe said 
house," It was probably during his term of use that the green 



316 Hhippeii's House. 

lawn had a tcvv tame deer, spoken of as seen by Owen Jones, the 
Colonial Treasurer. 

Thomas Storey, once Master of the Rolls, who married Ship- 
pen's daugliter Anne, must have derived a good portion of the rear 
grounds extending out to Third street, as the present aged Colonel 
A. J. Morris tells me that in his time " Storey's grounds," sold to 
Samuel Po\\ell, were unbuilt and enclosed witii a brick wall from 
St. Paul's' church down to Spruce street, and thence eastward to 
Laurel Court. 

The lofty pine trees were long conspicuous from many points of 
the city. Aged men have seen them sheltering flocks of blackbirds ; 
and tijc present aged Samuel R. Fisher remembers very well to 
have seen crows occupying their nests on those vei*y trees. The 
fact impresses upon the mind the beautiful lines made by his 
son on that bird of omen and long life. — Some of them are so very 
descriptive of the probable state of scenes gone-by, that I will not 
resist the wish I feel to connect them witii tlie present page, to wit - 

" The pine tree of my Eyry stood 

A patriarch mid the younger wood, 

A forest race that now are not, 

Other than with the world forgot ; 

And countless herds of tranquil deer, 

When I nvasjled^ed, were sporting here. 

And now, if o'er the scene I fly, 

'Tis only in the upper sky : 

Yet well I know, 7}iid sfiires and smokcy 

The spot where stood my pine and oak. 

Yes 1 I can e'en replace agen 

The forests as I knew them theii^ — 

The primal scene^ and herds of deer. 

That used to browse so calmly here ! " 
Such nuisings in the ^'bird of black and glossy coat," so re- 
nowned for its long endurance of years, may readily be imagined 
in an animal visiting in numerous return of years ''its accustom- 
ed perch." — It saw all our city rise from its sylvan shades — 
" It could develope, if his babbling tongue 
Would tell us, what those peering eyes had seen, 
And how the place looked when 'twas fresh and green ! " 
The sequel of those trees was, that the stables in the rear of them on 
Laurel Court took fire not many years ago, and, communicating to them, 
caused their destruction. 

The house too, great and respectable as it had been, possessed of gar- 
den-grounds fronting on Second street, north and south of it, became of 
too much value as a site for a plurality of houses, to be longer tolerated in 
lonely grandeur, and was therefore, in the year 1790, pulled down, to give 
place to four or five modern houses called " Wain's Row." The street 
there as it is now levelled is one story below the present gardens in the 
rear. 








f ////-/cs- IfUi s^r fdiiKo i-k( S^fah' f[n//<ir 



!^~T!<S- , 



. .. I I-, 



BENEZET S HOUSE, 

AND 

CKESNUT STRISET BRZDaZS. 

[illustrated by a plate.' 

THE ancient house of Anthony Benezet, lately taken doM n 
stood on the site of the house now No. U 5, Chesnut street. It was 
built in the first settlement of the city for a Friend of the name of 
David Brcintnall. He, deeming it too fine for his plain clotli and 
profession hired it for the use of the Governor of Barhadoes, for 
ol Bermuda, as said hy some,) who had come here for the recovery 
of his health. While he lived there he used to come in a boat bv 
the Dock creek to his own door. David Brcintnall in the mean 
time occupied tlie house and store at the south west corner of Hud- 
son s alley, where he died in 1731. The house havine; been a ^ood 
specimen of respectable architecture was drafted by^Mr. Strick 
land just before it was taken down in 1818, and an enffravin- 
made from it was published in the Port Folio of that year. "^ 

The bridge near it was long lost to the memory of the oldest in- 
habitants, and none of the youths of the present day have any con- 
ception that a bridge once traversed Dock creek in the line of Ches- 
nut street ! In the year 1823, in digging along Cliesnut street to 
lay the iron pipes for he cty water, great surprise was excited 
by finding, at six feet beneath the present surface, the appearance 
of a regularly framed wharf-the oak logs so sound and entire as 
to require some labour to remove them, and some of the wood of 
which was preserved for me in the form of an urn, as a memento. 
It was m act the hutment wharf of the eastern end of the ori-inal 
bridge, where it has been preserved 140 years, by its beinp-%o„ 
stantly saturated with water. » .r ^^ "eing con 

b,.irkln^i'*f *''%?'''^.^"^* '^'''''^^" ^^'^^^Se, and of the later one of 
buck and stone after the year 1699, is set forth in tlie following;- 

n?^tL m" ^'!^r^ ^^\ I*'*'*^""' ^'"^'^ 1 ^^'^^^ «een in the record? 
of the Mayor's Court, dated the 7th of 2d mo. 1719, to wit - *^ We 
hulJiri!^ ^e hereunto written livers in Chesnut street, hum- 
My shew-that at the laying out of the city, Chesnut street crossed 



318 Benexet's House, and Chesnut Street Bridge. 

a deep vale, which brought a considerable quantity of water, in wet 
seasons, from without and through several streets and lots in the 
town, [emptying into the Dock creek,] this rendering the street im- 
passable for cart and horse, abridge of wood was built in the middle 
way, which for many years was commodious ; when that decayed 
an arch of brick and stone was built the whole breadth, which with 
earth cast thereon made the street a good road, except that walls 
breast high, to keep from falling from the top, were neglected— 
not being tinished, as the money fell short. Now this we think to 
be about twenty years ago ; since w hich, nctiiing to prevent dan- 
ger or of repairing has been done, save some small amendmeiits 
and fencing by the people of Ihe neighbourhood;* and as there 
is now a great necessity for those walls, or one wall, and as the 
arch (i. e. the bridge,) is in very great danger of sudden breach in 
some parts, whereby horses and people's lives may be endangered, 
we nigh inhabitants give you this timely notice thereof, and crave 
the remedy." To show^ those ancients I add their names, to wit : 
Samuel Richardson, David Breintnall, John Breintnall, Thomas 
Roberts, Solomon Cresson, William Linyard, Henry Stevens, 
Daniel Hudson, John Lancaster, and William Tidmarsh. 

In the same year, 1719, the Grand Jury sustained the above pe- 
tition by their presentment, saying : " The arch in Chesnut street, 
between tiie house of Grace Townsend and the house of Edward 
Pleadwell, is part broken down, — much of the fence wanting and 
very unsafe,— Chesnut street itself, between the Front and Fourth 
streets, is very deep and irregular." 

It would appear that tiiis bridge was continued by repairs for 
thirty years longer at least, for we find that in the year 1750 the 
Grand Jury present that ''the pavement in Chesnut street, near 
Fleeson's shop, [north east corner of Fourth and Chesnut streets] as 
exceeding dangerous, occasioned by the arch joining thereto being 
fallen down and no care taken to repair it." 

The former state of the ' ' deep vale" along tiie line of Dock creek 
is indicated by some modern observations : In the year 1789, when 
Richard Wistar's house, at the south east corner of Hudson's alley 
and Chesnut street, was built, the builder, Mr. Wogle, said he had to 
dig twenty feet deep to procure a firm foundation. The house too, 
rebuilt by Prittchet, on the opposite corner, on the site of " Whale- 
bone house," (once David Breintnall's,) had to be dug down fourteen 
feet for a foundation on tlie creek side, and but nine feet on the 
western side : the deepest part Avas the corner on Chesnut street. 
Every thing indicated a shelving gravelly shore once there. In the 
£Ourse of their digging they found several large bones of whales and a 
ffreat tail of a fish, four to five feet under the ground ; some of which 
are now nailed up on the premises. The original old house had been 

* In the year 1708 the Grand J ury present, that there is « a deficiency in the arcli bridge in 
Chesnut street, adjoining to the lot of the widow Townsmd." 



Senexet's House and Chesnut Street Bridge. 319 

used for some whale purposes. On the northern side of Chesnut street, 
in digging for the foundation of the liousc of Mr. Storey, No. 113, 
they found themselves in the bed of the same creek, and had to 
drive piles there. At this place and the adjoining lot was origi- 
nally a tanyard, next a coachmaker's shop and yard At twelve 

feet they came to the top of the old tunnel. 

James Mintus, a black man, living with Arthur Howell till he 
died, in 182'2, at the age of 75 years, used to say in that family, 
that his father, who lived to the age of 80, used to tell him there 
was a wharf under Chesnut street before Mr. Howell*s house. 
The discovery there in 1823 verified his assertion. 

The dangerous state of the bridge, and of the water there while 
it lasted, was verified by the fact that Jolin Reynalls lost his only 
daughter ''by drowning in Dock creek by Hudson's alley." 

The very estimable character of Anthony Benezet confers an in- 
terest on every thing connected with his name : it therefore at- 
taches to the housH which he owned and dwelt in for fifty years of 
his life, keeping school there for children of botli sexes of the most 
respectable families for several years, and finally dvin^ there 
in 1784. 

The house had in the rear of it a two story brick kitchen, and in 
entering its present proper ground floor you descend from the yard 
down two steps. Tliis was far from being its original state ; for it 
is even now plain to be seen, in looking down into its open area, 
that it has two brick stories still lower under the ground. My 
opinion is, that this kitchen w as once on the bank of Dock creek, 
on the shelving edge ; that the eastern side of it w as never any 
part of it under ground, and that the area, or western side, (from 
the creek,) was originally only one story under the ground, and 
the rest has since been filled up to make the yard agice with the 
raising of Chesnut street. I am confirmed in this idea from hav- 
ing heard, in a very direct manner, that Anthony Benezet, at an 
early period of his residence there, was accustomed statedly to feed 
his rats in his area. An old Friend, who visited him, hav ing found 
him in that employment, expressed his wonder that he so kindly 
treated such pernicious vermin, saying they should rather be killed 
out of the way. Nay, said good Anthony, I will not treat them 
so; you make them thieves by maltreating and starving them, 
but I make them honest by feeding tliem ; for, being so fed, they 
never prey on any goods of mine ! This singular fact may be 
confided in. It was further said, that on the occasion of feeding 
them he was used to stand in the area, when they would gath^ 
er round his feet like chickens. One of his family once hung a 
collar round one of them, which was seen for years after, feed- 
ing in the groupe. These facts coincide with the fancy of the 
London gentleman who has been lately noticed as reconcifing and 
taming the most opposite natures of animals, by causing them to 



520 Bene%eVs House, and Chesnnt Street Bridge. 

dwell together in peace. Benczct's sympathy was great with eve- 
ry thing capable of feeling pain, — from this cause he abstained for 
several yeai*s from eating any animal food. Being asked one day 
to partake of some poultry on the table at his brother's house, he 
exclaimed : '' What ! would you have me to eat my neighbours !'* 
Before the house camo, into the hands of Anthony Benezet, it 
was known as a public house, liaving the sign of *'the Hen and 
Chickens." 




liiillllMlEI 



CLARKE'S HALL, &c. 

CHESNUT STREET. 

[lliUSTHATID BT A PLATE.] 



CLARKE'S Hall was originally constructed for William 
Clarke. Esq. at an early period of the city. He was by profession 
a lawyer, and at one time held the revenue of the customs at Lew- 
istow n. The house was deemed among the grandest in its day ; 
and even in modern times was deemed a large and venerable struc- 
ture — it was at all times notable for its display and extent of gar- 
den cultivation. It occupied the area from Chesnut street to the 
Dock creek, where is now Girard*s Bank, and from Third street 
up to Hudson's alley ; the Hall itself, of double front, faced on 
Chesnut street — was formed of brick, and two stories high. Its 
rear or south exposure into tlie garden, descending to Dock creek, 
was always deemed beautiful. At that early day Dock creek was 
crossed in Third street over a wooden bridge* — tlience the creek 
went up to the line of present Hudson's alley, and by it, across Ches- 
nut street — passing under the bridge there close by Breintnall's 
house — the same afterwards the residence of Anthony Benezet. 
All this neighbourhood was long deemed rural and out of town; 
only two other houses and families of note were near to it, say — 
that of Thomas Lloyd, once the Governor, on the north east cor- 
ner of Chesnut and Third streets, and that of William Hudson, 
once the Mayor, near the south east corner of the same streets, 
having its front and court yard upon Third street, wherein were 
growing two very large buttonwood trees. 

In the year 1704, in consequence of the arrival of William- 
Penn, jun. and his love of display and expense, James Logaii 
rented and occupied these Clarke Hall premises — saying, as his 
reasons for the measure, (to the father) that as no house in the 
town suited the enlarged views of his son, he had taken Clarke's 
great house, into which himself, William Penn, jun. Governor 
Evans, and Judge Mompcsson, had all joined en famille as young 
bachelors. 

* I see this bridge referred to as still standing as late as the year 1769, and lately some 
remains of it were found in digging in Third street, although none of the iookers-oa could 
conjecture what it meant. 

2 U 



.322 darkens HalU ^'c Chesnut Street. 

Ill iri8 an act was passed, (but repealed in a few months,) vest- 
ing this house and grounds, as ''the property of the late William 
Clarke of Lewes town," in trustees, for the payment of his 
debts, &c. 

For some years the premises were occupied by some of the ear- 
liest Governors. It next came into the hands of Andrew Hamil- 
ton, the Attorney General, wiio derived it from the Clarke family ; 
an aged daughter of whom long remained in the Hamilton family, 
and ai'terwards in John Pcmhcrton's, as an heir-loom upon the 
premises. Thence the estate went into the hands of Israel Pern- 
berton, a wealtliy Friend, in whose name the place acquired all its 
fame, in more modern ears, as " Pemberton's house and gardens." 
It once filled the eyes and the mouths of all passing citizens and 
strangers, as the nonpareil of the city — say at the period of the 
Revolution. The low fence along the garden on the line of Third 
street, gave a full expose of the garden walks and shrubbery, and 
never failed to arrest the attention of those who passed that way. 
The garden itself being upon an inclined plane, had three or four 
falls, or platforms. Captain Graydon, in his memoirs speaks in 
lively emotions of his boyish wonders there, and saying of them, 
** they were laid out in the old style of uniformity, witli walks and 
alleys nodding to their brothers — decorated with a number of ever- 
greens, carefully dipt into pyramidal and conical forms. The 
amenity of this view usually detained him a fcAv minutes to con- 
template the scene." The building itself, of large dimensions, had 
many parlours and chambers ; it stood on the south side of Ches- 
nut street, a little westward of Third street. After the decease of 
Mr. Penjberton, it was engaged by Secretary Hamilton for the 
offices of the Treasury of the United States, and was so occupied 
until the year 1800. Soon afterwards it was sold and taken down, 
to cut it up into smaller lots and to make more modern buildings. 

To a modern Philadelpliian it must seem strange to contemplate 
the garden as having its southern termination in a beautiful creek, 
with a pleasure boat joined to its bank, and the tides flowing 
therein — but the fact was so. Patty Powell, aged 77^ told me 
that her aged mother often told her of her having spoken with aged 
persons who had seen a schooner above Third street ; and Israel 
Pemberlon used to say he had been told of sloops having been sees 
as high as his lot in early years. 



--^i1 




V ^z; 



CARPENTER'S MANSION. 

[illustrated bt a PLATF,.] 



THIS ancient structure was originally built as tlie residence of 
Josliua Carpenter, the brotlier of Sarniel. — It was in truth, in its 
^arly days, a proper country-scai, remote from the primitive town. 
Its respectable and peculiar style of architecture has been a motive 
for preserving this brief memorial ; it lias, besides, been sometimes 
remarkable for its occasional inmates. The present marble Arcade 
now occupies a part of its former site, and while the beholder is 
standing to gaze on the present expensive pile, he may remember 
the former with all its inmates gone down to the dust. It was 
taken down in April, 1826. - - 

Here once lived Doctor Grseme, who died in 1772, a distin- 
guished physician, long holding an office in the customs. His wife 
was the daughter of Sir William Keith, by his first wife. Graeme's 
house, besides his own hospitable manner of living, was long made 
attractive and celebrated by the mind and manners of tlieir daugh- 
ter, the celebrated Mrs. Ferguson, — the same whose alleged over- 
tures to Governor Reed, produced the noble and patriotic repulse, 
— *'go tell your employers, poor as I am the wealth of the King 
cannot buy me!*' A mind like hers, embued with elegant litera- 
ture, and herself a poetess, readily formed frequent literary cote- 
ries at her father's mansion, so much so, as to make it the town- 
talk of her day.* 

While Governor Thomas occupied those premises, from 1738 to 
1747, tiie fruit trees and garden sinnibbery had tlie effect to allure 
many of the townsfolks to take tlieir walk out Chesnut street to 
become its spectators. The youth of tliat day long remembered 
the kindness of the Governor's lady, who. seeing their longing eyes 
set upon their long range of fine cherry trees, (fronting the premi- 
ses on Chesnut street) used to invite them to help themselves from 
the trees : and oft as May-day came, the pretty Misses were in- 
dulged with bouquets and nosegays ; to such purposes the grounds 
were ample, extending from Sixth to Seventh streets, and from 
Chesuut street back to the next street — the mansion resting in 
the centre. 

' A letter from John Ross, Esq. attorney at law, of the year 1761, 
then owner of the premises, agrees to sell them for the sum of 
3000£. to John Smith, Esq. who afterwards became the occupant. 

* She died at Grceme Park, in Horsham, about 12 years ago, beloved in her neighbour- 
hood for her religion, and her goodness to the poor. Her literary remains are said to be 
in possession of Doctor Smith, of the house of Lehmian and Smith. Colonel A. M'Lan* 
assured me she was always the friend of our country, although she may have had the con'- 
ndence of the British, because of her known integrity. 



324 Carpenter*s Mansion. 

The dimensions of the lot then given, were 237 feet on Chesnut 
street and back 150 feet to "the lane." It may surprise us, in our 
present enlarged conceptions of city precincts, to learn by the said 
letter of J. Ross, that '* he sells it becanse his wife deems it too 
remote for his family to live in !" And lie adds, if he sells it '^ he 
must then look out another airy place to build on ; and how to suc- 
ceed therein, he knows not!" We know, however, that he after- 
wards found it on tl)e site where is now the Congress Hall Hotel, 
vis a vis the Bank of the United States — then a kind of out-town 
..situation ! 

It afterwards became the property of Colonel John Dickinson, 
who, in 1774, made to it a new front of modern construction, facing 
en Ciiesnut street— such as we saw the premises when taken down 
in April. 1826. It was next owned by General Philomon Dickin- 
son. It being empty in the time of tlie war of Independence, it 
was taken possession of for our sick soldiery, wlien it became an 
actual hospital for the sick infantry of the Virginia and Pennsyl- 
vania line, who died there rapidly, in hundreds, of the camp fever! 
On that occasion our ladies were very assiduous in supplying the 
poor sufferers with soups and nourishments. General Washington 
himself joined in those succours, sending them a cask of Madeira, 
which lie had himself received as a present from Robert Morris. 
At that place Mrs. Logan's mother witnessed an affecting specta- 
cle — the mother of a youth from the country, in the Pennsylvania 
line, came to seek her son among the dead — whilst wailing over 
him as lost, but rubbing him earnestly at the same time, he' came 
again to life to her great joy and surprise ! 

After this it was fitted up as the splendid mansion of the Cheva- 
lier de Luzerne, who, while there as the Ambassador of France^ 
gave a splendid night entertainment of fire-works, rockets, 6tc. in 
honour of the birth of the Dauphin of France. The whole gardens 
were gorgeously illuminated, and the guests were seen by the 
crowds ftom the street under an illuminated ai'cade of fanciful con- 
struction and scenery. 

About tJie year 1779, Monsieur Gerard, the French Ambassador, be- 
ing then the occupant, gave an elegant dinner thei'e to about one hundred 
French and American officers. Colonel M'Lane, who was among the 
guests, told me that while they were dining the house was thunder-struck, 
and the lightning melted all the silver spoons and other plate upon the 
table, stunning all the company, and killing one of the French officers I 
What a scene — and what associations ! 

In time, as ground became enhanced in value, large encroachments 
were made upon these rural grounds by sellingoff lots for the Theatre, &c. 
but the mansion with its court yard upon Chesnut street, long continued 
a genteel residence in the possession of Judge Tilghman — the last owner 
preceding the sale to the Arcade Company, in 1826. The view of the 
old house, as given in the picture, is a side view, opening on Sixth street,; 
and is a part of the same building retained by Judge Tilghman as the 
rear part of his residence, 



CHRIST CHURCH. 

[illustrated bt a plate.] 



—Monument of ancient taste, 



And awful as the consecrated roof- 
Re-echoing pious anthems.'* 

THIS venerable looking and ornamental edifice was constructed 
at various periods of time. The western end, as we now sexi it. 
was raised in 1727, and having enlarged their means, they, in 
1731, erected the eastern end. The steeple Avas elevated on or 
about the year 1753-4. 

Prior to the consti'uction of the present brick pile Christ church 
was in the lowly form of a one story wooden chapel, built under 
the auspices of the Rev. Mr. Clayton in tlieyear 1695. 

The facts concerning the premises, gleaned from a variety of 
sources, are to the following effect, to wit : 

The first church, of wood, built under the ministry of the Rev. 
Mr. Clayton, in the year 1695, is specially referred to by Gabriel 
Thomas' publication of 1698, who says ''the Church of England 
built a very fine church in this city in the year 1695.*' The most 
we should infer from his commendation of it is, that it was proba- 
bly sufficiently sightly for its small size. We know it was his gen- 
eral manner to extol other buildings, which still remain to convince 
us that good buildings then are but ordinary in our present en- 
larged conceptions of beauty and greatness. Such as it was, it 
w^as enlarged in 1710. 

We know that the Rev. Mr. Clayton was first in charge of it, 
from the book of tlte Rev. Morgan Edwards, who has therein left 
us the record of his letter to tlie Baptists in Philadelphia of the 
year 1698, wherein he invites them to a public conference on the 
merits of their several religions, in hopes thereby to surpass them 
in argument, and win them over to his faith as proselytes ; but they 
stood firmly to their defence, and tlic breach was widened. 

Tlie original records were accidentally destroyed by fire; of 
course, what we can now know must be such as have been inciden- 
tally mentioned in connexion with other facts. 

Among the witnesses who had once seen the primitive church, 
and had been also cotemporary with our own times, was old black 
Alice, who died in 1802, at the advanced age of 116 years. She 
had been all her long life a zealous and hearty member of that 



326 Christ Church. 

church. At the age of 1 1 5 she came from Dunk's ferry, where she 
lived, to see once more her heloved Christ churcli. She then told 
my friend Samuel Coatcs, Esq. and others present, that she well 
remembered the original lowly structure. The ceiling of it, she 
said, she could touch with her lifted hands. The bell, to call the 
people, was hung in the crotch of a tree close by. She said, when it 
was superseded by a more stately structure of brick, they run up 
their walls so far outside of the first church, that the worship was 
continued unmolested until the other was roofed and so far finished 
as to be used in its stead. 

As early as the year 1698, the Rev. Evan Evans, who appears 
to have succeeded Mr. Clayton, is mentioned as the church pastor, 
in a public Friend's Journal of the time. He calls him '' Church 
Missionary," and names him for the purpose of saying he had been 
out to visit the Welsh Friends at Gwyned, in hopes to convert them 
over to liis fellowship.* From his name and visit to Welsh people 
we should iijfer he was himself a Welshman. About this time the 
church Mas sewed by the Swedish minister, Mr. Rudman, for near- 
ly two years. 

The 'Rev'd Mr. Keith, wlio visited Philadelphia in 1702, as 
church missionary,! speaks of having then found the Rev. Evan 
Evans in charge of Clirist church as its first Rector, and said to 
have been sent out in 1700 by Bisliop Comptin of Londcm. That 
time was probably referred to, because, although he had been here 
at an earlier time, he may have been in London in 1700 also. Cer- 
tainly he is mentioned as there by William Penn himself in his let- 
ter to James Logan, of 1 709, to wit: "Governor Gookin has presented 
Parson Evans with two gaudy, costly prayer-books as any in the 
Queen's chapel, and intends as fine a communion table also : both 
which charms the Bishop of London as well as Parson Evans, 
whom I esteem." 

It was probably on some such occasion of the presence of the 
Rector in London that Queen Anne made her present of a service 
of church plate for the use of Christ church— the same which now 
bears the impress of her Arms, &c. 

We may be justified, we presume, in speaking of all the truth, 
' to say a little of what was called "the Church Party,"— a name ex- 
pressive at tlie tinvj of mutual dissatisfaction between the church- 
men and the Friends : probably not so much from religious differ- 
ences of opinion as from dissimilarity in views of civil govern- 
ment, to wit : 

In 170 1, James Logan writes to William Penn, saying, " I can see no 
hopes of getting any material subscriptions from those of the church 
against the report of persecution, they having consulted together on that 

* His diligence and zeal must have been great ; for,besidesSunday service in Philadel- 
phia, he held public prayers on Wednesdays and Fridays— preaching also at Chichester^ 
Chester, Concord, Montgomerv, lladnor, and Perkiomen, occasionally. , , , ■ 

t This George Keith had himself been a public Friend not long before, at Philadelphm— 
an unusual metamorphosis, from plain drab to the black gown. 



Christ Church. 327 

head, and, as I am informed, concluded that not allowing their clergy 
here what they of right claim in England, and not suffering them to be 
superior, may justly bear that name."* 

A letter from William Penn, of 1703, says : " The church party with 
a pack'd vestry, headed by his enemy, John Moore, [once Attorney 
General] complimented by an address, the Lord Cornbury, wherein they 
say, they hope they shall prevail with the Queen to extend the liniits of 
/lis government over them, that so they may enjoy the same blessing as 
others under his authority." Penn calls this " a foul insubordination to 
him." 

The " Hot Church Party" as it was called, began its opposition to 
Friends' rule, about the year 1 70 1-2; (much of it from civil causes) for 
instance, James Logan in writing to William Penn, in 1702, says: « Orders 
having come to the Governor to proclaim the war, he recommended to 
the people to put themselves into a posture of defence, and since has 
issued commissions for one company of militia, and intends to proceed all 
the government over. Those of the hot church party oppose it to 
their utmost, because they would have nothing done that may look with 
a countenance at home. They have done all they can to dissuade all 
from touching with it," Sect , 

When Lord Cornbury was again in Philadelphia, on his second visit 
in 1703, Colonel Quarry and the rest of the churchmen, congratulated 
him, and presented an address from the church vestry, requesting his 
patronage to the church, and closing with a prayer that he would beseech 
the Queen to extend his government over the province ! Colonel Quarry 
also said " they hoped they also should be partakers of the happiness 
Jersey enjoyed under his government." 

William Penn, after hearing of this act to a mere visiter in his colony, 
treats it as overt act of anarchy — a treason against his supremacy ! He 
therefore sends a copy of the address (called " Colonel Quarry's packed 
Vestry's Address,") to the Lords of Trade, to be by them punished as 
an " impudent" affair. " I offered the Lords, that they should either 
buy us out, or that we might buy out the turbulent churchmen." 

William Penn, jun. in writing to James Logan, in 1703, says, " I am 
told the church party are very desirous of my coming over, as not doubt- 
ing but to make me their property, but they will find themselves mista- 
ken.| I should not encourage a people who are such enemies to my 
father and the province." 

The Rev. Mr. Evans' services to Christ church terminated in 
1719; he was then succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Vicary— after 
whom, the succession continued downward thus, to wit : The Rev. 
Mr. Cummings was installed in 1726 — next, by Rev. Robert .len- 
ney, in 1742,— then by Rev. Richard Peters, in 1762, and by the 
present Bishop White, in 1772, as assistant to Mr. Peters. From the 
year 1747 to 1766, the Rev. William Sturgeon Curate, was minis- 

* It was ascertained that Colonel Quarry, who was at the head of Penn's enemies, had 
taken over to England secret subscriptions on that suhject, intending them there to injiu-c 

t The reason they assigned was, that they would not engage to defend and fight, while 
Friends could be exempted. 
i Yet ye did, not long after, join the communion of the Church of England. 



328 Christ Churdu 

ter of Christ church and St. Peter's — at the same time he was in 
the service of tlie ** Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in 
Foreign Parts.'* Several other missionaries of that Society, were 
also here, to wit : the Rev. William Currie, missionary for Rad- 
nor, the Rev. N. Evans, for Gloucester, the Rev. E. Ross, for New 
Castle, also Rev. Mr. Barron there, the Rev. Mr. Barton, for 
Lancaster; another is also designated for Oxford, in 1758. 

The excitement of tliose former mentioned turbulent times maj 
he still more illustrated in the feelings manifested for a season in 
favour of an unworthy son of the church, whose own character and 
conduct seems to have been so peculiar and strange, as to deserve 
a place as a curious item of our domestic history. The times are 
now too far gone by to give any unpleasant emotions, and the 
whole may be contemplated as a spectacle in wliich we have no 
other interest than as mere lookers-on. 

In the year 1714, the Rev. Francis Phillips, then incumbent of Christ 
church, fell into some reproach for immoral living ; and as his conduct 
was so far secular as to infringe on the social privileges of " Peter Evans, 
gentleman," concerning certain ladies, Sec. it provoked in turn an en- 
croachment on " the benefit of clergy," by the said Mr. Evans, sending 
his adversary, Mr. Phillips, a challenge to duel ! What a strange crisis, 
in what we should regard as the days of peaceful simplicity ! Certainly 
the offence on both sides was deemed great, as the legal proceedings 
evince. The original challenge I have seen filed along with the pre- 
sentment of the Grand Jury in the case. It reads thus, to wit : 

" To Mr. Francis Phillips, Philadelphia, — Sir, You have basely scan- 
dalized a gentlewoman that I have a profound respect for. And for my 
part shall give you a fair opportunity to defend yourself to-morrow morn- 
ing on the west side of Joseph Carpenter's garden, betwixt seven and 
eight, where I shall expect to meet you gladio cinctus, in failure where- 
of, depend upon the usage you deserve from — Your ever — 

PETER EVANS. 
Bated Pewter Flatter Inn, Jan. 21, 1714."* 

In the year 1715, the said Rev. Francis Phillips, clergyman, is present- 
ed, and a billa vera is found, for an attempt on the life of Elizabeth S — , 
by administering arsenic. — He is also presented, but the bill is returned 
ignoramus, " for forgetting his sacerdotal vow," and for having in an of- 
fensive manner held his acquaintance with one Margaret S . These 

public reproaches did of course move his indignation, so that he sent 
such a communication abroad as again called for another presentment, 
and on which a billa vera was found — for having sent a message to 
the Mayor and Alderman, saying, " they had done him injustice, and 
might as well have robbed him, as to have taken his servant Elizabeth 
S ," the same first above named. 

I perceive by the letters of James Logan, [in the Logan MSS.] that 

* Such an affair with a genUeman of the holy office, is doubtless so far unique in this 
country. Even in this case the clergyman did not meet; but we have seen lately a more 
extreme case abroad. In 1828, the Kev. Heaton W. Crespigny, at Calais, challenges Mr. 
I.ong Wellesley to duel, and they exchange shots, concerning Mrs. Wellesley, a relative 
of the clergyman. 



Christ Churdu 329 

" he was taxed with scandalous expressions, boastinj^j of undue intimacy 
with some woman of reputation." " He was carried to gaol (says Logan) 
on Seventh-day night, so that they had none to preach to them on the 
next day, which greatly provoked that people against the Friends. They 
partly pulled down a house where one of the evidences against him 
lodged. The Governor, (Gookin, who was a churchman) gave out a 
nulle firosequis in his favour." In another place he says, " The better 
people of the church withdrew to the court house, and there, after debate, 
voted him to have acted scandalously ; and, finally, he was condemned by 
all" — a termination which must exempt the church itself from blame, — 
since " tares will grow with the wheat," and Christ's church itself had 
" one that hud a devil I" 

In the year 1727 was began the first attempt at constructing the 
present venerable Christ cliurch of brick. The occasion was thus 
noticed in the Gazettes of the day, to wit: April 28th, 1727 — " Yes- 
terday the Hon. P. Gonlon, our Governor, with the Mayor, Re- 
corder, and the Rev. Mr. Cummings, our minister, and sundry 
gentlemen, laid the first stone of the additional building designed 
to be made to the church of this city." 1 regard this to have been 
the present western end, including the base of the tower — as will 
hereafter appear more obvious from subsequent facts to be told. 
The choice of making the western end first was, doubtless, to leave 
the little chapel the longer unmolested for the use of the worshippers. 
In the year 1729 Thomas Makin's Latin description of the city 
thus hints at its unfinished state then, to wit : 

« Of these appears one in a grander style 

But yet unfinished is the lofty pile. 

A lofty tow'r is founded on the ground 

For future bells to make a distant sound." 

The tower was probably not extended above the first or second 
story till the year 1753, when they began the present elegant 
steeple. In the mean time it may have been used for other pur- 
poses. 

From some incidental facts it appears, in the year 1 729, to have 
been first furnished with an organ, and to have had there a Welsh 
preacher, of the name of Doctor Wayman — for the Gazette states, 
that the Welshmen in the city, having formed themselves into a fel- 
lowship, chose Doctor Wayman to preach them a sermon in the 
Welsh language, and to give them a Welsh psalm on the organ. 
This organ I presume to have been at Christ church, for a writer 
says, *' I have subscribed 5£. towards carrying on the new church, 
and 50s. to the organ, and 20s. to the organist" 

As soon as they could bring the western end to a finish, by mea- 
sures adapted to their limited means and i-esources, they set upon 
the building of the present front or eastern end, which I found more 
than once ascribed to the year 1731. 

For the impressive architectural style of Christ church (as well 
as of the State-house also,) we are indebted t9 tbe taste and direc- 
2 X 



330 Christ Church, 

tion of Doctor John Kearsley, the elder, an eminent physician of 
Philadelphia.* Robert Smith was the carpenter. 

The grounds in the rear of the church were originally very dif- 
ferent fi'om the j)rescnt level appearance. At first the ground 
along the rear wall of the yard descended into a very extensive 
pond, reaching from near High street to Arch street— once a place 
for wild ducks, afterwards for a skating place for hoys. An aged 
lady, named Betty Chandler, knew the site when she had gathered 
blackberries and whortleberries near there, and so described it. 
Davenport Merrot had seen the pond open and skated upon ; and 
tlie present aged Thomas Bradford, Esq. says the site of the church 
itself is artificial ground, filled in to some extent even out to Second 
street. In digging in the rear of the lot on the northern side boun- 
dary for the foundation of Mr. Keys' house there, they found a 
very marshy bottom, and at 14 feet below the present surface they 
came to the remains of a horse stall once there. 

The present alley along the south wall, leading into Church 
alley from Second street, was originally part of the church burial 
ground. Samuel Coates, Esq. told me he could remember when 
the grave-hillocks still existed there, and, in confirmation, when 
the iron pipes for the Schuylkill water was laid along that alley 
they found bones enough to fill a large box, which Mr. North, 
the druggist near there, had reinterred. 

In the year 1727, Robert Asheton, Esq. Recorder and Prothono- 
tary, died, at the age of 58, and was buried, after the English man- 
ner of people of distinction, in much pomp, by torch-light, at 
Christ church ground. He was probably h cousin of William 
Penn's, as he had cousins of that name in Philadelphia. 

In 1741, the churchmen of Philadelphia manifested some disaf- 
fection to the alleged supremacy of the Bishop of London, saying 
in the case of the Rev. Richard Peters, who was serving as the 
secretary and agent of the proprietaries, that as the Bishop de-^ 
clined to license liim for their church, after they had chosen him, 
(alleging as his reason, his living by his lay functions) they would 
not accept any person whom he might license, they saying, his 
diocess did not extend to this province. Mr. Peters himself al- 
leged that the right of presentation lay in the proprietaries and 
Governor. This Rev. Mr. Peters w as father to our late venerable 
and respected Judge R. Peters. 

Christ church, as it appeared in 1748-9, is described by the 
Swedish traveller Professor Kalm. Although he speaks of it as 
"the finest of all then in the city," he, notwithstanding, states 
that *' the two churches then at Elizabethtown surpassed any thing 
then in Philadelphia!" For at tliat time Christ church had '<a lit- 
tle inconsiderable steeple, in which was a bell, and also a clock, 
[now gone!] which strikes the hours. It had (he says) been lately 

* He died in 1772, at the age of 88 years, leaving three of his houses as a legacy to thf 
ijoor widows of the chui'ch. He was a very popular man, member of Assembly, &c. 



Christ Church S.i.l 

rebuilt, [by an addition or by superseding the wooden church] and 
was more adorned than formerly." He mentions that the two 
ministers to this cliurch received their salary from England ; and 
that between 40 and 50 years before, the Swedish minister, Mr. 
Rudnian, performed the functions of a clergyman for this congre- 
gation for nearly two years. 

The Rev. Mr. Peters^ Secretary, in writing to the proprietaries, 
in 1749, speaks of *'the church" as having no funds for repairs, 
although we beg around the town— no steeple— no wall— no gates 
— no bells.* "The church too, [as big then as now!] is too little 
by one half to hold the members, [then the only church] and there 
is* an absolute necessity for building another church, but as this, 
(other) when built, [alluding to St. Peter's] must be a chapel of 
ease to the present church, it may perhaps prtjmote the finisliing 
the old church with quicker expedition." 

The year 1752-3 was very fruitful in expedients for adorning 
and beautifying tlic city. The war had ended in 1748, and had 
given a little time to 'devise expedients. Several new improve- 
ments were started ujion lotteries ; among tlicse was that of Novcm" 
ber, 1752, for aiding in raising a steeple for Christ ciiurch. It is 
called a *' scheme to raise £1012 10s. — being half the sum required 
to finish the steeple to Christ church, and to purchase a ring of 
bells and a clock." The lottery was drawn in March, 1753, 
As it was deemed a Philadelphia ornament, it was appropriately 
enough called " the Pltiladelpliia steeple lottery." The managers 
therefore, say, *' We Ijope that a work of this kind, which is purely 
ornamental, will meet with encouragement from all w ell-wishers 
to the credit, beauty, and prosperity of Philadelphia." The vestry 
had previously attempted a subscription, but as it fell *• much 
short" of the necessary sum, it became ne<:essary to i-esort to a 
lottery. Two lotteries were instituted for this object, and both 
for the same amount; the one immediately succeeding tlie other, 
to wit: in May, 1753. Eacit lottery contained 4500 tickets, at 
4 dollars each, making together 36,000 dollars, and to net 2025£. 
Jacob Duchee was Treasurer. The subscriptions amounted to 
about 1000£. 

This '^ Philadelphia steeple," being one of peculiar beauty of 
symmetry and grace, since deemed worthy to be imitated by the 
Episcopal catliedriil at Quebec, has been thus extolled by Joseph 
Sansom, Esq. who liad seen numerous similar architectural orna- 
ments abroad, to wit : *■* It is the handsomest structure of the kind, 
that I ever saw in any part of tlie woHd ; uniting in the peculiar 
features of that species of architecture, the most elegant variety of 
forms with tlie most chasie simplicity of combination.** 

* lliis tnay possibl)' be a purposed desolate pcture, as a beggiiig hint to tkem, since 
Kalm then saw the iittle tteeple, heard the beli and clock, and saw soroe ornaments— still 
-iH was much mftrior to what yic now see them. 



332 Christ Church. 

The steeple was finished in November, 1754, at a cost of 2l00i?. 
and the bells were purchased in England, at a cost of 900£. — they 
were brought out, freight free, in the sliip Matilda, Captain Bud- 
den ; and as a compliment to his generosity, as often as he arrived 
in subsequent years, the bells put forth a merry peal to announce 
their gratitude. The whole weight of the eight bells was said to 
be SOOOlbs. — the tenor bell weighing ISOOlbs. They were cast by 
Lester and Pack, men of most note in tlieir day. They were hung 
here by Nicholas Nicholson, a native of Yorkshire, in an entirely 
new manner. 

These bells, heavy as they were in mounting, had to be taken 
down in the year 1777, by the Commissary General of military 
stores, to keep them from falling into the hands of the British, for 
military purposes ; they were again returned and hung after the 
evacuation of the city.* 

When the bells were yet a novelty, they excited very great in- 
terest to hear tliem chime and ring tunes. They used to ring the 
night before markets ; and on such occasions numbers of persons 
would go from villages like Germantown, half-way to the city, to 
listen to the peals of merry music. 

The first time the bells were tolled was long remembere<l as be- 
ing for the occasion of Governor Anthony Palmer's wife, the 
mother of 21 children, all of whom died with consumptions ! The 
ringing was also doubly memorable in having caused the death of 
one of the ringers, by his ignorance and ill-judged management of 
the bell rope. 

Christ church steeple was built by Robert Smith. Its height is 
196 2-3 feet from the base to the mitre. On the mitre is engraved 
Bishop White's name, as first Bishop. It has 13 holes in it, for 
the 13 original States, is inscribed, '"^ The Right Rev. William 
White, D. D, consecrated Bishop of the Episcopal church of Penn- 
sylvania, February 4th, 1787." The mitre is 4 feet in circum- 
ference at bottom, and 2^ feet in length. The vane is 7 feet 7 inches 
in length, and 2 feet 2 inches in breadth. The four balls are each 
1 foot 10 inches in circumference. The extremities of the 4 balls 
are 3 feet 10 inches. The big ball measures 7 feet 9 inches in cir- 
cumference. These may seem unimportant facts in themselves, if 
we really saw them little as they seem at their elevation ; but it 
must add to their interest to thus know them large as they actually 
measure. 

The Hon. Charles Thomson said he well remembered being 
present when a man fell from a high elevation on the steeple, down 
to the ground unhurt ! While he was up, some commotion occurred 
in the crowd below, and he, turning his head and body backwards 
to look, gave occasion to the wind to pass between him and the 

* They had been taken with the State-house bell to Trenton 



Christ Church. 333 

steeple, and so forced him to let go his hold hy the hands, and he 
fell ! What horrors he must have felt in his terrified thoughts, 
rapid as his descent ! *' Mercy he sought, and mercy found," — for 
he fell, providentially and strangely enough, into a large mass of 
mortar, and his great fall was harmless ! 

After the steeple had been built some years, it was found it was 
getting into the same decay at its sleepers as caused the taking 
down of the steeple of the Presbyterian church, on the corner of 
Third and Arch streets, and of the State-house steeple. On that 
occasion Owen Biddle, an ingenious carpenter, undertook to sup- 
ply new sleepers of red cedar, which he got into place, on each of 
the four angles, by extending ropes with pullies, &c. Irom the spire 
into each of the streets a square off, so as to keep the steeple both 
in place and in check when needful ; tlie fact I had from Owen 
Jones, Esq. an aged gentleman, who saw the display of ropes in 
the streets. 

The Rev. George W hitfield, thougli no favourite in the church, 
was admitted to preach in Christ church to a great concourse in 
September, 1763, and soon after at St. Paul's also. 

Tlie parsonage house has long been disused as such, so much 
so, that scarcely an inhabitant remains that remembers to have 
heard of such a building, although it is still existing entire, but 
altered from a house of double front, to the appearance of two or 
three modern stores. Its position is No. 28, north Second street, 
was originally a two story brick building, having five chamber w in- 
dows in front, placed at about 12 feet back from the line of Second 
street, and having a grass plot, shrubbery, and a palisade in front ; 
additional buildings are now added in front to make it flush with 
the street, but the three dormer windows and roof of the original 
house may be still seen from the street. It was once the Custom- 
house, under Collector F. Phile. The garden ground originally 
run back half through the square. The premises now pay a ground- 
rent of 300 dollars a year to the church. 

The two frame houses south of it, Nos. 24 and 26, are now the 
two oldest wooden houses remaining in Philadelphia, and it may 
be deemed strange that such mean structures should so long occupy 
the place of better buildings in so central a part of the city. My ink 
was scarcely dry in this article, when I learned that those ancient 
remains were razed *'to build greater." 

Since wi'iting the foregoing, I learn that the ancient communion 
plate of Christ church consists of the following articles, to wit : a 
large silver baptismal font, inscribed as a gift from Col. Quarry, 
a goblet and two tankards of silver, from Queen Anne, are sever- 
ally inscribed ''Annse Anglican ae apud Philad. A. D. 1708.'* 
The two latter are decorated with figures of the apostles. Another 
antique-looking goblet is inscribed, "the gift of Margai-et Tresse, 
to Christ church in Philadelphia." Besides these, might be added 



.',34 Christ Church. 

The primitive altar-pieco of antique character, now disused, and an 
early library of many and rare books. 

The original deed for the ground-plot is from the family of 
Jones, conveyed per Joshua Carpenter, as their agent, for the sum 
of 1 50£. for 1 00 feet of front. The deed being later than the erec- 
tion of the church, may possibly lead to the idea that the ground 
was at first held on ground-rent 




irck Stretl Brut (ft, til I&or/J ^f 



4 



m-l^ 



J lit lid i ' B'lJI k Mers.hiiO 



,,-".,>, :^^^l.i 



FRIENDS' B\NK MEETING 

ON FRONT STREET. 

[illustrated by a plate.] 



THE Friends' Meoting, in Front above Mulberry street, built in 
1685, was originally intended as an ''Evening Meeting," while the 
one at the Centre Square [south west corner,] was then erected as 
a Day Meeting. Part of the surplus materials used at the latter 
were removed to aid in building the Evening Meeting. It was. 
called, in that day, "the Evening Meeting." In after-years, when 
they constructed, in 1753, ''the Hill Meeting," on Pine street, they 
called this house, in relation to its position, the '^JVorth Meeting." 
After they cut down the Front street before tlie house, so as to 
leave the Meeting on a high table land, they then called it "the 
Bank Meeting." It was sold and taken down in 1789, at the time 
it became useless by their building "the new meeting-house" in 
Keys' alley, which soon after took the name of " the Up-town 
Meeting." 

The Bank Meeting as aforesaid had its front on the Front street. 
The pediment at the front door was supported by columns — at that 
door the men entered. On the southern side was a double door 
covered by a shed, by one of which the women entered. At those 
doors was the entrance for men and women to the gallery — the 
men going to tlie east, and the women to the west. Originally the 
Meeting had no board partition, but a curtain was used when they 
held the preparative meeting. The preacher's gallery was on the 
northern side. The house was fifty feet front by thirty-eight feet 
wide, and the green yard in front, within tlie brick enclosure or 
wall, was 14 feet wide. Originally the sti-eet and house were on 
the same level. The present James C. Fisher, Esq. has preserved 
the oak column which supported the gallery, and which had been 
brought from the Centre Square Meeting. 

Such minute detail may seem too circumstantial to some who 
never gave the place, when standing, their regard or inspection!; 
but those who were accustomed to assemble there in their youth, 
conducted and conti'olled by parents now no morCj will be thank- 



536 Friends* Bank Meeting. 

ful for every revived impression, and every means of recreating the 
Toriner images of things by-gone. 

" Ilk place we scan seems still to speak 

Of some clear former day 

We think where ilka ane had sat, 
Or fixt our hearts to pray, 
'Till soft remembrance drew a veil 
Across these een o' mine ! " — 
Thus — "when we remembered Zion, then we sat down and wept.'' 

Richard Tovi^nsend, the primitive settler and a public Friend. 
says the Friends set up, in 1682, a boarded meeting-house near to 
the Delaware. We presume it was on this premises ; it meant a 
temporai-y building. 

Robert Turner, in writing to William Penn, in 1685, says, be- 
sides the brick meeting-house at the Centre, we have a large meet- 
ing-house, 50 by 58, going on, the front of the river for an Evening 
Meeting. 

The meeting-house elevated as it was, as much as ten or twelve 
feet above the street from wliich you beheld it, gave it a peculiar 
and striking appearance, and the abundance of green sod, seen 
from the street when the two gates were opened, contrasted with 
the w hitisli stone steps of ascent, gave the wliole a very atti*activc 
aspect. 

Its original advantages for prospect and river scenery must have 
been delightful ; it had no obstruction between it and the river, so 
that all who assembled there could look over to the Jerseys and up 
and down the liver, from a commanding eminence. The houses 
answering to Nos. 85 and 85, opposite to it, were built with flat 
roofs, calked and pitched, and did not rise higher above Front 
street than to serve as a breast-high w all. 

The meeting-house when taken down was superseded by a uni- 
form row of three story houses now flushing with the line of Front 
street. It may be still seen near there that the old houses have 
marks of having once had their present first stories under ground^ 
and their street doors formerly in what is now their second story. 



FRIENDS' MEETING 

AT CENTRE SQUARE, &c. 



THIS building was originally constructed in the year 1685, at the 
south west cornel' of tlic Centre Square, then in a natural forest of 
oaks and hickories. It nn'glit surprise some, now, to account for 
a choice so far from the inhabitants dwelling on the Delaware side 
of the city. The truth was, that expectations were originally en- 
tertained that the city would expajid from the centre towards both 
rivers ; but it was soon found that the commerce of the Delaware 
engrossed all, and Centre Square Meeting came, in time, to be de- 
serted, and the house itself in time disappeared. 

Penn's letter, of 1683, to the Free Society of Traders, sufficiently 
intimates the cause of its location there, showing that Penn exj)ec- 
ted business to concentre there — he saying, " Delaware is a glo- 
rious river; but the Schuylkill being 100 miles beatable above the 
Falls, and its course north west, towards tlie fountain of Susque- 
hanna, (that tends to the heart of the province, and both sides our 
o^\^^,) it is like to be a great part of the settlement of this age.'* — 
In concurrence witli these ideas, Oldmixon's book says " the Cen- 
tre Square, as he heard it from Penn, was for a state-house, mar- 
ket-house, and chief meeting-house for the Quakers." 

Robert Turner's letter, of 1685, to William Penn, says : ^'We 
are now laying the foundation of a large plain brick building for a 
meeting-house in the Centre, 60 feet long by 40 feet broad, and 
hope to have it soon up, there being many hearts and hands at work 
that will do it." The present aged D. Merrot and B. Kite, 
Friends, have told me they remembered to have seen brick re- 
mains on the foundation, in the days of tlieir youth, on the south 
west corner of the Square. Whether they meant the present (Cen- 
tre I am not able to say ; for, it is to be observed, there was at 
some period a re-appointment, by which the Broad street is now 
placed more westward than was originally appointed. At lirst it 
was placed, on paper, 528 feet west from Eleventh street ; but now 
Twelfth and Thirteenth streets intervene, making 1024 feet now" 
westward of Eleventh street. 

The general state of woods in which the meeting-house was ori- 
ginally located continued much the same till the fane of the Revo- 
2 Y 



S38 Friends' Meeting at Centre Square. 

lution. It was once so far a wild forest, that the grandmother of 
the present aged Col. A. J. Morris told jiim that when they used 
to go out from the city to the Centre Square Meeting, she had seen 
deer and wild turkies cross their path. At that time they had a 
resting seat under a fine shade at the corner of High and Sixth 
street, then far out of town, and called "the half-way rest." 

These woods were long reserved as the property of Penn, he con- 
ceding, however, that "they should remain open as commons to 
the west of Broad street until he should he prepared to settle it." 
But as early as the year 1701, Penn complained much of "the great 
ahuse done in his ahsence hy destroying his timber and wood, and 
suffering it to overrun with brush, to the injury and discredit of the 
town," being, as lie said, "his fourth part of the city, reserved by 
him for such as were not first purchasers, who might want to build 
in future time." 

At the time the British possessed Philadelphia, in the winter of 
'77 and '78, the woods were so freely taken for the use of the army, 
that it was deemed most politic in the agent to cut them down and 
sell them. This was the business of one Adam Poth, a German of 
much self-consequence, well known to the city lads as a vigilant 
frustrater of many of their schemes to cut saplings, shinny clubs, 
&c. in his woody domains. 

In 1726, the Grand Jury presented "two old wells, very deep, 
which lie open at the Centre Square." And about the same time 
and order of the City Council directs a well there to be fi^lled up. 
Perhaps these may yet be discovered to the surprise of many. 

When the writer was a lad the Centre Square was never named 
but in connection with military trainings, or as an object of universal 
terror to boys, as the gallows ground. Wo to the urchin then that 
should be found there after evening-fall among the spectres who 
then possessed that region. The w oods were all gone ; and a green 
commons occupied their place all the way out to Schuylkill. As 
late as the year 1790 the common road to Gray's ferry ran diago- 
nally across those commons — so few then had fenced in their lots. 

On page 507 of my MS. Annals, in the Historical Society, is a 
long article containing facts on the lines and uses in the grants of 
the Centre Square, not expedient to insert here. 



"V; :■'■■", '1:, r*^«»i>. 

mi) 



'!"§«¥■ 



tip* 



'■n 



^' 



939 



THE LONDON COFFEE HOUSE, &c. 

[ILLUSTKATEII BY A PLATE.] 



WHAT was called the old London Coffee House before and after 
the Revolution, now the property of James Stokes, Esq. was ori- 
ginally built about the year 1702, by Charles Reed, who obtained 
his lot, in the year 1701, from Lwtitia Penn — in the same year in 
which William Penn patented it with other grounds to his daugh- 
ter, to wit— the 29th of 1st mo. 1701. The original lot to Charles 
Reed contained 25 feet upon Front street and 100 up High street. 
This his widow conveyed in 1739 to Israel Pemberton. In De- 
cember, 1751, he willed it to his son John, and at his death his 
widow sold it at Orphans' sale to the Pleasant family, who, on the 
20th of September, 1796, sold it with but 82 feet of depth of lot 
for the great sum of 821 6£. 13s. 4d. to James Stokes. 

This celebrated house, as a Coffee House, was first introduced 
to its new employment by William Bradford, the printer, in the 
year 1754, upon the occasion of the declining of the widow Ro- 
berts, who till then had kept a Coffee House in Front street below 
Blackhorse alley.* 

The original petition of William Bradford to the Governor, for 
his license to keep the house, is somew hat strange to our modern 
conceptions of such a place, by showing that coffee was ordinarily 
drank as a refreshment tfien, even as spirituous liquors are now. 
It is dated July, 1754. and reads verbatim thus, to wit: ''Having 
been advised to keep a Coffee House for the benefit of merchants 
and traders, and as some people may at times be desirous to be 
furnished with other liquors besides coffee, your petitioner appre- 
hends it is necessary to have the Governor's license." 

At this Coffee House, so begun, the Governor and other per- 
.^ns of note ordinarily went at set liours to sip their coffee from 
the hissing urn, and some of those stated visiters had their known 
stalls. It was long the focus which attracted all manner of gen- 
teel strangers; the general parade was outside of tlie house under 
a shed of but common construction extending from the house to the 
gutter-way, both on the Front street and High street sides. It was 

♦ At the house now Dixon's —the same which became the store of Rhea and Wikoff, in 
11755. 



34 D The London Coffee House, S^c. 

to this, as the most public place, they brought all A'endues of horses, 
carriages, and groceries, &c. and above all, here Philadelphians 
once sold negro men, women and children as slaves ! 

When these premises were rented in 1780, to Gifford Dally, the 
written terms with John Pemherton, a Friend, the then proprietor, 
were so unusual and exemplary for a tavern as to deserve a record, 
to wit : On the 8th of 7 mo. 1780, tlie said Dally "covenants and 
agrees and promises that he will exert his endeavours as a chris- 
tian to nreserve decency and order in said house, and to discour- 
ag iiic profanation of the sacred name of God Almighty by curs- 
ing swearing. &c. and that the house on X\\^ first day of the week 
shall always be kept closed from public use, that so regard and 
reverence may be manifested for retii'cment and the worship of 
God;" he further "covenants, that under a penalty of lOOiB. he 
will not allow or suffer any person or persons to use, play at, or 
divert themselves with cards, dice, back-gammon, or any other 
unlawful game." To secure the fulfilment of these purposes he 
limits his lease for trial to but one year, and next year he renews 
a like lease for two years — after this, to my knowledge, he solicited 
Mr. Stokes to occupy it as a dwelling and store, and finally to pur- 
chase it for private use — a thing which Mr. Pemherton said he 
much preferred. 

Such religious scruples in regard to a public city tavern, would 
look strange enough to Europeans accustomed to the licensed gamb- 
ling an I licentiousness practised at the Orleans palace at Paris ! 
The subuiission to such terms, in such a city as Pliiladelphia then 
was, stroagly marked the moral feelings of the town. 

It might be curious to connect with this article the little history 
we poss 'sjs of any anterior Coffee Houses. The earliest mention 
wch-vvt' ;een of a Coffee House, was that built by Samuel Carpen- 
ter on sonc of his ground at or near to Walnut street. In 1705, 
he speaks cf having sold such a building sometime before to Cap- 
tain Finney, who was also Sheriff.* I am much inclined to think 
it was Ji tlie east side of Water street, adjoining to Samuel Car- 
penter's o-vn dwelling, being probably the same building which in 
the time o( the colony was called Peg Mullen's celebrated beef-stake 
and oysti'i' house, and stood then at or near the present Mariners* 
ciiiirch. The water side was the first court end of the town, and 
in t i;«,t neighbourhood Carpenter had erected a bakery, crane, pub- 
lic ;>s,f &c. It is also possible it may have been on the north 
w«>' -ner of Front and Walnut street, where was once a frame 
bu . i 15 which had once been what was called the first Coffee 

* ■ Oommon Council proceedings, of 1704, are dated at Herbert Carey's inn, and, at 
cthe T i.-s, at " the Coffee |{ouse." 

f ; : K 3 perceive that Edwurd Bridges, in 1739, advertises his dry-goods store, " at the 
o,:ri! "!• ■■ F-i.nt and Walnut streets, commonly called the Scales," thus proving that Sam- 
wt 1 Oarpenter miist have originally had his line on Walnut street, and of course including 
the lot afterwards James' Coffee House. 



The London Coffee House, i!^'C, 341 

House, and, at anotlior period, tlie first Pupal chapel. The present 
owner of that corner, Samuel Coates, Esq. now having a large 
brick building there, told me he had those facts from his uncle 
Rey nails, the former owner, who said that at a very early day the 
Coffee House there was kept by a widow, Sarah James, afterwards 
by her son James James, and lastly by Thomas James, jun. The 
Gazettes too, of 1744 and 1749, speak of incidents at "James* 
Coffee House."* Mrs. Sarah Shoemaker, who died in 1825, at 
the age of 95, told me that her father or grandfather spoke of their 
drinking the first dish of tea, as a rarity, in that Coffee House. 
But I perceive a sale at auction is advertised in the year 1742, as to 
take place at Mrs. Roberts' Coffee House,'* which was in BYont 
street below Blackhorse alley, west side — thus indicating that 
wiiile she kept her house there, Mr. James was keeping another 
Coffee House at Walnut street. I notice also, that in 1744 a re- 
cruiting lieutenant, raising troops for Jamaica, advertises himself 
as to be seen at "the widow Roberts' Coffee House." There she 
certainly continued until the year 1754, when the house was con- 
verted into a store. I ought to add, that as early as the year 1725 
I noticed a ca.se of theft, in which the person escaped from '*tho 
Coffee House in Front street by the back gate opening out on 
Chesnut street ;" from which fact I am inclined to think it was 
then the same widow Roberts* house, or some house still nearer to 
Chesnut sti*eet. 

In the year 1741, John Shewbart makes an advertisement in tho 
Gazette, saying he is about to remove *'from the London Coffee 
House, near Carpenter's wharf," to the house in Hanover square, 
about half a mile from the Delaware, between Arch and Race 
streets, " which is a short w^alk and agreeable exercise." 

•The Philadelphia Mercury, of 1720, speaks of the then Coffee House in the Front 
5tr?et. 



STATE-HOUSE AND YARD. 



THIS distinguished building was began in the year 1729, and 
finished in the year 1734. The amplitude of such an edifice in so 
early a day, and the expensive interior decorations, are creditable 
evidences of the liberality and public spirit of the times. 

Before the location of tlie State-house, the ground towards 
Chesnut street was more elevated than now. Tlie grandmotlier 
of S. R. Wood remembered it when it was covered witli whortle- 
berry bushes. On the line (»f Walnut street the ground was low^er, 
and was built upon with a few small houses, which were afterwards 
purchased and torn down, to enlarge and beautify the State-house 
square. 

The present aged Thomas Bradford, Esq. who has described it 
as it was in his youth, says the yard at that time was but about 
half its present depth from Chesnut street — was very irregular on 
its surface, and no attention paid to its appearance. On the Sixth 
street side, about 1 5 to 20 feet from the then brick wall, tiie ground 
was sloping one to two feet below the general surface — over that 
space rested upon the wall a long shed, which afforded and was used 
as the common shelter for the parties of Indians occasionally visiting 
the city on business.* Among such a party he saw the celebrated 
old King Hendrick, about the year 1756, not long before he joined 
Sir William Johnson at Lake George, and was killed. 

In the year 1760 the other half-square, fronting on Walnut 
street, was purchased. After pulling down the houses there, 
among which were old Mr. Townsend's, who lamented over it as 
a patrimonial gift forced out of his possession by a jury valuation, 
the whole space was walled in with a high brick w all, and at the 
centre of the Walnut street wall was a ponderous high gate and 
massive brick structure over the top of it, placed there by Joseph 
Fox. — It was ornamental but heavy ; vis a vis to this gate, the 
south side of Walnut street, was a considerable space of vacant 
ground. 

About the year 1782 the father of the present John Vaughan, Esq. 
coming to Philadelphia from England to reside among us, set his 
heart upon improving and adorning the yard, as an embellishment 
to the city. He succeeded to accomplish this in a very tasteful 
and agreeable manner. The trees and shrubbery which he had 

* This shed afterwards became an artillery range, having its front gate of entrance upo» 
Chesnut street. 



344 State-House and Yard. 

planted were very numerous and in great variety. When thus 
improved, it became a place of general resort as a deliglitful 
promenade. Windsor settees and garden chairs were placed in 
appropriate places, and all, foi- a while, operated as a charm. It 
was something in itself altogether unprecedented, in a public way, 
in the former simpler habits of our citizens ; but after some time 
it became, in the course of the day, to use the language of my in- 
formant, Mr. Bradford, the haunt of many idle people and tavern 
resorters ; and, in the evening, a place of rendezvous to profligate 
persons ; so that in spite of public interest to the contrary, it run 
into disesteem among the better part of society. Efforts were 
made to restore its lost ci-edit ; the seats were removed, and loun- 
gers spoken of as trespassers. &c. — but the remedy came too late; 
good company had deserted it, and the tide of fashion did not 
again set in its favour. 

In later yeai^s the fine elms, planted by Mr. Vaughan, annually 
lost their leaves by numerous caterpillars, (an accidental foreign 
importation,) Nvhich so much annoyed the visiters, as well as the 
trees, that they were reluctantly cut down after attaining to a 
large size. After this, the dull, heavy brick wall was removed to 
give place to the present airy and more graceful iron palisade. 
Numerous new trees were planted to supply the place of the for- 
mer ones removed, and now the place being revived, is returning 
again to public favour ; but our citizens have never had the taste 
for promenading public walks, so prevalent in Londoners and 
Parisians — a subject to be regretted, since the opportunity of in- 
dulgence is so expensively provided in this and the neighbouring 
Washington Square. 

We come now to speak of the venerable pile, the State-house, a 
place consecrated by numerous facts in our colonial and revolu- 
tionary history. — Its contemplation fills the mind with numerous 
associations and local impressions — within its walls were once 
witnessed all the memorable doings of our spirited forefathers — 
above all. it was made renowned in 1776. as possessing beneath 
its dome " the Hall of Independence" in which the representatives 
of a nation resolved to be '• free and independent." 

The general history of such an edifice, destined to run its fame 
coextensive with our history, may afford some interest to the reader. 

The style of the architecture of the house and steeple was di- 
rected by Doctor Jolni Kearsley, sen.— the same amateur who 
gave the architectural character to Christ church. The carpenter 
employed was Mr. Edward Wooley. The facts concerning its 
bell first set up in the steeple, (if we regard its after-history,) has 
something peculiar. It was of itself not a little singular tliat the bell, 
when first set up, should, in its colonial chai-acter, have been in- 
scribed as its motto—" Proclaim liberty throughout the land, and to 
all the people thereof !" But it is still stranger, and deserves to be 
often remembered, that it was the first in Philadelphia, and from 



State-Souse and Vard. 345 

the situation of the Congress then legislating beneath its peals, it 
was also the first in the United States to proclaim, by ringing, 
the news of "the Declaration of Independence! The coinritlonts 
are certainly peculiar, and could be amplified by a poetic imagina- 
tion into many singular relations ! 

This bell was imported from England, in 1752, for the State- 
house, but having met with some accident in the trial-ringing, after 
it was landed, it lost its tones received in the father-land, and had 
to be conformed to ours, by a re-casting ! This was done under the 
direction of Isaac Norris, Esq. the then Speaker of the colonial 
Assembly, and to him we are probably indebted for the remark- 
able motto so indicative of its future use ! That it was adopted 
from Scripture (Lev. 25, 10.) may to many be still more impres- 
sive, as being also the voice of God— of that great arbiter, by 
whose signal providences we afterwards attained to that *' liberty" 
and self-government which bids fair to emancipate our whole con- 
tinent, and in time to influence and meliorate the condition of the 
subjects of arbitrary government throughout the civilized world ! 

« The motto of our father-band 

Circled the world in its embrace : 

»Twas " Liberty throughout the land, 

And good to all their brother race 1" 

Long here — within the pilgrim's bell 

Had linger'd — tho' it often pealed-— 

Those treasur'd tones, that eke should tell 

When freedom's proudest scroll was sealed i « 

Here the dawn of reason broke 

On the trampled rights of man ; 

And a moral era woke 

Brightest since the world began ! 

And still shall deep and loud acclaim 

Here tremble on its sacred chime ; 

While e'er the thrilling trump of fame 

Shall linger on the pulse of time I" 

It was stated in the letters of Isaac Norris, that the bell got 
cracked by a stroke of the clapper when hung up to try the sound^ 
Pass and Stow undertook to rc-cast it ; and on this circumstance 
Mr. Norris remarks : "They have made a good bell, which plea- 
ses me much that we should first venture upon and succeed in the 
greatest bell, for aught I know, in English America— surpassing 
too (he says) the impoi-ted one, which was too high and brittle— 
[sufficiently emblematic !]— the weight was 2080 lbs." 

At the time th& British w ere expected to occupy Philadelphia, 
in 1777, the bell, with others, were taken from the city to preserve 
them from the enemy. At a former period— say in 1774, the base 
of the wood-work of the steeple was found in a state of decay, and 
it w^as deemed advisable to take it down, leaving only a small 
belfry to cover the bell for the use of the town clocfe. It so con- 
2 Z 



34a state- House and Yard. 

tinucd until the past year; when public feeling being much in 
favour of restoring the venerated building to its foriner character, 
(as seen wlien it became the Hall of Independence) a new steeple 
was again erected as mud) like the former as circuinsraKres would 
admit. The chamber in which the representatives signed the 
memorable declaration, on the eastern side first floor, we are 
soiry to add, is not in the primitive old style of wainscotted and 
pannelled grandeur in whii h it once stood in apjjropriate confor- 
mity with the I'emains still found in the great entry and stairway. 
To remove and destroy these, made a job for some of the former 
sapient commissioners, but much to the chagrin of men of taste 
and feeling, who felt, when La Fayette possessed that chamber (five 
years ago) as his appropriate hall of audience, that it was robbed 
of half its associations ! For that eventful occasion, and duly to 
honour '^tlie nation's guest," (who cordially invited all our citi- 
zens to visit him) all the Ibrmer interior furniture of benches and 
forms occupying the floor were removed, and the whole area was 
richly carpeted and fm-nislicd with numerous mahogany chairs, &c. 

To revert back to the period of tlie Revolution, when that hall 
was consecrated to j)erpetual fame, by the decisive act of the most 
talented and patriotic convention of men that ever represented our 
country, bi'ings us to the contemplation of those hazards and ex- 
tremities which "tried men's souls." — Their energies and civic 
virtues were tested in the deed. Look at tlie sign-manual in 
their signatures ; not a hand faultered — no tremor affected any but 
Stephen Hopkins wiio had a natural infirmity.* We could wish 
to sketcli with picturesque effect the honoured groupc who thus 
sealed tlie destinies of a nation. Tlie genius of Trumbull has done 
this so far as canvass could accomplish it. Another groupe, formed 
solely of citizens, was soon afterwards assembled by public call, to 
hear the declaration read in the State-liouse yard. 

When the regular sessions of the Assembly were held in the 
State-house the Senate occupied up-stairs, and the Lower House in 
the same chamber since called the Hall of Independence. In the 
former, Anthony Morris is remembered as Speaker, occupying an 
elevated chair facing the north — himself a man of amiable mien, 
contemplative aspect, dressed in a suit of drab cloth, flaxen hair 
slightly powdered, and his eyes fronted with spectacles. The re- 
presentative chamber iiad George Latimer for Speaker, seated 
with face to the west — a well-formed, manly person, " his fair large 
front and eye sublime declared absolute rule." 

The most conspicuous persons which struck the eye of a lad, 
was Mr. Coolbaugh, a member from Berks, called the Dutch 
giant, from his great amplitude of stature and person ; and Doctor 
Michael Leib, the active democratic member — a gentleman of 
much personal beauty, always fashionably dressed, and seen often 

* Their plain and fairly legible hands might shame the modera affectation of many who 
make signatures not to be read. 



State-Ihuse and Yard, CA7 

moving to and fro in the House, to liold iiis converse with other 
members. 

But these halls of legislation and court uses were not always 
restricted to grave debate and civil rule. It sometimes (in colonial 
days) served the occasion of generous banqueting, and the conse- 
quent hilarity and jocund glee. In the long gallery up-stairs, 
where Peale afterwards had his Museum, the long tables iiad been 
sometimes made to groan with their long array of bountiful repast. 
I shall mention some such occasions, to wit : 

in September, 1736, soon after the edifice was completed, his 
Honour William Allen, Esq. tiie Mayor, made a feast at his own 
expense, at the State-house, to wliich all strangers of note were in- 
vited. The Gazette of the day says, ''All agree that for excel- 
lency of fare, and number of guests, it was the most elegant enter- 
tainment ever given in these parts." 

In August, 1756, the Assembly then in session, on the occasioji 
of the arrival of the new Governor Denny, gave him a great din- 
ner at tiie State-house, at which were present "tiie civil and mili- 
tary officers and clergy of Ihe city." 

In March, 1757, on the occasion of the visit of Lord Loudon as 
Commander in Chief of the King's troops in the colonies, the city 
corporation pi-epared a splendid banquet at the State-house, for 
himself and General Forbes, then commander at Piiiladelphia, and 
southward, together with the officers of the royal Americans, the 
Governor, gentlemen strangers, civil officers, and clergy. 

Finally, in 1774, when the first Congress met in Philadelphia, 
the gentlemen of the city, having prepared them a sumptuous enter- 
tainment at the State-house, met at tlie City tavern, and thence 
went in procession to the dining hall, Avhere about 500 persons 
were feasted, and the toasts were accompanied by music and great 
guns. 

For many years the public papers of the colony, and afterwards 
of the city and State, were kept in the east and west \\ ings of the 
State-house, without any fire-proof security as they now possess. 
From their manifest insecurity, it was deemed expedient about nine 
years ago to pull down those former two story brick wings, and to 
supply theii" place by those which are now there. In former times 
such important papers as rest with the Prothonotaries, were kept 
in their offices at their family residences. I'hus Nicholas Biddlc 
long had his in his house, one door west of the present Farmers 
and Mechanics Bank, in Chesnut street ; and Edward Burd had 
his in his office, up a yard in Fourth street below Walnut street 

In pulling down tiie western wing, Mr. Grove, the master ma- 
son, told me of several curious discoveries made under the founda- 
tion, in digging for the present cellars. Close by the westei*n wall 
of the State-house at the depth of four or five feet he came to a keg 
of excellent flints ; the wood was utterly decayed, but the impres- 
sion of the keg was distinct in the loam ground. Near to it he found. 



348 State-House and Yard, 

at the same depth, the entire equipments of a sergeant — a sword, 
musket, cartouch-box, buckles, &c. — the wood being decayed left 
the impressions of what they had been. They also dug up, close 
by the same, as many as one dozen bomb-shells filled with powder. 
And two of these, as a freak of the mason's lads, are now actually 
walled into the new cellar wall on the south side. But for this 
explanation a day may yet come when such a discovery might 
give circulation to another Guy Faux and gunpowder-plot story ! 



349 



STATE-HOUSE INN. 

[ILI.C3TBATED bT A PLATE.] 



THE crowds of gay passengers who now promenade the line of 
Chesnut street, especially the younger part, who behold the costly 
edifices which crowd the whole range of tlieir long walk, have lit- 
tle or no conception of the former blank and vacant features of the 
street, devoid of those mansions in which they now feel tlieir pride 
and admiration. It is only thirty years ago since the north side of 
Chesnut street, facing the State-house, now so compact and stately 
in its houses, had but two good houses in the whole line of the street 
from Fifth to Sixth street ; but one of these now remain— the pres- 
ent residence of P. S. Duponceau, Esq. at the north east corner of 
Sixth street. The whole scene was an out-town spectacle, without 
pavement, and of uninviting aspect. In the midst of this area stood 
the State-house Inn, a small two-story tavern, of rough-dashed 
construction, very old, being marked with the year 1693 as its 
birth-year. It stood back a little from the line of the street, but 
in lieu of a green court-yard to gratify the eye, the space wfis filled 
with bleached oyster shells — the remains of numerous years of 
shells left about thp premises at occasions of elections, kc. It look- 
ed like a sea-beach tavern. That single and diminutive inn for a 
long time gave all the entertainment then taken by the court suit- 
ors, or by those who hung about the colonial Assemblies and the 
primitive Congress. But desolate as it looked in front and rear, 
having a waste lot of commons instead of garden shrubbery, and 
the neighbouring lots equally open and cheerless, there was a re- 
deeming appendage in a range of lofty and primitive walnut trees, 
which served as distant pointers to guide the stranger to the ven- 
erable State-liouse — itself beyond the verge of common population. 

Of those trees we have something special and interesting to say : 
They were the last remains within the city precincts of that primi- 
tive forest which had been the cotemporary of Penn the founder. 
There they had stood at the infant cradling of our nation, and had 
survived to see our manhood and independence asserted in that 
memorable *'Hall of Independence" before which they stood. 

When Richard Penu first came to this country, and was shown 
by Samuel Coates these primitive remains of his grandfather's 
eventful day, the crowd of associations which pressed upon his mind 
made him raise his hands in exclamation, and his eyes burst forth 
in tears. 

It would have been grateful to have retained those trees, but they 
came to the axe before their time, to make way for city improve- 



350 The State-House Inn. 

ments. The last of them was taken down in 1818, i'rom before the 
office of Mr. Ridgway, No. 183, from a fear that its height and 
heaviness, in case of being blown over, might endanger the houses 
near it. In falling across the street diagonally it reached with its 
branches the eastern end of the State-house — as if to take its last 
leave of the Hall of Independence there. It was found to be sound 
and to have had 146 years growth. Several snuff-boxes, inlaid 
with other relic- wood, have been made from its remains, and dis- 
tributed among such as have fellowship with such local recollec- 
tions.* 

As early as the days of William Penn, the inn had been used as 
an out-town tavern. The ancient black Alice, who lived there, 
used to tell with pleasure that Master William Penn would stop 
there and refresh liimself in the porch with a pipe, for which she 
always had his penny. 

In the colonial days it was long known as "Clarke's Inn," at 
which he had the sign of the ''coach and liorses." All that we can 
say of "mine host," is, that lie prepared dogs — real dogs! — for 
cooking the meat of the epicures and gentry! In 1745 he adver- 
tises in the public prints, that '* he has for sale several dogs and 
wlieels, much preferable to any jacks for roasting any joint of 
meat." Few Philadelphians of modern times would be likely to 
understand what was meant. Our modern improvements are so 
great that we have little conception of the pains-taking means they 
once emi)Ioyed for roast meats. Tljey trained little bow-legged 
dogs, called spit-dogs, to run in a liollow cylinder, like a squirrel, 
by which impulse Avas given to a turnjack, which kept the meat in 
motion, suspended before the kitchen fire. We pity the little dogs 
and their hard service while we think of them i As cookingtime 
approached, it was no uncommon thing to see the cooks running 
about the street looking up their truant labourers. What a relief 
to them was self-moving jacks ! and, still more, what have tin 
kitchens since produced for us ! 

Mr. Edward Duffield tells me that when he was a boy he saw 
the voters of the whole county giving in their votes at Clarke's inn. 
On that occasion he saw the whole crowd put in commotion by an 
accident which befel a horse there. He had been hitched to a fence, 
and in pulling backward fell into a concealed and covered well of 
water ; after being got up once he fell down a second time, and was 
again recovered — strange to tell — without injury ! Such a covered 
and concealed well, of excellent water too, was lately discovered 
near there in the garden of Jacob Ridgway. 

After the Revolution the inn was known as the *' Half Moon," 
by Mr. Hassell, and much its attractions were Increased by the 
charms of his only daughter Norah, "passing fair," who drew af- 
ter her the Oglebys of the day. 

* Since penning the above the publication " La Fayette in America," Vol. 2, page 232.. 
rpeaks with much commendation of such a box given to General La Fayette, 



WASHINGTON SQ,UARE. 



THIS beautiful square, now so niucli the resort of citizens and 
strangers, as a promenade, was only fifteen years ago a '* Potter's 
Field," in which were seen numerous graves, generally the recep- 
tacles of the poor, and formerly of the criminals from the prison. 
It was long enclosed in a post and rail fence, and always produced 
much grass. It was not originally high and level as now, but a 
descending ground, from t!ie western side to a deep gully which tra- 
versed it in a line from Doctor Wilson's large church to the 
mouth of the present tunnel on Sixth street below Walnut street. 
Another course of water came from the nortli west, falling into the 
same place. The houses on the street, along the south side of the 
square, were but a few years ago as miserable and deformed a set 
of negro huts and sheds as could be well imagined. 

In the centre of the square was an enclosed ground, having a 
brick wall of about 40 feet square, in which had been interred 
members of Joshua Carpentei^'s and the Story families, caused 
by the circumstance of a female of the former family having been 
interred there for suicide — a circumstance which excluded her froni 
burial in the common church grounds of the city. 

Those who remembered the place long before my recollections, 
knew it when the whole place was surrounded by a privet-hedge, 
where boys used to go and cut bow-sticks, for shooting of arrows. 
Timothy Matlack remembered it as early as the year 1745 to 
'50, and used then to go to a pond where is now the site of the 
Presbyterian church, to shoot wild ducks. A. J. Morris, at the 
same period, remembered when a watercourse, starting from Arch 
street near Tenth street, traversed High street under a small 
bridge at Tenth street, and tlience ran southeastward through the 
Washington Square, thence by the line of the present tunnel under 
the prison, by Beck's Hollow, into Dock creek, by Girard's Bank. 
The present aged Hayfield Conyngham, Esq. when he was young, 
caught fish of six inches length in the above-mentioned watercourse, 
within the present sf^uare. Another aged person told me of his 
often walking up the brook, barefooted, in the water, and catching 
crayfish. 

It was the custom for tiie slave blacks at the time of fairs and 
other great holydays, to go there to the number of one thousand, 
of both sexes, and hold their dances, dancing after the manner of 



352 fVashington Square. 

their several nations in Africa, and speaking and singing in their 
native dialects. — thus cheerily amusing themselves over the sleep- 
ing dust below ! An aged lady, Mrs. H. S. has told me she has 
often seen the Guinea negroes, in the days of her youth, going to 
the graves of their friends early in the morning, and there leaving 
them victuals and rum ! 

In the time of the war of Independence the place was made aw- 
ful by the numerous interments of the dying soldiers destroyed by 
the camp fever. Pits of 20 by 30 feet square were dug along the 
line of Walnut street by Seventh street, wJiich were closed by cof- 
fins piled one upon another until filled up ; and along the southern 
line, long trenches the whole width of the square were dug at once, 
and filled up as the voracious grave required its victims. Its final 
scene, as a Golgotha and ghostly receptacle, occurred in the fever 
of 1793 : after which, the extension of improvements, westward, 
induced the City Council to close it against the use of future inter- 
ments at and after the year 1795. 

Some of my cotemporaries will remember the simple-hearted inno- 
cent Leah, a half-crazed spectre-looking elderly maiden lady, tall 
and thin, of the Society of Friends. Among her oddities, she 
sometimes used to pass the night, wrapped in a blanket, between 
the graves at this place, for the avowed purpose of frightening 
away " the doctors !" 

The place was originally patented in 1704-5, under the name 
of "the Potter's Field," as "a burial ground for strangers," &c. 
The minutes of Council, in September, 1705, show that the Mayor, 
Recorder, and persons of various religious denominations, were 
appointed to wait on the Commissioners of Property for a public 
piece of ground for *' a burial place for strangers dying in the city." 
With a run of ninety years it was no wonder it looked to the eye 
well filled ! 

That it was deemed a good pasture field, is evidenced by the 
fact of its being rented by the Council for such a purpose. A 
minute of Council of 14th April, 1766, is to this effect: "The 
lease of Potter's Field to Jacob Shoemaker having expired, it is 
agreed to lease it to Jasper Carpenter for seven years (to the year 
1773) at ten pounds per annum." 

It was begun as a public walk in the year 1815, under the plan 
of G. Bridport, and executed under the direction of George Vaux, 
Esq. It has from sixty to seventy varieties of trees, mostly of na- 
tive growth. In a few years more they will have extended their 
shade in admirable beauty, and those who may exercise beneath 
theii' branches will no longer remember those " whelm'd in pita 
and forgotten !" 



BEEK'S,HOLiL.OW, 

WAS the familiar name of ground descending into a brook or 
run, which traversed Walnut street a little above Fourth street, 
in the line of the present tunnel. Before the tunnel was constructed 
it was an open watercourse coming from the present Washington 
Square, crossing under Fourth street by an arch, and out to Dock 
creek by the way of the present Girard's Bank. 

Many men are still living who remember it as an open, deep 
and sluggish stream, from Walnut street near the present Scotch 
Presbyterian church, in a line towards the corner of Library 
street and Fourth street — then a vacant commons there. In proof 
of the low ground once there it may be said, that when they were 
digging the cellar for the house No. 73, South Fourth street, wes- 
tern side, below Library street, at the depth of nine feet they 
came to an old post and rail fence ! 

I can myself remember, when, a little westward of the brook, on 
the north side of Walnut street, there stood back from the street 
a very pleasant two-story old cottage, the residence of the widow 
Rowen, having a grapevine clustering about the lattices of the pi- 
azza, and a neat garden in front. I believe Doctor Cox built his 
dwelling house on the same premises, nearly thirty years ago. 
The south side of Walnut street was then generally vacant lots: 
and where the present range of fine houses extends westward from 
the south west corner of Fourth and Walnut street, was a long 
yard occupied many years by a coachmaker, whose frame shop 
stood upon the corner. The rear of Doctor Rush's former resi- 
dence shows a gradual descent of sloping garden into Beek's 
Hollow ; and an old house or two in Prune street, nortli side, show 
themselves buried as much as three steps beneath the present sur^ 
face— thus marking there the range of '*the Hollow" once so fami- 
liar in the mouths of all persons passing up Walnut street 



a A 



3S4 



NORMS' HOUSE & GARDEN. 



NORRIS' house, a respectable-looking family mansion, occupied 
till lately the site on whicli is now placed the Bank of the United 
States. Wlien first built, it was deemed out of town. Such as it 
was before the war of Independence, when adorned with a large 
and highly cultivated garden, has been well told in a picturesque 

manner by its former inmate, Mrs. L .* Its rural beauties, so 

near the city, w ere once very remarkable ; and for that reason made 
it the frequent resort of respectable strangers and genteel citizens. 
In that house, when Isaac Norris was Speaker, and was con- 
fined at home, infirm, the Assembly of Pennsylvania, for the sake 
of his presence, sometimes lield their deliberations. In the time of 
the war, the patriots took off its leaden reservoir and spouts to make 
bullets for the army. It was occupied by several British oflicers 
when the British army possessed the city. In those gardens Ad- 
miral Howe and several British ofiicers were daily visiters. A 
few years ago an aged female Friend from Baltimore, who lived 
there by selling cakes, kc. was present at a Yearly Meeting in 
Philadelphia, and then told her friends that her grandfather liad 
once been given the ground whereon the Bank stands, with as 
much as half the square, for his services as chain-bearer in the 
original survey of the city. Now, when old and needy, she sees 
the Bank erected thereon, at a cost for the site of 100,000 dollars ! 

The range of large brick houses on the soutli side of Chesnut 
3treet, extending from tlie Bank of the United States up to Fifth 
street, w ere built there about 25 years ago, upon what had been 
previously Norris^ garden. The whole front was formerly a gar- 
den fence, shaded by a long line of remarkably big catalpa trees, 
and, down Fifth street, by trees of the yellow willow class, being 
the first ever planted in Philadelphia — and the whole the product 
of a wicker-basket found sprouting in Dock creek, taken out and 
planted in Mr. Norris' garden at the request of Dr. Franklin. 

On the Fifth street side of the garden, extending down to Libra- 
ry street, there stood a rural-looking cottage, near the site of the 
present library. It was the gardener's residence, standing back 
from the street 'midst deep embow'ring shade, every way pictu- 
resque to the eye, and having near it an open well of water of pe» 
culiar excellence, famed far and wide as **deep and cold," and for 

^ In a family manuscript for her son, 



Holer t Jlorris* Mansion. 335 

wliich families often sent at several squares distance. It was im- 
possible to see the tout ensemble as it then was, without associating 
the poetic description of *'the drawwcll and mossy bucket at tlie 
door ! " The well still remains, as a pump, on the noi-th side of 
Library street, about 60 or 70 feet eastward of Fiftli street, but 
its former vu'tues are nearly gone. 

The eastern side of the garden was separated from Fourth street 
hy the Cross-Keys Inn and some two or three appurtenant liouses 
once the estate of Peter Campbell, in whose hands they were con- 
fiscated, and then purchased by the late Andrew Caldwell, Esq. 
By mistake of the original surveys they had been built out four 
feet upon the Chesnut street pavement, so that when the street be- 
came public, they closed the front doors and entered the house on 
the western side by a gateway and a long piazza. The whole 
produced an agreeable oddity, which always made the block of 
huildings remarkable. 



ROBERT MORRIS' MANSION. 



rmS gi'eat edifice, the grandest ever attempted in Philadelphia 
for the family purposes of private life, was erected at the request 
and for the use of the great financier, Robert Morris, Esq. The 
"whole proved to be a ruinous and abortive scheme, not so much 
from his want of judgment to measure his end by his means, as by 
the deceptive estimates of his architect. Major L'enfent — a name 
celebrated in our annals for the frequent disproportion between his 
hopes and his accomplishments. 

Mr. Morris purchased tlie whole square, extending from Ches» 
nut to Walnut street, and from Seventh to Eighth street, for 
10,000£. — a great sum for what had been, till then, the Capital, 
at which the Norris' family had used it as their pasture ground! 
Its original elevation was 12 to 15 feet above the present level of 
the adjacent streets. With such an extent of high ground in orna- 
mental cultivation, and a palace in efltect fronting upon Chesimt 
street, so far as human grandeur was available, it must have bad 
a signal effect. 

Immense funds were expended ere it reached the surface of the 
ground, it being generally two and sometimes three stories under 
ground, and the arches, vaults and labyrinths were numerous. It 
was finally got up to its intended elevation of two stories, present- 
ing four sides of entire marble surface, and much of the ornaments 
worked in expensive relief. Such as it then was may be seen io 



Robert Morris* Mansion. 



an accurate delineation of it as made in 1798, and preserved in my 
MS. Annals, page 243, in the City Library. It was then per 
ceived too late — 



-that finished as it was, 



It still lack'd a grace, the loveUest it could show— 
A mine to satisfy th' enormous cost I" 

Mr. Morris, as he became more and more sensible of his ruin in 
the above building, was often seen contemplating it, and has been 
heard to vent imprecations on himself and his lavish architect. He 
had besides provided, by importation and otherwise, the most cost- 
ly furniture ; all of which, in time, together with the marble man- 
sion itself, had to be abandoned to his creditors. 

" Drained to the last poor item of his wealth, 

He sighs, departs, and leaves th' accomplished plan 

Just where it meets his hopes ! " 

He saw it raised enough to make a picture and to preserve the 
ideal presence of iiis scheme ; but that was all — for the magnitude 
of the establishment could answer no individual wealth in this 
country ; and the fact was speedily realized, that what cost so 
muc!i to rear could find no purchaser at any reduced price. The 
creditors were therefore compelled, by slow and patient labour, to 
puis down- peace-meal, what had been so expensively set up. Some 
of the under- ground labyrinths were so deep and massive as to 
havo been left as they were, and at some future age may be discov- 
ered to the great perplexity of the quid mines. The materials thus 
taker, 'Vown were sold out in lots : and the square being divided into 
buildiiiii lots aud sold, gave occasion to employ much of the former 
materia! therein. Mr. William Sansom soon procured the erec- 
tion of his *'Row" on Walnut street, and many of the houses on 
'* S.m^om street," thereby producing a uniformity in building 
ranges of similar houses, often since imitated, but never before at- 
tempted in our city. 

It always struck me as something remarkable in the personal 
tustory of Mr. Morris, that while he operated for the government 
as financier, his wisdom and management was pre-eminent, as if 
*' sky-guided and heaven -directed," leading to a national end, by 
an overruling providence; but, when acting for himself, as if 
teaching us to see that fact by contrast, all his personal affairs went 
wrong and to ruin 1 



LOXLEY'S HOUSK, 



BATHSHEBA'S SATK A]^D BOWER. 



THE frame house of singular construction, No. 177, south Second 
street, at the junction of Little Dock and Second streets, was mem- 
orable in its early day for affording from its gallery a preaching 
place for the celebrated Whitfield — liis audience occupying the 
street (then out of town) and the opposite hill at the margin of 
Bathsheba's bath and bower. All these focts must sound strange 
to modern ears, who so long have regarded that Heighbourhood as 
a well compacted city. It may therefore serve as well to amuse 
the reader, as to sustain the assertions above, to adduce some of 
the authorities on which those traditions are founded. 

I had long l)eard traditional facts concerning the rural beauty 
and charming scenes of Bathsheba's bath and bower, as told among 
the earliest recollections of the aged. They had heard their parents 
talk of going out over the Second street bridge into tiie country 
abx)ut the Society Hill, and there making their tea-regale at the 
above-named spring. Some had seen it, and forgotten its locatioji 
after it was changed by streets and houses ; but a few, of more 
tenacious memories or observing minds, had preserved the site in 
the mind's eye — among these was the present aged and respectable 
Samuel Coates, Esq. — he told me that, when a lad, he had seen 
Whitfield preaching from the gallery, and that his audience, like a 
rising amphitheatre, surrounded the site of the bath and bower, on 
tlie western side of Second street. That the spring, once sur- 
rounded by shrubbery, sprang out of the hill on the site of the lot 
on which Captain Cadwallader (afterwards a General) constructed 
his large double house — the same site on which S. Girard, Esq. 
has since erected four brick houses. Mrs. J. and Mrs. R. daugh- 
ters of Mr. Benjamin Loxley, the owner of that house, told me that 
they had heard him say he had heard Whitfield preach from that bal- 
cony, and also that there was originally a celebrated spring on 
the opposite side of the street. The springy nature of the ground 
was sufficiently indicated, to the surprise of the citizens and the 
builders, when Mr. Girard attempted to build the above-mentioned 



538 Loxley^s HousCf and Bathsheha^s Bath and Bower. 

houses further out than Cadwallader's house ; they could find no 
substantial foundation, and were obliged to drive piles on which 
to build. Mrs. Logan, too, had a distinct recollection of an old 
lady who used to describe to her the delightful scenery once around 
the spring, and that it lay somewhere towards the Society Hill. 

Mr. Alexander Fullerton, aged 76 years, told me he was familiar 
with this neighbourhood when a boy, and was certain the spring 
here was called '' Bathsheba's Spring and Bower." He knew also 
that the pump near there, and still at the south east corner of Second 
and Spruce street, was long resorted to as a superior water, and 
was said to draw its excellence from the same source. 

The street in front of Loxley's house was originally much lower 
than it now appears to the eye, being now raised by a sub-terrene 
tunnel. It was traversed by a low wooden bridge half the width 
of the street, and tlie other half was left open for watering cattle., 

The yards now in the rear of Girard's houses are much abovf- 
thc level of Second street, and prove the fact of a former hill there ; 
on which Captain Cadwallader used to exercise and drill his cele- 
brated "silk stocking company." 

Mr. Loxley himself was a military chieftain of an earlier day--* 
made the talk and dependence of the town in the days of the Paxtang 
boys. His intended defence of the city against those outlaws has 
been facetiously told by Gray don in his memoirs. He had beeF: 
made a lieutenant of artillery, in 1756, on the occasion of Brad- 
dock's defeat. His father before him, owned these premises ; and 
the family mansion near there, now shut in and concealed from 
Spruce street, was once at tlie base of a rural and beautiful hilL 
displaying there a charming hanging garden, and the choicest 
fruits and grapes. The Loxley house is deserving of some further 
distinction as the residence, in the time of the Revolution, of Lydia 
Darrach, who so generously and patriotically undertook to walk 
beyond the lines to give our army timely information of the medi- 
tated attack. — Under her roof the Adjutant General of the British 
army had his ofiice. 



199 



DUCHB'S HOUSE, &c. 



THIS was one of the most venerable looking, antiquated houses 
of our city, built in 1758, for Parson Duche, the pastor of St. Pe- 
ter's church, as a gift from his fatlier, and taken down a few years 
ago, to give room to erect several brick houses on its site. It was 
gaid to have been built after the pattern of one of the wings of 
Lambeth Palace. When first ei*ected there it was deemed quite 
out of town, and for some time rested in lonely grandeur.* In 
after-years it became the residence of Governor M'Kean, and 
when we saw it as a boy, we derived from its contemplation con- 
ceptions of the state and dignity of a Governor which no subse- 
quent structures could generate. It seemed the appropriate resi- 
dence of some notable public man. 

Parson Duche was as notable in his time as his mansion, and 
ioth for a time run their fame together. He was witlial a man of 
some eccentricity, and of a very busy mind, partaking with lively 
feelings in all the secular incidents of the day. When Junius' let- 
ters first came out, in 1771, he used to descant upon them in the 
Gazettes of the time under the signature of Tamoc Caspipina, — a 
title formed by an acrostic on his office, &c. as " the assistant 
minister of Christ church and St. Peter's in North America." At 
another time he endeavoured to influence General Washington, 
with whom he was said to be popular as a preacher, to forsake the 
American cause ; and for this measure he was obliged to make his 
escape for England, where he lived and preached some time, but 
finally came back to Philadelphia and died. His ancestor was 
Anthony Duche, a respectable Protestant refugee, who came out 
with William Penn. 

The church of St. Peter, to which he was attached, on the south 
west corner of Third and Pine streets, (the diagonal coi-ner from 
his own house,) was founded in the year 1758, as a chapel of ease 
to the parent Christ clmrch. It was built by contract for the sum 
of SSlOjg. and the bell in its cupola, (the best at present in the city 
for its tones) was the same which had occupied the tree-crotch at 
Christ church. The extensive ground was the gift of the proprie- 

•A penciled picture of the house is preserved in my MS. Annals in the Philadelphia 
Library. 



360 Bingham's Mansion. 

taries; level as the whole area was, it was always called *<the 
church on the hill," in primitive days, in reference to its heing in 
the region of " Society Hill," and not, in familiar parlance, within 
the city walks. 

In September, 1761, just two years after it was begun to be 
built, it was first opened for public worship. On that occasion all 
the clergy met at Christ church, and with the wardens and vestry 
went in procession to the Governor's house, where being joined by 
him and some of his council, they proceeded to the new church, 
where they hear(' a sermon from Doctor Smith, the Provost of the 
college, from the words <• I have surely built thee an house to dwell 
in," 6lc. Tlie same words were*also set to music and sung by the 
choir. 



BINGHAM^S MANSION. 



LONG after the jjeace of 1783, all of the ground in the rear of 
•'the Mansion House" to Fourth street, and all south of it to Spruce 
street, was a vacant grass ground enclosed by a rail fence, in which 
the boys resorted to jfly tlieir kites. The Mansion House, built 
and lived in by William Bingham, Esq. about the year 1790, was 
the admiration of that day for its ornaments and magnificence. 
He enclosed tlie whole area w ith a painted board fence and a close 
line of Lombardy poplars — the first ever seen in this city,^ and 
from which has probably since come all the numerous poplars 
which we everywhere see. The grounds generally he had laid 
out in beautiful style, and filled the whole with curious and rare 
clumps and shades of trees ; but in the usual selfish style of Phila- 
delphia improved grounds, the whole was surrounded and hid from 
the public gaze by a high fence. An occasional peep through a 
knot-hole was all the pleasure the public could derive from such a 
woodland scene. After Mr. Bingham's death the whole was sold 
off in lots, and is since filled up with finely finished three-story 
houses. When the British were in Philadelphia they used this 
ground as a parade and exercise. 

* The Athenian poplars have only been introduced here about six or eight years. 
William Hamilton, at the Woodlands, first planted the Lombardy poplars there in 1784. 
from England. 






Ht' s I a p nrc of Ih/ i // n/^J ro/t i n Hi^ h S b e< /"J '///','> 




BriUs h H Ji n/( \6. I'll ila'Lcljilua 



S61 



THE BRITISH BARRACKS, 

[iLLCSTRATEn BY A I'LATE.] 



THESE were built in the Northern Liberties soon after the de- 
feat of Braddock's army ; and arose from the necessity, as it was 
alleged, of making better permanent provision for troops deemed 
necessary to be among us for our future protection. Many of the people 
had so petitioned the King — not being then so sensitive of the pre- 
sence of "< standing armies" as their descendants have since 
become. 

The parade and " pomp of war" which their erection produced 
in the former peaceful city of Penn, gave it an attraction to the 
town's people, and being located far out of town, it was deemed a 
pleasant walk to tiie country and fields, to go out and see the long 
ranges of houses, the long lines of kilted and bonnctted Highlan- 
ders, and to hear '^ the spirit stirring fife and soul inspiring drum !" 
Before that time, the fields there were a far land, severed from all 
connection with the city by the marsh meadows of Pegg. No Sec- 
ond sti'eet road before existed ; and for the convenience and use 
of the army a causeway was formed across those wet grounds in 
the line of the present Second street, along the front of what is 
now called Sansom's Row. 

The ground plot of the barracks extended from Second to Third 
street, and from St. Tamany street to Green street, having the of- 
ficers Quarters — a large three story brick building on Third street, 
the same now standing as a Northern Liberty Town Hall. The 
parade ground fronted upon Second street, shut in by an ornamen- 
tal palisade fence on the line of that street. The aged John 
Brown told me the whole area was a field of buckwheat, which 
was cut off, and the barracks built thereon and tenanted by 3000 men, 
all in the same year ; the houses were all of brick, two stories 
high, and a portico around the wiiole hollow square. These all stood 
till after the war of Independence, when they Avcre torn down, and 
the lots sold for the benefit of tiie public. It was from the loca- 
tion of those buildings that the whole region thereabout was 
familiarly called Campington. 

In 1758, I notice the first public mention of'' the new barracks 
in Campington ;" the Gazettes stating the arrival there of " Colo- 
3 B 



362 The British Barracks. 

iiel Montgomery's Highlanders," and some arrangement by the 
City Council to provide them their bedding, &c. 

An earlier attempt had been made to construct barracks out 
Mulberry street, on the south side, west of Tenth street — there 
they proceeded so far as to dig a long line of cellars, which having 
been abandoned, they lay open for many years afterwards. 

In tlie year 1764, the barracks were made a scene of great in- 
terest to all the citizens — there the Indians who fled from the 
threats of the murderous Paxtang boys, sought their refuge under 
the protection of the Highlanders; while the approach of the latter 
was expected, the citizens ran there with their arms to defend 
them and to throw up intrenshments. Captain Loxley of the city 
Artillery was in full array with his band. In time those Indians 
became afflicted with smallpox, and turned their Quarters into 
a very hospital, from which they buried upwards of fifty of their 
companions. 

It may serve to show the former vacant state of the Northern 
Liberties, to know, that on the King's birthday, as late as June, 
1772, " it was celebrated at the British barracks by a discharge 
of twenty-one cannon." Indeed, the artillery park, and the neces- 
sary stores erected along the line of the present Duke street, gave 
to t'.iat street its wcllknown former name of "Artillery Laue." 



363 



THE OLID ACADEMY. 



THIS building, now in part the Methodist Unifni church, was oi^i- 
ginally constructed on subscription monies raised by the celebrated 
Whitfield, for the use of itinerant preacliers forever, as well as for 
his peculiar religious views and tenets, then called ''New Light ;'* 
and for which cause his former friends, in the first Presbyterian 
thurch, no longer held fellowship with his followers. 

It was begun in the year 1741 ; and when the walls were but 
about four feet high, it was preached in by Whitfield to a great 
congregation. It was finished in 1744, faster than money had been 
procured to pay oft' its expenses — For this cause Dr. Franklin 
procured it to be purchased, in 1749, for 777£. to be converted in- 
to the first Academy of Philadelphia,* with the condition of parti- 
tioning off" and reserving, to the use of itinerants, a preaching hall 
therein forever. In 1753 it was made ''the College" of Philadel- 
phia, and in 1779, *'the "University." Dr. William Smith was 
inducted Provost in 1754. 

This Dr. Smith was a graduate of Aberdeen, and when inducted 
Provost, w as but 27 years of age. He held his place but a few 
years, when he fell into an embarrassment which created great 
public sensation. As agent for "the Society for promoting 
Knowledge among the Germans," he published in his German 
newspaper, in 1758, the defence of a certain Judge Moore of 
Chester county, who had officially given umbrage to the Legisla- 
ture. Smith and Moore were arraigned before the House : and 
Smith, in his speech, resisting their privileges, was greatly cheer- 
ed by the people in the lobby ! Smith and Mooi-e were imprisoned 
for contempt, but visited by crowds of their friends. As a writer 
and speaker he was very popular. He delivered several military 
sermons in the time of the Revolution. The one he delivered in 
1775 to Cadwallader's battalion at Christ church was much eulo- 
gized by the whigs, went through several editions in America, 
and was reprinted in London, in an edition of 10,000, by the Cham- 
berlain of London ! He died in 1803. 

It may serve to show some of the efforts by which the college 
was got up and sustained, by quoting a MS. letter of Thomas 
Penn's, of May, 1762, to wit: "Dr. Smith's soliciting here goes 
on well. Most of tlie Bishops have given ; and he is now applying, 
with their sanction, to the principal people among the laity. 
He has been at Oxford, and expects some assistance there, and from 
the Archbishop of York, and many others." In June, 1764. Dr. 
Smith, who had been commissioned as Solicitor in 1761, returned 

* The Subscription fund amounted then to 2C0OJP. 



364 The old Academy. 

from England, bringing with him 13,000i?. collected in conjunc- 
tion with Sir James Jay for the Philadelphia and New York col- 
leges collectively. Those English gifts were certainly very mu- 
nificent. 

A MS. letter of Richard Peters', of 1753, to Thomas Penn, 
speaks of the Academy as then in great repute, having 65 boys 
fi'om t!ie neighbouring colonies. 

A letter of Thomas Penn's, of 1754, states that while we were 
forming the Academy and College for Pennsylvania under Dr. 
Smith, then in England, (seeking redress for his short imprison- 
ment at Philadelphia by the Assembly, for an alleged contempt,) 
the people of New York persuaded Dr. Johnson to be President for 
their college to be established, saying, as their '* argument, they 
hope to draw pupils even from Philadelphia, and tliat they regard 
the Philadelphia Academy as a school to fit boys for them." This 
he treats as their boast. 

The pomp and circumstance of the "commencement days" 
were then got up with much more of public feeling and interest 
than have since existed. At a time when every man of competen- 
cy in the community contributed to endow the establishment it left 
none indifferent to its prosperity or success. 

The site of the Academy is said by Thomas Bradford to be 
made-ground, filled in tliere from cutting down a part of the hill 
once in the Friends* burying ground opposite — it having been 4 or 
5 feet higher within their w^all than on the street. His idea was, 
that the Friends' ground originally sloped across Fourth street in- 
to the Academy ground ; which seemed to have been the bed of an 
ancient water-course along its western wall. 

About thirty years ago the trustees having purchased the "Pres- 
ident's house" in south ninth street, for a more enlarged place, re- 
moved "tlic University" there: and that great building they are 
now again pulling down to renew in another way. 

I might acid some remembered anecdotes of tcacliers and pupils, but \ 
forbear. Graydon's Memoirs contains amusing facts of the youths there, 
his companions, before the Revolution : — Such as jostling off Master 
Beveridge's wig, and pranks of less equivocal insubordination ; — vexing 
and fretting Master Dove — a doggereliser and satirist of severe manners 
—far more of a falcon than a dove ; — making long foot-races round the 
square, and priding themselves in their champion — another swift-footed 
Achilles. These are the revived images of fathers now, who were once 
young 1 — 

« The fields, the forms, the bets, the books, 
The glories and disgraces" — 
" Now leaping over widest ditch, 
Now laughing at the Tutor 1 " 

To such the "University boys" of the present day may go for their 
apologies for breaches of discipline now — not for Avilful transgressions, but 
for lapses of prudence and discretion- — 

" He will not blush that has a father's heart, 
To take in childish play a playful part." 



OFFIOS OF 

SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS. 



[illustrated BT a PLATE.] 



" Yet Still will memory's busy eye retrace 
Each little vestige of the wellknown place." 

OUR city, justly fond of her pre-eminence as the home of the 
founders of an important State, has also the superadded glory of 
possessing within her precincts the primitive edifice in which the 
great national concerns of this distinguished Republic were com- 
menced and sustained. The small building of but twelve feet front, 
represented in the annexed drawing, now occupied as a small shop 
for vending cakes and children's trifles, was once the office of Secre- 
tary for Foreign Affairs. From that humble looking bureau were 
once fulminated those determined and national resolves whicli made 
our foreign foes to cower, and secured our Independence am.ong 
the nations : ''Tho' small our means, great were our measures 
and our end !'* 

From the contemplation of such a lowly structure, so seemingly 
disproportionate to our present great attainments, (" a generation 
more refined, improved the simple plan !") the mind recurs back 
instinctively to those otlicr primitive days, when the energies of 
the pilgrim founders were in like manner restricted within the 
narrow bounds of '' Lsetitia Court," and within the walls of " Lse- 
titia House," on which occasion, Penn's letter of 1687, (in my pos- 
session,) recommends "a change of the offices of State, from his 
cottage, to quartei*s more commodious." 

Tiie <' Office for Secretary of Foreign Affairs," under present 
consideration, is the same building now on the premises of P. S. 
Duponceau, Esq. situate on tlie eastern side of south Sixth street. 
No. 1 3 — a house appropriately owned by such a possessor ; for, in 
it, he, who came as a volunteer to Join our fortunes, and to aid our 
cause, as a Captain under Baron Steuben, became afterwards one 
of the under Secretaries to our Minister of Foreign Relations, and 
in that building gave his active and early services. In the years 
1782 and '83, under that humble roof, presided as our then Sccrc- 



366 Office of Secretary of Foreign Jtffairs. 

tary for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Robert R. Livingston. Up- 
stairs, in the small front room facing the street, sat that distin- 
guished personage, wielding by his mind and pen the destinies of 
our nation. In the adjoining back room, sat the two under Secre- 
taries, to wit : Louis R. Morris, since Governor of Vermont, and 
our present venerated citizen Mr. Duponceau. There, having 
charge of tlic archives of a nation, they preserved them all within 
the enclosure of a small wooden press ! The only room down-stairs, 
on the ground floor, was that occupied by the two clerks and the 
interpreter. One of the clerks, Mr. Henry Remson, has since be- 
come tlie President of a Bank in New York, and the other, Mr. 
Stone, has been Governor of Maryland. The translator was the 
Rev. Mr. Tctard, tlie pastor of the French Reformed church. 
Such was the material of our national infancy, since grown to 
3uch vigorous and effective manhood ! 

Mr. Duponceau, from whom I have derived much of these facts, 
wljich passed under his immediate observation, has occasionally 
delighted himself and me in describing with good humoured emo- 
tion, and ])icturesque delineation, the various scenes which hav» 
there occasionally occurred, and the great personages who have 
frequently clambered up tlie dark and narrow winding staii's to 
make their respects to or their negotiations with the representative 
of the nation ! — such as the Marquis La Fayette, Count Rocham- 
beau, the Duke de Lauzan, Count Dillon, Prince Guemenee, &c. 
Our own great men, such as Madison, Moriis, Hamilton, Miff- 
lin, &c. were visiters of course. After the peace, in the same 
small upper chamber, were received the homage of the Britisii 
General Allured Clark, and the famous Major Hanger, once the 
favourite of the present George the IV. 

This frail fabric, in veneration of its past services, (though a 
thing now scarcely known to our citizens as a matter in " com- 
mon parlance*') is devoted during the life of its present generous 
and feeling owner '<to remain (as lie says,) a proud monument of 
the simplicity of the founders of our Revolution." It is in truth, 
as deserving of encomium for its humble moderation, as was the 
fact, renowned in history, respecting the Republic of the Nether- 
lands in her best days, when her Grand Pensionary, Heinsius, was 
deemed superlatively ennobled, because he walked the streets of 
the Hague with only a single servant, and sometimes with even 
none. Quite as worthy of memorial was the equivalent fact, that 
our then venerable President of Congress, the Hon. Samuel Hun- 
tingdon, together with Mr. Duponceau, often made their breakfast 
on whortleberries and milk. On such occasions, the President has 
facetiously remarked :—^* What now, Mr. Duponceau, would the 
princes of Europe say, could they see the first Magistrate of this 
great country at his frugal i-epast !" 

Long may our sons remember and respect these facts of our 



office of Secretary of Foreign Affairs. 367 

generous and devoted forefathers ! And long may the recollection 
of the meraorabie deeds of this house, 



—a great example stand, to show, 



How strangely liigh endeavours may be blest 1" 
There are other facts connected with these premises which gave 
them celebrity in their day, although of a nature quite dissimilar : 
but in redeeming from oblivion all the facts of times by-gone, we 
may also hint at this, to wit : 

In the year 1773, when the houses on this lot were erected for 
the Lawrence family, and when the house now Mr. Duponceau's 
dwelling, on the north west corner of Cliesnut street, was then used 
as the residence of the other, it was then deemed far beyond the 
verge of city population. It was, indeed, a country house, and 
virtually chosen as a *^ Buenos Ayres." In digging there for a 
well, they discovered, as they thought, an excellent mineral water, 
*< supposed to exceed in strength any chalybeate spring known in 
the province," — great was its fame ; crowds of persons came tliere 
to partake of its efficacy. Tlie Gazettes of the day vaunted of it 
as a valuable discovery. It benefited every body ,* and especially 
a reduced French lady, to whom Mrs. Lawrence gave the privi- 
lege of taking the fees for the draughts of water she handed out to 
the numerous visiters. It enjoyed its fame, however, but for a 
short year, when by the intrusive interference of science, the dis- 
covery was reluctantly confessed, that it owed all its virtues to tlie 
deposit of foul materials ; even from the remains of a long covered 
and long forgotten pit ' 



3B8 



FORT WIl^SOIS". 



THIS was the name popularly given to a large brick house for- 
merly on the south west corner of Walnut street and Tliird street^ 
(where Cahlcleugh 15 years ago built a large store, &c.) It was, 

in the year 1779, the residence of Wilson, Esq. an eminent 

attorney, wlio became offensive to many for iiis professional services 
in behalf of Roberts and Carlisle — men, arraigned and executed as 
tories and traitors ; he gave also umbrage from his support of 
those merchants who refused to regulate their prices by the town 
resolves. A mob was formed, w ho gave out an inte)ition to assault 
his house and injure his person. His friends gathered around him 
with arms — soon the conflict was joined — many muskets were 
fired — some were wounded, and a few died. It was a day of great 
excitement, and long tlie name and incidents of " Fort Wilson" 
were discussed and remembered. 

Among those in the house were, Messrs. Wilson, Morris, Burd, 
George and Daniel Clymer, John T. Mifflin, Allen M'Lane, Sharp De- 
laney, George Campbell, Paul Beck, Thomas Laurence, Andrew Robin- 
L.on, John Potts, Samuel C. Morris, Captain Campbell, and Generals 
Mifflin, Nichols and Thompson. They were provided with arms, but 
their stock of ammunition was very small. While the mob was march- 
ing down. General Nichols and Daniel Clymer proceeded hastily to the 
Arsenal at Carpenter's Hall, and filled their pockets with cartridges ; 
This constituted their whole supply. 

In the mean-time, the mob and militia, (for no regular troops took part 
in the riot) assembled on the commons,* while a meeting of the princi- 
pal citizens took place at the Coffee House. A deputation was sent to 
endeavour to prevail on them to disperse, but without effect. The first 
troop of city cavalry assembled at their stables, a fixed place of rendez- 
vous, and agreed to have their horses saddled, and ready to mount at a 
moment's warning. Notice was to be given to as many members aS 
could be found, and a part was to assemble in Dock below Second street, 
and join the party at the stabies. For a time a deceitful calm prevailed ; 
at the dinner hour the members of the troop retired to their homes, and 
the rebels seized the opportunity to march into the city. The armed 
men amounted to two hundred, headed by low characters. They marched 
down Chesnut to Second street, down Second to Walnut street, and up 

* They assembled at and began Uieir march from Arcl» above Fifth sti*eet. General 
Arnold came to repress the mob, but he was so unpopular, they stoned him. The two 
men who used the sledges and stove in the door, were both killed ; three also from Spring 
Garden, and a great funeral was ma'.lf» for them by the populace. 



Fort TFilson. 3g9 

oY±nln'''TK° ^^"^ ^r'^",'' ^"''''^ ^^'^ ^^""^^ ^^^^'"S ^"d two pieces 
of cannon. 1 hey mmectiately commenced firing on the house, which 
.vas warm y returned by tl.e garrison. Finding they could make no im- 
viHd rt.'r P''°'^^^'^,^^.t« fo^-e the door; at the moment it was 
yielding, the horse made their appearance. 

in J\f ^' .'^ ''"^ ^'""^ '^'"'^"^ ^' ^'""^'' ^™«' ^ few °f the members, hear- 
mg that the mob were marching into town, hastened to the rendezvous- 
these members were Majors Lennox and the two Nichols, Samuel Mor- 
ns, A exander Nesbitt, Isaac Coxe and Thomas Leiper. On their route 
to Wilson s they were joined by two troopers from Bristol, and turning 
suddenly round the corner of Chesnut street, they charged the mob, who^ 
Ignorant of their number, at the cry of - the horse, the horse,"^rspered 
in every direction, but not before two other detachments of the first troon 

nrLn '' nH '^!lf ""'' . ^'"^ "^ '^^ ''''' ^'"•'^^^-•' ^"^ committed tS 
prison, and as the sword was very freely used, a considerable number 
was severely wounded. A man and a boy were killed in the streets ; in 
the house. Captain Campbell was killed,* and Mr. Mifflin and Mr S C 
Morns wounded. The troop patroled the streets the greater part'of the 
night. 1 he citizens turned out, and placed a guard at the powder maea- 
zine and the arsenal. It was some days before order was restored Ma- 
jor Lennox was particularly marked out for destruction. He retired to 
his house at Germantown : the mob followed and surrounded it durine- 
,^"'^i^^^"? prepared to force an entrance. Anxious to gain time, he 
pledged his honour, that he would open the door as soon as day-li^ht an! 
peared. In the mean time, he contrived to despatch an intrepid #oman, 
who lived m his family, to the city for assistance ; and a party of the firs 
jroop arrived in season to protect their comrade ; but he was compelled 
to return to town for safety. He was, for a number of years, saluted in 
the market, by the title of " brother butcher," owing in part, to his having 
been without a coat on the day of the riot ; having on a long coat, he wai 
Obliged to cast it aside, to prevent being dragged from his horse. 

ilie gentlemen who had comprised the garrison were advised to leave 
the city, where their lives were endangered. General Mifflin and about 
thirty others, accordingly met at Mr. Gray's house below Gray's Ferry, 
where it was resolved to return to town without any appearance of intimi ' 
dation But It was deemed expedient that Mr. Wilson should absent 
himselt tor a time : the others continued to walk as usual in public, and 
attended the funeral of the unfortunate Captain Campbell. 

Allen M'Lane and Colonel Grayson got into the house after the fray 
began. 1 he mob called themselves Constitutionalists. Benezet's fire 
in the entry trom the cellar passage was very deadly. 

wirh^?^'""^' Campbell who came to the door and opened it, was seiz-d and bavonKed 
with a dozen wounds, and survived them. ^ ' "^ ^ •"'" D.iyoneicn 



3 € 



S70 Friends' Mmshmse — Whitpain's Great House. 

FRIENDS' ALMSHOUSE. 



THIS ancient and antiquated looking building, fronting on ^\al- 
nut street, near Third street, was founded more than a century 
aa:o for the benevolent purpose of providing for the maintenance 
of tl'ic poor of that Society. The ground plot, and a large one too, 
was given to Friends by John Martin, on condition that they 
should support him for life. _ 

The front edifice was built in 1729 ; and those wings m the gar- 
den were built about sixteen years earlier, they being then suffi- 
cient for the wants of the Society. The neat and comfortable man- 
nei' in which the inmates have always lived is very creditable to 
their benefactors. , x r 4. i „ 

The present elevation of the garden, as much as ten feet above 
the streets in front, proves the former higher ground along Wal- 
nut street. Tlie aged Mrs. Shoemaker, who died four years ago 
at the a«-e of 95 years, told me that she remembered when the whole 
neighbourhood looked to the eye like a high hill from the line ot 
DoSk creek. The road, for many years, in her time, from Ihird 
street up Walnut street, and from Walnut street along Third street, 
ffoina: southward, were narrow cartways ascending deep dehles, 
and Causing the foot passengers to walk high above them on the 
sides of the shelving banks. 

WHITPAIN'S GREAT HOUSE. 

THIS was the name given to a stately house built on the bank 
side of Front street below Walnut street, for an owner of that 
name in England. Having been built of shell lime, it fell into 
premature decay, and '' great was the fall the»*eof-' ^ „ 

In 1687, William Penn by his letter to T. Lloyd, R. Turner, &c. 
says • '' Taking into consideration the great expenses of Richard 
Whitpain to the advancement of the province, and the share he ta- 
keth here (in England) on all occasions for its honour, I can do 
no less than recommend to you for public service his great house 
in Philadelphia, which, being too big for a private man, would pro- 
vide you a conveniency above what my cottage affords. It were 
reputable to take at least a moiety of it, which might serve for all 
the offices of State." . 

In 1707, Samuel Preston, writing to Jonathan Dickinson then in 
Jamaica, says "his house is endangered; for, that Whitpain's great 



fflgglesworth*s House. Sfl 

house, then decaying, threatened to fall upon and crush his liouse." 
In February, 1708-9, Isaac NoiTis, writing to Jr»nathan Dickin- 
son, says: "It is not prudent to repair thy house next to Wliitpain's 
ugly great house ; we have applied to authority to get power to 
pull it down. In the mean time the front of that part next to 
thine, being all tumbled down, lies open." 

In after-years a gi-cat fire occurred near there, and burnt down 
all the property belonging to Dickinson, so that the place long 
bore the name of "' the burnt buildings." Ross' stores now occupy, 
I think, the same premises. 



WIGGLESWORTH'S HOUSE. 



THIS house is entitled to some notice, as well for its ancient an(i 
peculiar location as for the rare person, ** Billy Wigglesworth," 
who gave it fame in more modern times. As a house, it is peculiar for 
its primitive double front, (Nos. 43 and 45, south Second street,) 
and heavy, squat, dormer windows, and above all, for having 
been built so early as that they did not find the right line of Se- 
cond street ! — of course presenting the earliest built house in its vi- 
cinity, (for it now stands northwest and southeast !) as any one 
may discern who inspects it. The character of its original finish 
under the caves, &c. evince that it was once superior in its day. 
I perceive it was first recorded in 1685 as the property of Philip 
Richards, merchant, for whom the house was built. Joseph Rich- 
ards, tlje son, possessed it by will in 1697, and sold it to John 
Brown in 1715. In 1754, the present two houses, then as one 
house, was occupied by William Plumstead, Esq. Alderman, wlio 
was buried, in 1765, in a peculiar manner, having, by will, no pall, 
nor mourning dresses, &c. On the north end of the house w^as 
once ''Hall's alley." The premises many years ago was occu- 
pied as the Prince of Wales' Inn. In the rear of the house was 
a good garden and a sundial affixed to the wall of the house, and 
still there. 

"Billy Wigglcsworth," as he was universally called, long kept 
a toyshop, the wonder of all the boys in the city ; and the effigies 
of human form which dangled by a string from his ceiling had no 
rivals, but in his own gaunt and gawky figure. But Billy's 
outward man was the least of his oddities; his distinguishing 
characteristic was a fondness for that mode of self-amusement at 
the expense of others, called manual wit. His exploits in that 
way have been humorously told by a writer whose sketches have 
been preserved under the article " Wiggles worthiana," in my 
MS. Annals, page 534, in the Historical Society. 



372 The old Ferry.^Offiy's Anchor Forge. 

THE OLD FERRY. 



THIS first terry and its neighbourhood was described to me 
by the late aged John Brown, Esq. whose father before him, once 
kept tliat ferry, and had near there at the same time his ship yard. 
When John Brown was a small lad, the river then came close up 
to the rear of the present house on Water street, and when they 
formed the present existing slip, they filled up the area with chalk 
imported for ballast. At that time the Front street hank was va- 
cant, and he used with others to sled down the hill from Combes* 
alley, then called Garden alley and Penny hill, quite down to the 
ice on the river. The bank of Front street w^as reddish clay. The 
shed stables for the old ferry wei-e set into that bank. His father's 
ship yard w as opposite to Combes' alley, and Parrock's ship yard 
was then at Race street. 

The fact of the then open bank of Front street is confirmed by 
an advertisement of 1761 ; then Francis Rawle, storekeeper, and 
attorney for the ''Pennsylvania Land Company of Pennsylvania," 
advertises to sell the lots from his house, by the ferry steps, down 
to Clifford's steps, in lots of 22 feet front, each then unimproved. 

It was in this same year, 1761, the Corporation permitted Sam- 
uel Austin, the owner of the river lot on the north side of Arch 
street, to erect there another ferry house, which, in relation to the 
other, soon took the name of the '*New Ferry." 

The original act for establishing a ferry to Daniel Cooper's 
land was passed, in 1717. 



OFFL-Y'S ANCHOR FOROE. 



THIS was established about the year 1755, in alarge frame build- 
ing on the Front street bank, directly opposite to Union street. 
The owner and director was Daniel Offly, a public Friend, whose 
voice in speaking, was not unlike the sound of his own iron falling 
on a brick pavement. The reminiscent has often looked through 
the Front street low w^indows down into the smoking cavern, in 
appearance, below, fronting on Penn street, where, through the 
thick sulphurous smoke, aided by the glare of forge light, might be 
seen Daniel Offly directing the strokes of a dozen hammermen, 
striking with sledges on a welding heat produced on an immense 



jBaptisterioji. S7S 

iijfinished anchor, swinging IVoin the forge to the anvil hy a ponder- 
r)us crane, he at the same time keeping liis piercing iron voice 
above the din of the iron sound ! 



BAPTISTERIOJV. 



ON the bank of the Schuylkill, at the end of Spruce street, there 
Avas, in the early times of the city, an oak grove, selected by the 
BaptistSociety as a Baptisterion, to lead their initiates into tlie 
river to be baptised, as did John in Enon. 

Morgan Edwards, their pastor, who describes it as he saw it 
before the year 1770, (he arrived here in 1758) says of it — ''Around 
said spot are large oaks affording fine shade — under foot is a green, 
variegated with wild flowers and aromatic herbs, and a tasteful 
house is hear for dressing and undressing the Proseuches." In 
the midst of the spot was a large stone, upon the dry ground, and 
elevated above it about three feet — made level on the top by art, 
with hewn steps to ascend it. Around this rock the candidates 
knealt to pray, and upon it tlie preacher stood to preach to the 
people. *' The place was not only convenient for the purposes used, 
but also most delightful for rural scenery, inducing people to go 
thither in summer as a place of recreation." To such a place resorted 
Francis Hopkinson, Esq. with his bards and literati, to sweep 
their lyres, or to meditate on justice and religioji. 

A part of one of the hymns sung upon their baptismal occasions 
reads thus, viz. 

" Of our vows this stone's a token — 
Stone of Witness,* bear record 
'Gainst us if our vows be broken, 
Or, if we forsake the Lord." 

"What a shame that all these rural beauties have been long since 
effaced and forgotten ! — none of them left to remind us of those rural 
appendages, woods, &c. I have since learned that the property 
there belonged to Mr. Marsh, a Baptist, and that the British ar- 
my cut it down for fuel. The whole place is now all wharfed out 
for the coal trade, so that those lately baptised near there, had to 
damber over heaps of coal. The " Stone of Witness" is buried 
in the wharf—never to be seen more ! 



374 Fort St. David.— Bachelor's Ball. 

FORT ST. BAVID. 



A society of gentlemen of Philadelphia, many years ago,* had a 
house at the Falls of Schuylkill, called Fort St. David, where they 
used to meet at fishing seasons, hy puhlic advertisement, beginning 
with the first of May, and continuing every other Friday during the 
season. Much good living w&s enjoyed there. The building, a kind 
of summer pavilion, stood on the descent of the hill, leading to the 
Falls bridge ; a sketch of it, such as it was, is preserved in the 
Dickinson family, being on an elegant silver box, presented to John 
Dickinson in 1768, for his celebrated *• Farmer's letters." In the 
house and along its walls, w ere hung up a great variety of curious 
Indian articles, and sometimes the president of the day was dressed 
in the entire garb of an Indian Chief. 

The same association still exists, but have transferred their place 
of meeting to Rambo's rock below Gray's Ferry ; the former at- 
tractions at the Falls, as a celebrated fishing place, having been 
ruined by the river obstructions, 6cc. They now call their associa- 
tion the '* State in Schuylkill," &c. 

In former times it was quite different. Old Godfrey Shrunk, now 
about 74 years of age, a well known Fisherman near the Falls in 
his younger days, has told me he could often catch with his dip-net 
3000 catfish in one night ! Often he has sold them at two shillings a 
hundred. The pearch and rockfish were numerous and large : of- 
ten he has caught 30 to 80 lbs. of a morning with the hook and 
line. He used to catch fish for the Fishing Company of St. David, 
which used to cook 40 dozen of catfish at a time. 

He described the Company house as a neat and tasteful structure 
of wood, 70 feet long and 20 feet wide, set against the descending 
hillside on a stone foundation, having 14 ascending steps in front; 
the sides consisting entirely of folding or moveable doors and win- 
dows, were borne off by the Hessians for their huts in 1777-8, 
and so changed and injured the place, that it was never used for 
its former purposes after the Revolution. 



BACHEL.ORS' HALL. 



THIS was once a celebrated place of gluttony and good living, 
but highly genteel and select, situated in Kensington on the main 
river street, a little above the present market house. It was a 

* Said to be 100 years. 



Bachelor's Hall. 375 

square building of considerable beauty, with pilastres, &c. and was 
burnt before the Revohition. It was built for a few city gentlemen, 
and the last survivor was to take the premises. It fell into the 
hands of the Norris family : many dancing parties were given 
there. It had a fine open view to the scenery on the Delaware, 
and at the time of its institution was deemed retired ; tea parties 
were made there frequently for the ladies of their acquaintance, and 
once it was lent to the use of Murray, the Universalist preacher, 
keepin"- then the doctrine cannon shot distance from the city. 

Among the members of the joint tenantry, were Robert Charles, 
William Masters, John Sober, P. Grseme. Isaac Norris ; the whole 
space was in one room. The few partners that remained in 1745, in- 
duced Isaac Norris to buy them out, and the premises afterwards 
vested solely in him. 

While the place was in vogue it received the flattery of the 
muse in the following lines published in the Gazette of 1730, and 
styled '* an Invitation to the Hall," to wit : 

" Phoebus, wit-inspiring lord, 

Attic maid foi- arts ador'd, 

Bacchus with full clusters come, 

Come rich from harvest home. 

Joys and smiles and loves and graces, 

Gen'rous hearts and cheerful faces, 

With ev'ry hospitable god, 

Come and bless this sweet abode !" 

The mysteries of the place, however, were all unknown to the 
vulgar, and for that very reason they gave loose to many conjec- 
tures, which finally passed for current tales, as a bachelor's place, 
where maidens were inveigled and deceived. I had myself heard 
stories of it when a boy, which thrilled my soul with horror, with 
out one word of truth for its foundation ! 



376 



THE BUCK PO]M>, 

CORNER OF FOURTH AND HIGH STREETS, 



IT will hardly be credited that there sliould have been once jc. 
great pond, filled with spattcrdocks, and aifording a place of visi- 
tation to wild ducks, situate along High street, westward of 
Fourth street, and forming the proper head of Dock creek. The 
facts which warrant this belief arc to the following effect, to wit ; 

The family of Anfiiony Klincken settled in Germantown at its founda- 
tion, in 1683. Anthony, then a lad, became in time a great hunter, and 
lived to the year 1759. Before his death he told his grandson, Anthony 
Johnson, an aged man, who died three or four years ago, that he knew 
of no place where he had such successful shooting of ducks and geese 
as at the above-mentioned pond. Indeed, he said, he never visited the 
city, in the proper season, without taking his gun along, and making his 
visits there. The relaters were good people of the Society of Friends, 
and their testimony to be credited. 

The poetic description of High street, in 1729, describes it then as a 
iilashy place — equivalent to a water lot or puddle, to wit : 

" Along their doors the clean hard paving trends 
Till at •a.filashij crossing street it ends, 
And thence a short arm's-throw renewed tends — 
Beyond, — the street is thinly wall'd, but fair. 
With gardens paled, and orchards here and there." 

As early as the year 1712, the Grand Jury present that the High 
street, near the crossing of Fourth street, is very much out of repair for 
want of water-courses. 

When Doctor Franklin visited Philadelphia, in 1723, then a lad of 18 
years of age, he tells us he walked up High streetfas far as Fourth street, 
and thence down that street to Chesnut street. The reason was, I pre- 
sume, that the city walk went no further westward at that time. 

In the year 1740, the Grand Jury present the upper end of High 
street between John Kinsey's [near the corner of Fifth street] and the 
widow Kenmarsh's as almost impassable after great rains. In the same 
street, they presented the water-course from the widow Harmen's to the 
common shore* across High street as very much gullied and dangerous. 

In the year 1750, the Grand Jury presented the gutter of the north 
west corner of Fourth and High streets, as rendered dangerous for want 
of a grate at the common-sewer — the passage being large enough for 
' I think this may equally imeas^ the shore at Water and High street. 



The Duck Fond, corner of Fourth and High Streets. 577 

the body of a grown person to fall in, and that Fourth street, from Market 
street to the south west corner of Friends' burying ground, wants regu- 
lating, and is now impassable for carriages. 

The origin of the above-named sewer is probably expressed in the 
minutes of City Council of August, 1737. It was then determined 
that Alderman Moi-ris and Israel Pemberton, two of the persons 
appointed at the last Council to get the arch made over High street 
at Fourth street, have prepared now to continue tlie said ai'ch along 
the said Fourth street, until the water falls into t!je lots of Anthony 
Morris, and to pave the same, it being about 500 feet, if they can 
have the liberty of getting voluntary subscriptions and Q5£. paid, 
the most of the money wjiich may hereafter be raised by a tax ; 
which proposal being considei^ed, was agreed to by the Board. 

The late Timothy Matlack. Esq. confirmed to me what Law- 
rence Sickle, an aged gentleman not long since dead, said of their 
neighbourhood — to wit : That back from the north west corner of 
Fourth and High streets, there used to be a spring in which i-iver 
fish, coming up by Dock street creek in large tides, used to be 
caught by boys. This was before their time, but they had so often 
heard it, that they believed it was so. 

He told mc, however, that he (T. M.) saw the spring — that it 
was about 70 feet north west of the present corner house, and that 
one Humphreys in his time had put a blacksmith shop over it, set 
on stakes. The blacksmith shop was confirmed to me by others, 
Mr. Matlack told me that before they made the great improved 
tunnel (running from this place down Fourth street to Walnut 
street, in 1789,) there was some kind of small tunnel tra\ersing 
High street, as a bridge, and leading out to an open gully hack 
of the Indian Queen inn, on the east side of Fourth street. The 
floods of water which came down to this place, especially down 
High street and north Fourth street, was immense; and once, when 
he was a young man, he had occasion to wade across the street at 
Fourth and High street when the water was up to his waist. The 
old tunnel or brick bridge above referred to, was not visible above 
ground, and he supposes he should not have known of its existence 
there, but that he once saw a horse's leg sink very deeply into the 
ground, and on examining for the cause found some bricks had 
been forced through an arch there. I understood Mr. Matlack to 
say that this arch had then no communication by which to let off 
the above-mentioned flood, and it could have only been of use when 
water formerly came from ground at a distance down a creek or 
marsh laying up the west side of Fourth street, to some where near 
the old Academy, and thence traversing Arch street by the north 
east corner of the Christ church ground. Both he and Thomas 
Bradford thought they once saw the remains of such a water-course, 
and they understood it had been deeper. 

When the long range of buildings which occupy the site along 
the west side of Fourth street, from the corner of High street, were 
3 D 



378 The Thick Pond, corner of Fourth and High Streets. 

erected, about 30 years ago, for Jacob Miller, merchant, it was 
observed by Mr. Suter, a nciglibour there, that he saw at the bot- 
tom of the cellar several large logs traversing it cast and west, or 
nearly so, which, in his opinion as well as others, appeared to have 
been very ancient, and to have been intended to serve as a wharf, 
or a fence to land jutting into a water-course. The whole earth 
taken from the cellars appeared to have been made-ground, 
althougli the cellars went many feet northward ; at n later period, 
in diggiug a foundation for the buildings back of the Hotel on 
Fourth street, it proved to be all made-ground. 

Mr. Joseph Crukshank, now about the age of 82 years, told me 
that old Hugh Roberts, about 28 years ago, told him he had caught 
pearcli at about where Stanly's pothouse stood, [say in the rear of 
Duval's and T wells' lots on High street above Fourth street] and 
that he had seen shallops once at the corner of Fourth and High 
street. He was but about 25 years older than Crukshank. 

Mr. Grove, now alive, was present when they dug out the south 
east corner of the present Christ churcli burial ground, (on Arch 
and Fifth street) and he tlien saw that the area was made-ground 
to the depth of seventeen feet, consisting of a great deal of rubbish 
and broken pottery. The whole depth was replaced with loam 
earth for burial purposes. This fact, concerning ground actually 
adjoining Stanly's pottery, before alluded to, confirms, as I con« 
ceive, the former fishing pond there. 

Mr. Grove's father, born in Philadelphia, showed him a place in 
Arch street, near about the north east corner of the same burying 
ground wall, next to Sansom's houses, where he said some of his 
ancestors used to tell him a brook or creek once crossed Arch 
street ; a hut, he said, stood near to it, where dwelt a child which 
was borne off by a bear. His father believed it as a straight family 
tradition. A note from Joseph Sansom says ''the appearance of 
the soil, in digging for his brother's cellars, indicated the course of 
a rivulet from north to south, apparently one of the head branches 
of Dock creek." The grave digger also confirms the idea of con- 
siderable depth of made-ground at the said north east corner. 



K9 



PEGG'S RUX, &C; 

[illustrated by a plate.] 



NO part of Philadelplua has undergone such great and various 
changes as the range of commons, water-lots, kc. ranging along the 
course of this run, primarily known under the Indian name of 
Cohoqainoque. A present heholder of the streets and houses now 
covering those grounds, and the hidden tunnel now concealing the 
former creek, could have no conception of things as they were, even 
only 30 years ago. The description is unavoidably complicated. 

At the north end of Philadelphia the high table land of the city termi- 
nated in a high precipitous bluff, at about 250 feet north of Callowhill 
street. This extended from Front street, at Poole's bridge, up as high 
as Fifth and Sixth street, bounding the margin of Pegg's run. On the 
north side of this whole range of Pegg's run which rises in Spring Gar- 
den (where was once a spring at its source) there was an extensive 
marsh into which the Delaware flowed, and into which, in cases of 
freshets or floods, boats could be used for amusement. Beyond the 
north side of this marsh, in the wi'iter's time, (say till within the last 30 
years) from near Front quite up to Second street, was a high open and 
green grazing common ; it also had a steep but green hill descending 
into the marsh, at about 150 feet in the south rear of Noble street.* On 
this common there was Joseph Emlen's tanyard, with a spring on the 
south rear, and on the east side of it a powder magazine, then converted 
into two dwelling houses ; these were the only lots occupied. From 
Second to Third street, beyond the same north side of the marsh, was a 
beautiful green enclosure, with only one large brick house, now standing 
on the south west corner of Noble and Second sti'eets, called Emlen's 
haunted house, and then occupied by the Rev, Dr. Pilmore. Not one 
of the present range of houses on either side of Second street, from 
Noble to the Second street bridge, was standing there till within the last 
25 years. Before that time, a low causeway made the street and joined 
the two bluffs, and was universally called " the Hollow." Even the 
Second street and Third street stone bridges were made since the wri- 
ter's time, (35 years) and the Second street ojie was worked at by the 
*' wheelbarrowmen," who were chained felons from the prisons. The 
writer, when a boy, remembers two or three occasions when the floods 
in the Delaware backed so much water into all this marsh from Front 
to Third street, as that boats actually rowed from bank to bank, even on 
* See a picture of this place on page 280 of mv MS. Annals in the Philadelphia Library. 



380 I'egg^s Run, >.^x. 

the top of the causeway several hundred feet in length. In that tunc, 
the descent of the Second street from Callowhill to the bridge, Avas nearly 
as great as at Race and Front street now ; and it used to be a great re- 
sort for boys in winter to run down their sleds on the snow ; they could 
run at least 1,50 feet. In that time, the short street (Margaretta) south 
of the bridge did not exist; but the brick house which forms the south 
side corner house, was at the utmost verge of the ancient bluff. On the 
west side of Second street south of the bridge were a few houses and a 
sheep-skindresser's yard, which seemed almost covered up (full the first 
story) by the subsequent elevation of the street. In raising the street, 
and to keep the ground trom washing off, the sides of the road were 
supported by a great number of cedar trees with all their branches on, 
laid down and the earth filled in among them, and water-proof gutter- 
ways of wood were laid over them, to conduct the street water into the 
water-channels of the bridge. The wheelbarrowmen, who worked at 
such public works, were subjects of great terror, even while chained, to 
all the boys ; and by often seeing them, there were few boys who had 
not learned and told their several histories. .Their chief desperado, I 
remember, was Luke Cale. Five of them, whom we used thus to know, 
' were all executed on Centre Square (the execution ground of that day) 
on one gallows and at the same time, for the murder of a man who 
dwelt in the tlien only house near that square — (say on the south side of 
High street, five or six doors east of the centre street circle, all of which 
was then a waste common.) From St. John street (now, but not then, 
opened) up the whole length of Callowhill street to Fourth street, beyond 
which it did not then extend, there were no houses in the rear of any 
houses then on the north side of Callowhill street, and of course all was 
waste grass commons down to Pegg's run. This high waste ground 
had some occasional slopes, which gave occasion to hundreds of boys to 
"sled down hill," as it was called, in the intervals of school.* As the 
snows lasted long then, this was a boy-sport of the whole winter. The 
marsh ground had much of vegetable production in it, and when not 
flooded, had some parts of its green with vegetation ; this, therefore, was 
a great resort for snipe, killdears, and even plover, and many birds have 
been shot there. Doctor Leib was a frequent visiter there for shooting- 
purposes. In other places, earth had been taken to make an embank- 
ment all along the side of Pegg's run, and this left such ponds of water 
as made places where catfish, brought in by the floods, were left, and 
were often caught by boys. In the summer, the water which rested in 
places on this marsh gave life and song to thousands of clamorous frogs ; 
and in winter the whole area was a great ice pond, in which all the ska- 
ting population of Philadelphia, even including men, were wont to skate. 
This was more particularly the case before the ice in the Delaware closed 
for the season, which was usually by New-year's-day, and lasted till 
March. There were two springs, and perhaps several rills near them, 
proceeding from the north bank of this marsh — one at Noble's tanyard 
east of Second street, and one west of Second street ; from these springs 
went an embankment on the marsh side parallel with the bank, and in- 
clining east until one reached Second street, and till the other reached 

* From Third to Sixth street on the south side of Pegg's run, being very high, furnished 
all the gravel used in the city end of the Germantown turnpike. 



Pcgg's Run, 4^r.. 3g. 

Pegg>s run. In these chrnttieidcro th^'n T"""^ ^""^'^ "^^^ 
especially the lower One near Ro ?...: Delaware flowed, and 

bridge to pass on to the marsh in^c^v ' """"" '"'"t'^ ^'"^^ °"^-" ^ ^^"'^ ^°«^ 
time of mv day,) tl°e e embSkn" ^7 '°"' ^" P''°'^"^^ «^ ^"^^ (the 
answer the purpose of holdfnlTll f ^'' '° ^'''^''^ ''''^y^ ^^ to precisely 
posit, and so kern h t fol hllln "f ^^'/'hich high tides could de- 

marsh chiefly) ?or the e eat . ^ P""'''' i^\'^'' eastern sides of the 
write, all these\ lescrt tio^ s a -e hi^W."' f ''''' '°>'" ''°"' ^^^'^ ^ 
intersected by streets and ne.Hvii fin ^'' ^''°"^ "^"^ ^^^^ ' ^''^ '^^''«h is 
up was not a sho, t w^rk i^h^^ ? '"^ "? '^''^^ ''°"^^^- ^he filling 
bish of the citv-firit ,h; '' '^. ^«"g ^ deposit for all the loose rub 

theoccup nto'r buld' of ScK^^^^ "'m'^'^' "^ ^^^'^ streets, then 
yard, and^upport t cnLsui 2h ?^ ^/'^^^ " ^^"'^ '^"^ ^^'^ ^^'^ 

ground. The lanyard whirh hnnnH.H S ""^ ''''°"" ""<= ""e of 

(as *e C„n,™is.it Iltfup "S ^O ^std t fe ';""■" ^""'' 
below the common walk- anrl tl.. i -^ " ^^ ^^^^^ «"e story 

Noble street, which Mem\rLn /'"!?''/' '^^ ^^^^^ west corner of 
the street. New Four ^s La? ^^^^^^^ '-'^"^^ -"h 

until lately, nor none of the Ton..? Fm '. "' '"^^ '^"^ ^P^"^^ at all 

street, f he causeway at Second .t?? ^'''^' ^''"^'" '' '-^"^ Callowhill 
the present street- Ind ?he foot w^ . 7'' ««"^^thing narrower than 
H, was three feet lower than the 3' 7 rl' ^f ^^'^^ °" ^'^^ ^^^^^ ^'^e of 
refuse earth, shoemakersMe^ h.. 7^?' -'^'^ ^^"'^ ^^•' >'^''^^« ^^^^ing 
north end, where iHoLed ti fe n'r'" . ''"■^'' '^'^- ^"^" ^^'^ ^t thf 
by so deep and yaw Z a av ne^.f ^k'"^?'""' ^'^>^' ^^ ^^^^ ^^P^^-^^ed 
it into the marsh^anS p1)nd beTow Zr .^ '^'' '''" ^"°^'^ ''"^h'^S ^^^'^ 
bridge. Such are the cT.no^ ' u '^ "^^^ "^^^^'"^^ ^^th a wooden 
Liberties in frim 25 tot vfars'"°"^'' "' ''''' ^^^^'°" ^^ ^'^^ ^-^'"^-rn 



35 years ! 
The nanip of Porv, 



'iS."X „T If,;""- ^l-l^'-ive-I •■.•o,„ Daniel Pcgg. ... 
<le,-s pita of he yef; ' 6?r1,! ?, '' V^'"'"' """"'"' Hartffel 

ac-es of the northern ,mi-Uor„»^. "'?f ° '""" ''<'''' «''»"' 'SO 

rfZr[r-?2tL?^^^^^^^ 

of the wall is said s rto'-om.?i .r', ^'''" '^^^'^^t' ^"^» ^ little 

Whatever was t s aDnLr.n.T . *^' ''^"'*^ "^^ S^'""^! Emlen^s. 

Its appearance, we know it was such that William 



382 i'^B^'^ ^^^'^' ^**^' 

T. . •, iroQ nronosed to have it rented for his residence, that he 

I ibe Ss so like another city set beside its parent beyond the run, 
ntnc■■e^s;so'^^vish to learn, it »e can, from ^^ 

it was formed. „f nn„iel Peffir. formed the 9th of January, 

,;[.: *a':h':^t tt:iofotK.C ^ .ead us into some concep- 
"'•^SktI\T;:r:Mt::!.Le™,nost messuage ortene^ 

b".,ec„ ."front of the house and g™nJ.*ere,„ before gwenhun and 
.HeDeJawa.enve.of,hes™ 

devs to be sold, to pay off his debts, Sec. wuiian. Penn's let- 

. To this daughter Sarah he also gives " his southernmost pasture adjoining his meaOow, 
tvith an Sis adJoTning marsh or meadow and improvement,. 



Pcgg^s Run, ^'c\ 38* 

The value of this farm in primitive days is shown in a letter of 
Jonathan Dickinson's of December, 1715, saying ''he can buy 
Daniel Pegg's land fronting the Delaware and laying in N. Liberty 
Corporation at 50s. per acre, liaving thereon a well built brick 
house, a piece of 6 to 8 acres of meadow," &c. 

In the year 1729 Daniel Pcgg advertised his land for sale, and 
then he described it thus, viz. "To be sold or let, by Daniel Pegg, 
at the great brick house at the north end oj' Philadelphia, thirty acres 
of upland, meadow ground and marsh." The house, about the 
period of the Revolution, was called ''the Dutch house," both be- 
cause its form was i>eciiliar, and especially because it had long been 
noted as a place for liolding Dutch dances, called hupsesaw — a 
whirling dance ir» waltz style. 

In 1724 there was erected on his former premises the first pow- 
der house ever erected in Philadelphia ; it was at the expense of 
William Chanceller, a wealthy sailmaker, who placed it on the 
northern bank of Pegg's marsh — say a little south of present Noble 
street, and about 60 yards westward of Front street. It now ex- 
ists as a dwelling house. Chanceller was privileged as exclusive 
keeper, for twenty-one years, at Is. a keg per month. 

As the name of Pegg has thus connected itself with interesting 
topographical facts, it may possibly afford further interest to add 
a few items of a personal nature, to wit : It appears he must have 
had at least two wives before the widow Sarah, mentioned in his 
will; for I found his name as married on the 28th of 2 mo. 1686, 
to Mai'tha Allen, at her father Samuel Allen's house at Neshami- 
na, in the presence of twenty -two signing witnesses ; and again in 
1691 he marries, at Friends' Meeting in Philadelphia, Barbara 
Jones. His brief history shows the vicissitudes of human affairs : 
Possessed of the fee simple of 350 acres of now invaluable building 
lots, he left no rich heirs ; and, the possessor of three wives or 
more, lie left no male issue to keep up his name, even in our City 
Directory ! It appears, by the letter of Secretary Peters, of 1749, 
that the heirs of D. Pegg then appeared to make a partition. He 
left an only daughter. 

Connected with Pegg's marsh meadows are some curious facts of 

Sub-terrene and Mluvial Remains, to wit : 

Christian Witmeck, a digger of wells, told me, that in digging 
a well for Mr. Lowber at Pegg's run by St. John street, at 13 feet 
depth he cut across a fallen tree ; at 34 feet, came to w ood, which 
appeared to be decayed roots of trees, in pieces of 6 inches square, 
— near the bottom, found what looked like isinglass — so they called 
it — then came to black sand ; they dug through 24 feet of black 
mud, — the volume of water procured is large. These facts were 
confirmed to me by Mr. Lowber himself. The same C. Witmeck, 
in digging a well near there for Thomas St«e1, at No. 81, St. John 



384 l*egg's Run, 6fc. 

street, at 40 ieet northward from tlie run, found, attlie depth of 2i 
feet, real black turf tilled with numerous reddish fibres of roots — 
it was 10 feet in depth, and below it the well rested, at 30 A feet of 
depth, upon white sand ; at 26 feet depth, they found the crotch ol 
a pine tree ; between the well and tliC creek they found a brick w all, 
two feet under tlie surface, of 6 feet of depth and apparently 30 feel 
square. May not this have been the ruins of some ancient mill ? 

The well of Prosper Martin, at No. 91, St. John street, at about 100 
feet northward from Pegg's run, is a great curiosity, although it has ex- 
cited no public attention." A single well of 15 feet diameter at surface, 
and narrower at bottom, having its surface full 16 feet lower in the yard 
than the present St. John street, (which has 20 feet depth of made ea. th) 
being dug 30 feet, has the surprising volume of discharge of 60,000 gal- 
lons a day without ever running out ! It (by aid of steam to elevate it) 
turns the machinery of two mahogany saws, which arc running all day, 
every day— (save Sundays.) Prosper is a young man, and deserves great 
credit for his perseverance in prosecuting this digging. To use his own 
words, he was determined on water-power, and determined to get below 
the bed of the Delaware and drain it ofl'l His name, and the prosperity 
likely to crown his enterprise, seem likely to be identified. The origi- 
nal spring which I used to see when a boy, is about 40 feet west of it, 
on the west side of St. John street, at Dun's cellar. No. 96. 

Mr. Martin tells me he first attempted a well of smaller diameter 
nearer to the natural spring, but did not succeed to get through the mud 
deposit, owing to the narrowness, which did not allow him to repeat 
enough of curbs into it. He therefore undertook this second one ; he 
went through 20 feet of black mud, and came for his foundation to 
coarse round pebbles, and manifest remains of shells. They seemed 
like (in part) crumbled clam-shells. Several springs flowed in at the 
bottom ; but in the centre there bursted out a volume of water of full six 
inches diameter, which sent forth such a volume of carbonic acid gas as 
to have nearly cost the life of the last of the two men, who hurried out of 
'he well when it flowed in. Previously to this great discharge, there was 
enough of the same gas issuing as to nearly extinguish the candle, and 
to have made it, for some time previously, very deleterious to work 
there The water thus flowing, has uniformly a purgative quality on 
any new hands which he may employ and who drink it. It deposits a 
concretion, a piece of which I have, which makes an excellent hone ; this 
concretion enters so readily into ropes laying in it, as to make them cal- 
culous, and when the works on one occasion lay idle for some repairs 
he found a deposit of full three bushels of salt; a large portion of which 
seemed to possess the quality of Glauber's salt. I intend now, for the 
first time, to have some chymical examination of its properties.* i he 
hone when triturated gives out a nauseous smell, arising trom the sul- 
phur in it, as well as in Glauber's salt. The lime came from the shells, 
and the sulphureted hvdrogen gas from the animal matter once m them. 
Mr P. Martin, who' is an intelligent man, and seems to have exammed 
things scientifically, gives it as his opinion that this low ground of Pegg s 

* I have since done this. Sulphu.-et „f lime was in die spring, and the gas must hav<- 
been sulphureted hydrogen gas. Th« hone was carbonate of lime containing sulphureted 
hydrogen gas^. 



Pegg^s Run. 385 

swamp must have been once the bed of Schuylkill, traversing from near 
the present Fair Mount. He says the route of the whole is still visible to 
his eye; his theory is, that at an earlier period the original outlet of the 
Schuylkill was by the Cohocksinc creek, and he thinks that stream, in 
two divisions, can be still traced by his eye, meandering and ascending 
to the Falls ol Schuylkill, — that at the Falls, which was once a higher 
barrier, the river was turned shortly to the eastward ; when that barrier 
was partially destroyed the river flowed down its present course to the 
present Fair Mount works, or thereabouts, where it turned shortly to the 
eastward again, in consequence of a great barrier there — being the great 
Fair Mount, then extending in elevation quite across Schuylkill ; he 
thinks the identity of strata on both sides prove this former union. Until 
it was broken away the Schuj-lkill then run out by Pegg's run.* 

Such was the yielding character of the mud soil on the western 
side of Second street, where Sansom's row is built, that, to keep the 
houses from falling by the sinking of their western walls, they had 
to rebuild several of those walls, and to otliers to put back-houses 
as buttresses. To keep their cellars dry they dug wells of 28 feet 
depth before coming to sand. They went through considerable 
depth of turf filled with fibrous plants. Mr. Grove, the mason 
who saw this, told me he actually saw it dried and burnt. When 
they first came to the sand there was no water, but by piercing it 
the depth of tlie spade water spouted up freely, and filled the wells 
considerably. 

The same Mr. Grove also told me that in digging at the rear of 
Thatcher's houses on Front below Noble street, all of which is 
made-ground redeemed from the invasion of the river into Pegg's 
marsh, they came at 28 feet depth to an oak log of 18 inches diam- 
eter, laying quite across the well. 

To these sub-terrene discoveries we might add that of a sword, 
dug out of Pegg's run at the depth of 18 feet, resting on a sandy 
foundation. It was discovered on the occasion of digging the 
foundation for the Second street bridge. Daniel Williams was at 
that time the Commissioner for the superintendence, and was said 
to have given it to the City Library. This singular fact was told 
to me by Thomas Bradford and Col. A. J. Morris, and others, who 
had it so direct as to rely upon it. On inquiry made for the cause, 
a blacksmith in the neighbourhood said Ms father had said a Ber- 
mudian sloop had once wintered near there, although the stream 
since would scarcely float a board. 

* Hill's map of Philadelphia certainly shows both of the water-courses as nearly uoited. 
The mill of Naglee, at Front street and Cohocksinc swamp, has never dug its well quite 
through the mud deposit, altliough very deep. 



3 E 



S86 



SPECIMENS 
OF THE BEST HOUSES. 



AS the style of former architecture in its best character is pass- 
ing away, I have liercin endeavoured to notice a few of the last 
remains of the former age, to wit : 

Two large houses on the south side of Walnut street, a little 
west of Third street, originally built for Mr. Stiles. 

One of the excellent houses of the olden time was the large 
house on the north east corner of Union and Second street, built for 
William Griffith, who dwelt there at the same time ; it was then 
sold to Archibald M' Call — it had once a fine large garden extend- 
ing along Union street. At tliat house General Gage used to 
make his home and have his guard, lie being related to M'Call's wife. 

The house at the north west corner of Second and Pine street, 
built about 65 years ago for Judge Coleman, was a grand build 
ing at that time ; it iiaving a five window front on Second street, 
a great high portico and pediment, a fine front on Pine street, 
and a large garden along the same street. It is now altered into 
several stores and dwellings. 

There were two fine houses on the site of the present Congress 
Hall Hotel, opposite to tlie Bank of the United States ; the one 
next to the Farmers ajid Mechanics Bank was built for and occu- 
pied by John Ross, a lawyer. The bank was the residence of 
John Lawrence, and wlien the British possessed Philadelphia, was 
ithe house of Admiral Howe. 

The present Gibbs' house, on the north east corner of Fourth 
and Arch streets, was a very large and superior house, having a 
long range of windows on Fourth street. 

The liouse at the north west corner of Vine and Third streets, 
owned and dwelt in by Kinneer, presenting a great array of win- 
dows on Vine street, was long deemed the nonpareil df that enrl 
dt the town. 



38r 



RARE OLB HOUSES. 



THE only house of size now in riiiladclphia with gable end front 
on tuj street, is to be seen at the south east corner of Front street 
and N orris' alley. It formerly had a balcony and door at its sec- 
ond story, and its windows in leaden frames ; one of which still 
renains on the alley side of the house. It is a very ancient house. 
I: vas, in the year 1725, the property and home of Samuel Micicle, 
the same unnamed gentleman wlio talked so discouragingly to 
B"ajamin Franklin when he first proposed to set up a second 
Printing Office in the city. 

riie house on west side of Front street, second door north of 
Walnut street, pulled down a few years ago, was remarkable for 
having in its foundation a large brick on which was scratched be- 
fore burning — *'This is the sixth house built in Philadelphia.^" 

A house of Dutch style of construction, with double hippM roof, 
used to stand, with gable end to Second street, on the south side of 
the Christ churcii wall. It was but one and a half story high, 
built of brick. In the year 1806 it was pulled down, to build up the 
present three story house there. In the ancient house they found 
a big brick inscribed '< I. G. S. founded 1695.'' This is now 
conspicuously preserved in the chimney of the new house, and 
visible from tiic street. In the rear of the same new house is 
preserved a small section of the primitive old wall. 

A very ancient house of two stories and double front used to 
be occupied, in Front street below Chesnut street, on the bank 
side, by Dorsey, as an auction and dwelling. An ancient lady 
pointed it out to Mrs. Logan, as a place in which the Assembly 
of the colony had held their session. 

Tiie north east corner of Front and Walnut street, till a few 
years ago, had a curiously formed one and a half story brick 
house, having a double hipp'd roof. 

The houses on the west side of water street, north of Carpenter's 
stairs, vis a vis Norris' alley, present the oldest appearance of 
any now remaining of the original bank houses. 

There were two ancient and singular looking houses on the 
north side of Chesnut street, back from the street, where Girard 
has now built a new range of three houses, near to Fifth street. 
They were marked 1703, and at an early period was the residence 
of Mr. Duche, who had a pottery connected with it. 

At the north east corner of Vine and Second streets there 



38B Rare old Uoxiscs. 

stood, about 35 years ago. a large old fashioned house: it origi- 
iially stood on a'hill ten feet higher than the street — had a mon- 
strous buttonwood tree before it, and a long and higli garden 
down Vine street. 

Many years ago there was a range of low wooden houses on 
the west side of Front street, extending from Combes' alley nearly 
up to Arch street, on much higher ground than the present ; they 
were often called '* Sailor's town," being boarding houses and 
places of carousal for sailors. Mr. Pearson the late City Survey- 
or, and John Brown, remembered them in their early days. 

Something like a similar collection of one story houses occupi- 
ed the \\^stcrn side of Third street, and extended southward from 
Race street. They got tlie name of Hell Town, for the bad beha- 
viour of their inmates. Two of them still remain, one of brick, 
and one of wood, and present a strange contrast in their mean 
appearance to other houses near there. 

In 1744, the Grand Jury presented tliem as disorderly, and as 
having acquired such a name for their notoriety ; an orchard lay 
between them and Cherry street. 

<' Jones Row," so called in early times, was originally a range 
of one large double liouse and one single one, forming an appear- 
ance of three good two story brick houses on the west side of 
Front street, adjoining to the south side of Combes' alley — now the 
premises of Mr. Gerhard, and greatly altered from its original 
appearance, by having what was formerly its cellar under 
ground now one story out of ground, and converting what was 
once a two story range of houses into three story houses. It once 
had a long balcony over Front street, and the windows were 
framed in leaden lattice work, only one of which now remains in the 
rear of t^ie house. The present elevation of the yard ground 
proves the fact of having cut down Front street and Combes' alley 
eight or ten feet. 

This row was built in 1699 for John Jones, merchant, he having 
a lot of 102 feet width, and extending quite through to Second 
street. 

The best specimens of the ordinary houses of decent livers of 
tlie primitive days, now remaining in any collection, are those, to 
wit : On the north or sun side of Walnut street, from Front up to 
Dock street, generally low two story buildings. Another col- 
lection extends from Front to Second street, on the north or sun 
side of Chesnut street. They appear to have avoided building on 
the south or shaded side of those streets. In both those collections 
there is now here and there a modern house inserted, of such tall 
dimejisions as to humble and scandalize the old ones. 



389 



CHURCHES. 



THE following facts incidentally connected with sundry church- 
es, may possibly afford some interest in their preservation, to 
wit: 

The Presbyterian and Baptist Churches, 

Began their career about the year 1695, and so far united their 
interests as to meet for worship in the same small building called 
** the Barbadoes-lot Store" — the same site were is now the small 
one story stocking store, on the north west corner of Chcsnut 
and Second streets. The Baptists first assembled there in the 
winter of 1G95, consisting only of nine persons, having occasionally 
the Rev. John Watts from Pennepcck as their minister: for then, 
he it known, the church at Pennepeck was both older and more 
numerous than tliat of the '• great towne" of Philadelphia. At the 
same place the Presbyterians, also, went to worship, joining to- 
gether mutually, as often as one or the other could procure either 
a Baptist or Presbyterian minister. Tliis fellowship continued 
for about the space of three years, when the Presbyterians having 
received a Rev. .ledediah Andrews from New England, they be- 
gan, in the opinion of the Baptist brethren, to manifest wishes for 
engrossing the place to themselves, by showing an unwillingness 
to the services of the Baptist preacliei-s. This occasioned a seces- 
sion of the latter from the premises, (although they had been the 
first occupants.) and they afterwards used to hold their worship at 
Anthony Morris' brewhouse — a kind of '' Mariner's church" loca- 
tion, on the east side of Water street a little above the Drawbridge, 
by the river side. There they continued to meet until the spring 
of 1707, lowly and without means for greater things ; when, being 
invited by the Keithians, (seceders fi'om the Quakers, under their 
follower, George Keith,) tliey took possession of their small wooden 
building on the site of the present first Baptist church in Second 
street below Mulberry street. In that house they continued their 
worship, several of the Keithians uniting with them, until the 
year 1731, when they pulled it down, and erected in its stead a 
neat brick building of 42 by 30 feet. That was also displaced by 
another of larger dimensions in 1762, and since then it has been 
much altered and enlarged. 



390 Churches^ 

Long letters of remonstrance on the one hand and of justifica- 
tion on the other, passed between the Baptists and Presbyterians, 
headed by John Watts for the Baptists, and by Jedcdiah Andrews 
for the Presbyterians ; tliese arc of the winter of 1698. and are 
preserved in the Rev. Morgan Edwards' History of the Baptists 
in Pennsylvania. They ended in the withdrawing of the Baptists, 
who said Mr. Andrews wrote to his friend thei-eupon, saying, 
'< Though we have got the Anabaptists out of the house, yet our 
continuance there is uncertain ; w herefore we must think of build- 
ing, notwithstanding our poverty and tlie smallncss of our num- 
ber." The house which they did eventually build, was that "First 
Presbyterian church" in High street, long called the " Old Button- 
wood" — because of such trees of large dimensions about it. It 
was built in 1704 ; after standing about a century it was rebuilt 
in Grecian style, and, finally, all was taken down in 1820, and 
the ground converted to uses of trade and commerce. The 
din and crowd of business had previously made it an ill-adapted 
place. 

Friends'' Meeting in Arch Street. 

This house, built about 22 years ago, is placed near the area 
%vliere they had buried their dead from the foundation of the city. 
The wall now around the wliole enclosure lias replaced one of 
much less height. When the first wall stood, it was easy to see the 
ground and graves over the tops of the wall, in walking along the 
northern side of Arch street. 

The first person ever interred in tlieir ground was Governor 
Lloyd's wife ; she was a very pious woman. William Penn him- 
self spoke at her grave — much commending her character. Be- 
cause of Ids high estimation of her and her excellent family, he 
offered, after her burial there, to give the whole lot to that family. 
The descendants of that family, including the Norris', have ever 
since occupied that south west corner where Mrs. Lloyd was buried, 
as their exclusive ground. 

Tiic aged Samuel Coates told me that Indians, blacks and stran- 
gers were at first buried freely in Friends' ground ; and he gave 
it as his opinion that they were at first not very particular to 
keep out of the range of Arch street — a circumstance which was 
afterwards verified ; for, in September, 1824, when laying the iron 
pipes along Arch street, off the eastern end of the meetinghouse, 
they dug upon several coffins in corresponding rows. They were left 
there unmolested. The tradition of this encroachment of the street 
on the former ground was known to some of the ancients. This 
was told to Mrs. Logan by her aged aunt; and a lady of the 
name of Moore would never ride along that street, saying it was 
painful to ride over the dead. 



Churches. 391 

Tliere was lately dug iip in Friends' ground a head-stone, of 
soapstone, having an inscription of some peculiarity, to wit : 

" Here lies a plant 
Too many seen it, — 
Flourisht and perisht 
In half a minvit : 
Joseph Rakestraw 
The son of William 
Shott by a negro 
The 30 day of Sept. 
1700, in the 1 9th year 
and llh montli of his age."' 

A letter of Mr. Norris' of the year 1700, explains the circum- 
stance, saying that *' Jack, a hiack man helonging to Philip James, 
was wording it with Josepli, half jest and half earnest, when his 
gun went off and killed him on the spot. The negro was put to 
his trial." The stone is now in possession of Joseph Rakestraw, 
the i>rinter. 

There was also formerly another ancient grave-stone there for 
Peter Deal, called in Gahriel Thomas' hook, of 1698, '• a famous 
and ingenious workman in water-mills." The stone was in° 
scribed, to wit : 

" Here lies the body of one Peter Deal 

Whose life Avas useful to the common weal 

His skill in architecture merits praise 

Beyond what this frail monument displays — 

He died lamented by his wife and friends 

And riov/ he rests, they hope, where sorrov/ ends." 

Presbyterian Churches. 

The ancient ^rsi church in High street, built in 1704, continued 
its peace and increase until the time of the Rev. George Whitfield, 
when he and his coadjutors, Tennent, Davenport, Rowland, &c. 
produced such a religious excitement as gave umbrage to many : 
The consequence was, that a party drew off, under the name of JVcYt? 
Lights, to Whitfield's separate church, erected in 1744, and in 
1750 made into "the Academy." The same year the New Lights, 
concentred under the pastoral charge of tlie Rev. Gilbert Tennent, 
laid the foundati(m of the Presbyterian church at the north west 
corner of Third and Arch street, then bearing the name of the 
"New Meetinghouse." It was at first without a steeple ; but an 
effort to raise one was attempted among the Society, ''and it fall- 
ing much short," they, in the year 1753, succeeded to draw a lot- 
tery, to have it finished. That steeple was taken down twenty-five 
or thirty years ago, from an apprehension it might be blown over. 
It was a very neat and ornamental structure. In the period of its 



594 Churches, 

so that when we would countenance freedom of I'cligious exercise, 
there were those among us, jealous of parent prerogative, who cried 
'* Church and State in danger !" To this cause prohably arose 
the caution of Penn, in his lettei- of 1708, to James Logan, saying: 
" With these is a complaint against your government, that you 
suffer public mass in a scandalous manner; pray send the mattei' 
of fact, for ill use is made of it against us here." 

This e;irly-mentioned mass probably had its origin in thcframe 
Ihiilding once a Coffee House on the north west corner of B'ront 
and Walnut streets. Samuel Coatcs, the present aged owner of 
that lot, has told me that when lie received the premises from his 
uncle Reynell he told him jocosely, to I'emcmber it was holy ground, 
and had been once consecrated as a chapel. Mr. Coates also told 
me that he remembei-ed to liave seen a neighbouring man often 
passing the house +o tlie Green Tree pump for water, who always 
made his genuflexion in passing, and on being questioned, said he 
knew it w as consecrated ground. 

Three or four years ago I saw a lady, Sarali Patterson, born in 
1736, who dwelt in her youth at the house south east corner of 
Chesnut and Second streets ; she had often heard her parents say 
it was built for a Pajjcl cliapel, and that the people opposed its be- 
ing so used in so public a place. 

There was a Roman chapel near the city of Philadelphia, as 
early as the year 1729; at that time,, Elizabeth M'Gawley, an 
Irish lady, and single, brought over a number of tenantry, and 
witli them settled on the land (now Miss Dickinson's,) on the road 
leading from Nicetown to Frankfoi'd ; connected with her house 
(now standing opposite to Gaul's place) she had the said chapel.* 
Mrs. Deborah Logan has told me that much of it was in ruins 
when she was a girl : but even now the spot is visible. It was 
then called "the haunted place." These facts in general have 
been confirmed to me also by the j)resent Thomas Bradford, Esq. 
of Philadelphia, aged 78, who tells me he remembers well, when a 
lad, to have heard of this chapel as a haunted place. It was the 
report of the time in Philadelphia, &c. and he added, as a fact, 
that a person, to test the reality of the thing alleged, w ent to the 
road, by the premises, at midnight, and walking with his hands 
behind liim, he was suddenly alarmed with a sensation of an 
application of death coldness to his hands ! Too terrified to turn 
and examine the cause, he endeavoured to I'ouse his courage by- 
calling on the familiar names of some dogs ; at last hitting on one 
that had lost his owner, which ran before him at the call, and offered 
to caress him, he w as led to discover that the terrific coldness had 
been the dog's nose. It may be a question whether the aforesaid 
Roman chapel may not have been there before Elizabeth 

* Near Uie place (one eighth of a mile off) is a stone enclosure, in which is a large tomb- 
stone of marble, inscribed with a cross and the name " John Michael Brown, Ob. 15 Dec. 
A. D. 1750, K. I, P." lie was a priest. 



Churches. 59 -^ 

M'Gawlcy settled there, even from the earliest t)i-igin of the city, 
and that such chapel was put there for Roman Catl.olics, because 
their religion, however agreeable to Penn's tolerant spirit, was 
not so then to most protestants then in power ; for we. may re- 
member that one of Penn's letters from England to his correspon- 
dent in Philadelphia, says it has become a reproach to me here 
with the officers of the Crown, that you have suffered -'tlic scan- 
dal of mass to be publicly celebrated." To avoid such offence, tins 
chapel may have been at an inconvenient distance, and as it in 
secrecy ^^ ^ ^'^U early period the first chapel in PhUadelpliia 
was on tlie premises now Samuel Coates', at tlie north west cor- 
ner of Front and Walnut streets. And as early as 1G86, I have 
recorded William Penn's letter to Harrison, (his steward) wherem 
he tells him lie mav procure fine smoked shad of the ol'^l Vilest m 
Philadelphia. And in 1685, his letter spoke of Charles DelaNoe, 
the French minister, coming to settle among them with servants 
as a Vigneron. These remarks may prove interesting inquiries 
to papists themselves among us; none of whom I am satisfied have 
any idea of any older chapel than the one now m WiUmg^ alley 
built in 1753, and now called the oldest. The Rev. Dr. Harrold 
.)f the Catholic church assured me, that they have no records in Phil- 
adelphia of any earlier church tlian that in the said alley, although 
he thinks there may he sonic records in the College of bt. Mary at 
Georgetown, which may (if anywhere to l)e found) exhibit where 
the first Catholic worship occurred in Philadelphia. 

We, however, know that Governor Gorden, in 1734, informed the 
Council that a house had been erected in Walnut street, [probal)ly 
at the north west corner of Walnut and Front streets] for the open 
celebration of mass, contrary to the statutes of William the Ihird. 
Tlie Council advised him to consult his superiors at home. In the 
mean time they judged them protected by the charter, whicli 
allowed '^liberty of conscience." „ ^. . a 

The minutes of the Council at the same time, calls their proceed- 
ings thereon "the Consideration of the Council upon the building 
of ''the Roman mass house, and the public worship there, July, 
1734. 

T/ic Moravian Church. 

This church, at the corner of Race and Bread street, was Uuilr 
in 1742 ; before that time they appear to have held their meetings 
at a building on Allen's, lot, in conjunction with the Lutherans; 
the latter ns^ng the place every third Sunday, and the others three 
times a month. Some jealousy got among them, so that while 
Mr. Pyrlaus was preaching for the Moravians, the Lutherans 
came in force, and violently excluded the others. •,*.-, 

Secretary Peters, who mentions this event to the Penns, m l/4Vf 



396 Churches. 

says these indicted the others for a riot, but lost their cause. It 
probably educed good from evil by inducing them to build that 
year a church for themselves. 

Kalm the Swedish traveller, at a later period, speaks of the 
Moravians and the German Reformed hiring a great house, in 
which they performed service in German and English, not only 
two or three times every Sunday, but likewise every night ! But 
in the winter of 1750 they were obliged to desist from their night 
meetings because some young fellows disturbed them by an insti'u- 
mcnt sounding like tlie cuckoo, and this they did at the end of 
every line when they sung their hymns. 

St. PauVs Church. 

This was originally founded in 1760, with a design to be more 
in accordance with Mr. Wesley's church conceptions, than was 
tolerated in other protestant Episcopal churches. It was built in 
1762. The walls were run up by subscription ; after which a lot- 
tery was made to complete it. 

When the church was to be plastered, the men not being skilful 
in constructing so large a scaffolding, it fell and killed and w ounded 
several persons. 

Tlie church was first got up for the Rev. Mr. Clenaghan. He 
preached at one time specially against the lewdness of certain 
woinen. Soon after, a Miss H. celebrated in that day for her 
beauty and effrontery, managed to pluck his gown in the streets. 
This gave rise to some indignation, Jand a mob of big boys went in 
a strong body and demolished her house with some others in her 
fellowship — ''down town." 

The Methodist Church. 

Methodism was first introduced into Philadelphia, in ^le year 
1769, by the late Rev. Dr. Joseph Pilmore of St. Paul's church, 
he having then as a young man arrived here on a mission from the 
Rev. Mr. John Wesley. He preached from the steps of the State- 
house in Chesnut street, and Irom stands put up in the race fields, 
being, as himself has told me, a true field preacher, and carrying 
his whole library and wardrobe in his saddle bags. His popularity 
as a preacher soon led to his call to St. Paul's, among the novelties 
of his day, he was occasionally aided in preaching by Capt. Webb, 
the Britisli barrack mastei* at Albany, who being a boanarges in 
declamation, and a one-eyed officer in military costume, caused 
attraction enough to bring many to hear, from mere curiosity, who 
soon became proselytes to Methodism. The Methodism of that 
day, was not so exclusive as now ; it collected people of any faith, 
who professed to believe in th* sensible piereeptions of divine re- 



p 



Churches. 397 

generation, &c. and required no other rule of association than '^ a 
desire to flee from the wrath to come, and having the form of 
Godliness, were seeking after the power thereof." Calvinists 
and Arminians were therefore actual niemhcrs of this first associa- 
tion. The Methodists of that day, although remarkahle for their 
holiness of living, were not distinguislicd hy such violent emotions 
and bodily exercises in their assemblies as often occui* now. There 
were no jumpers among them, nor fallers-down, nor shouters. 

The first regular meetings of this society were held in a pot- 
house in Loxley's Court — a passage running from Arch to Cherry 
street near Fourth street. 

The first church owned by the Methodists, was the present 
St. George's in Fourth near New street. It was an unfinished 
building, which they bought of the Germans ; it having no floor 
laid wlien the British possessed the cit>^ they took it to the use o£, 
their cavalry as a riding-school. In tlie rear of that church was 
long an artillery yard of cannons and balls after the peace. 

The reminiscences of that church given by another hand, as seen 
by liim when Methodism was young, shall close this article, to wit : 

Saint George's Methodist Episcopal church in Fourth street, 
and the only one at the time in Philadelphia, was w ithout galleries 
within or railing without, a miserably cold looking place in winter 
time, when, from the leaky stove pipe, mended with clay, the 
smoke would frequently issue, and fill all the house. It was then 
customary with the female worshippers to carry with them small 
'^ wooden stoves" for the feet, such as are to be seen used by the 
women in market. The front door was in the centre ; and about 
20 feet from the east end, inside, there stood a square thing not 
unlike a watch box, witii the top sawed off", which in that day 
served as tlieir "pulpit of wood," from whence the Rev. Mr. 
Willis used to read prayers previous to the sermon, from Mr. 
Wesley's Liturgy, and John Hood (lately living) raised the hymn 
standing on the floor. Mr. Willis, during service, wore a black 
silk gown, which gave offence to many, and was finally laid aside. 
" Let all things be done soberly and in order" seemed to be the 
standing rule, which was first broken in upon by a Mr. Chambers, 
from Baltimore, who, with a sharp penetrating voice and great 
energy of manner, soon produced a kind of revolution in the form 
of worship, which had assimilated itself with that of the Church 
of England. 

About the same time, the far-famed (among Methodists,) Ben- 
jamin Abbott, from Salem county. New Jersey, used to "come 
over and help" to keep alive the new fire which had been kindled 
in "the church at Philadelphia." He was at the time an old man, 
with large shaggy eye-brows, and eyes of flame, of powerful frame, 
and great extent of voice, which he exerted to the utmost, while 
preaching and praying, which, with an occasional stamp with 



398 Cliurches. 

Ins foot, made the church ring. It was like the trumpet sounding 
to battle, amidst shouts of the victorious and the groans of the 
wounded. His words ran like fire sparks through the assembly, 
lyid ''tliose who came to laugh" stood aghast upon the benches — 
looking down upon the slain and the wounded, while, to use a 
favourite expression of his, *• The shout of tlie King was in jthe 
Camp." 



i^99 



HOSPITALS. 



THE earliest Hospital, separate ft-om the Poor-liouse, to which 
in early times it was united, was opened and continued for several 
years in the house known as '* Judge Kinsey's dwelling and or- 
chard," — the same two story double front brick house now on the 
south side of High street, third door west from Fifth street. The 
Hospital thei'c, nearly eighty years ago, was unde4* the general 
government of Mrs. Elizabetli Gardiner as matron. 

In the year 1750, several public spirited gentlemen set on foot a 
proposition for another and more convenient building than was be- 
fore possessed for the sick at the Poor-house — then on the lot oc- 
cupying the square from Spruce to Pine street, and from Tiiird to 
Fourth street. 

By the MS. Diary of John Smith, Esq. I see noted that on the 
5th of 5 mo. 1751, he with other managers of the Hospital Fund, 
went out to inspect several lots for a ])lace for an Hospital, and he 
states that none then pleased them so much as one on the south side 
of Arch street betw ecn Ninth and Tenth streets. But afterwards, 
on the lltli of 8 mo. 1751, he notes, tliat he with Dr. Bond and Is- 
vael Pemberten, inspected the late dwelling house of E. Kinsey, Esq. 
and were of opinion it would he a suitable place to begiii the Hos- 
pital in. The year 1751, therefore marks the period at which the 
Hospital in High street began. It there continued ten or twelve 
years 

The Pennsylvania Hospital was founded in the year 1760. At 
the occasion of laying the corner stone, the celebrated John Key, 
*' the first born," was present from Chester county. The inscrip- 
tion of the corner stone, composed by Doctor Franklin, reads thus: 
" In the year of Christ 
MDCCLV, 
George the Second happily reigning 
(For he sought the happiness of his people) 
Philadelphia flourishing 
(For its inhabitants were public spirited) 
This Building 
By the bounty of Government, 
And of many private Persons, 
Was piously founded 
For the relief of the Sick and Miserable. 
May the God of Mercies 
Bless the Undertaking." 



_jQQ foor-hoiises. 

men the Hospital was first placed there it was deemed yerj^ 
far out o town/and was approached not by present rectilineal 
streets bnt across commons the length of several squares. The 
fnly buiding then finished for several yeai^ was the present eastern 
wing, then entered by its front gate on Eighth street. 

l?and before the year 1740 it was the practice when sick emi- 
grants arrived, to place them m empty houses about the city, 
iomotimes diseases 4ere imparted to the neighbourhood, as once 
!c^S particularly at Willing's alley. On such occasions 
Dhysicians were pro/ided for them at the public expense. The 
&erno" was induced, in 1741, to suggest the procuring o a 
i^sthousl or Hospital ; and in 1742, a Pest Hospita was erected 
on FishTr^ Island, called afterwards Province Island because 
purchased and own;d by the province, for the use of sick persons 
arriving from sea. 



POOR-HOUSES. 



THE original Poor-house for the city was located down town, 
^rPP meadow extending from Spruce to Pme street and from 
^1 ^ frFrrt street Its front was to the east and nearest to 
ThlrS stilet? ts gre^^ gate was on Spruce street, and its entrance 
WTird street was by a stile. The house was much such a struc- 
^ i« to hSt and general appearance as that of the Friends' 
AMiouse i?Walnut^^^^^^^^ it had a piazza all round. It con- 
fined rescka,^d insane as well as the poor. There were also 
tamed tbe sick a„ buildings formed near the corner of 

Sn" ;;d CtuXron the A now occupied as the pre™ 
«.« of Doctor Phvsick, from which cause, I find, m 1758, it was 
caUed " Oie AUnshous; down Fourth street," and " the Almshouse 

"''Thepi^ent Almshouse out Spruce sti-eet began in ir60 w^ 
in the country and near the woods. 



T^IBRARIC^. 



WE are indebted to Doctor Franklin for the first project of a 
public library. He started one in 1731, consisting of 38 persons, 
to pay 40 shillings each, and to contribute afterwards 10 shillings 
annually. It was at first located in a chamber of Robert Grace's 
house in Pewter Platter alley. In 1740 it was placed in the 
State-house. In 1773 it went to Carpenter's Hall till 1790, when 
the present library was built and received tlie books. It was in- 
corporated in the year 1742, as " the Library Company of Phila- 
delphia." Previous to this company the members of the Junto 
used to each bring their books to their debating room, and leave 
them there as common stock at Grace's house — the same premises, 
I believe, now belonging to Benjamin Horner. 

In 1759, Governor Denney confirmed the charter of '' the Union 
Library of Philadelphia." They built themselves the neat house 
still standing at the corner of Third and Pear streets. About tlie 
same time, in 1757, I notice an advertisement to call the members 
of '<the Association Library" to meet at their literary room in 
Lsetitia Court. 

In 1769 it is aanounced in the Gazette that " the Union Library," 
which had existed many years, resolved to merge itself into "the 
Library Company of Philadelphia," and thus to make but one in- 
stitution. 

At one time, as I was told by the aged Isaac Parrish, the Union 
Library kept their books and reading room in the second house in 
Chesnut street, from Second street, south side. They went up-stairs 
by a flight of steps on the outside. 

The Loganian Library of nearly 3000 volumes was the generous 
gift of James Logan, Esq. to the city of Philadelphia forever, to- 
gether with a house and SOJ. per annum. In 1792, his son James 
procured an act of the Legislature, vesting the library, &c. in '* the 
Library Company of Philadelphia," — thus eventually merging 
"the Library Company of Philadelphia," "the Union Library 
of Philadelphia," and "the Loganian Library," all three in one 
" tria una injuncta.** 



3G 



TAVERI^So 



IN the primitive days the grant of tavern licenses were restricted 
to widows, and occasionally to decrepid men of good character. I 
am aware of tiiis fact from inspecting several of the early petitions 
of about the year 1700 for such licenses. 

In the year 1683, William Penn's letter says : « We have seven ordina- 
ries for the entertainment of strangers and workmen that are not house- 
keepers, and a good meal is to be had for sixpence sterling." 

There was, hovyever, at an early period much effort made by base 
people to keep private tippling houses, which were ferretted out by the 
Grand Juries with much vigilance. 

In 1709, the Grand jury present many tippling and disorderly houses. 

In 1714, no less than 35 true bills were found against unlicensed tav- 
erns in one session ! 

In 1744, the Grand Jury present the enormous increase of pubhc 
houses as a great nuisance, and they say it appears by constable returns 
that there are then upwards of 100 houses licensed, which, with all the re- 
tailers, make the houses which sell drink nearly a tenth part of the city J 

In 1752, there were found in the city 120 taverns with licenses, and 
1 18 houses that sold rum by the quart. 

In 1756, the number of licensed inns in the city was ascertained to 
be 117. 

In 1759 — until this year it had been the occasional practice for Justices 
of the Peace to hear and decide causes at pubhc inns, which was found 
to have a demoralizing effect in bringing so many people to drinking 
places. The Governor, therefore, in this year publicly forbids its use 
any longer. The Common Council itself, in the year 1704, dated its 
minutes at an inn and at the Coffee House. 

The Indian King tavern in High street near Third street is the 
oldest inn now in the city, and was in numerous years among the 
most respectable ; when kept by Mr. Biddle it was indeed a famous 
house. There the Junto held their club, and assembled such men as 
Doctor Franklin, Hugh Roberts, Charles Thomson. &c. In tlie 
year 1742 it was kept by Peter and Jonathan Robeson. 

The Crooked Billet Inn on the wharf above Chesnut street (end 
of the first alley) w^s the tavern of longest " uninterrupted succes- 
sion" in the city, being named in earliest times, but it has ceased 
its operations as an inn some years past. It was the first house 
entered in Philadelphia, in 1723, by Doctor Franklin, in his first 
visit to the city. It then was a more considerable building than 
afterwards, having then its front upon Water street and extending; 
down to the river. 



Taverns. 403 

The Pewter Platter Inn once stood at the corner of Front tuul 
Jones' alley: its sign was a large pewter platter. The oddity of 
the device made it so famous that it gave a lasting name to the 
alley, to the utter oWivion of Jones' name. 

A Mrs. Jones kept a celebrated \mh]\c house in the old two story 
house now adjoining the south end of tlic CityTavejn; besides its 
present fronton Second street it had a fi'ont towards Walnut street, 
with a fine green court yard all along that street ([uite down to 
Dock creek. At that house Richard Penn and other Governors, 
Generals and gentry used to be feasted. The tavern was designa- 
ted by the sign of the Three Crowns. 

The present City Tavern adjoining it was erected on the site of 
two frame buildings* in the year 1770. It was then made a dis- 
tinguished eating and boarding house. In later time it took the 
name of Coffee House, had a portico formed in front, and its former 
smaller rooms opened into one general front room. 

A very noted public house, in the colonial days, was Peg Mul- 
len's '"beef-stake house," on the east side of Water street below 
Wilcox's alley ; she was known and visited by persons from Boston 
to Georgia. Now the house, herself, and all who feasted t!»ere, 
are gone— forever gone ! The present aged Colonel Morris says 
it was the fashionable iiouse of his youthful days. Governor Hamil- 
ton and other Governors held their clubs in that house — there the 
Free Masons met, and most of the public parties and societies. 
The alley was called " Mullen's alley," and the site was the same 
where Robert Morris built up his range of stores, on the north side 
of the Mariners' church. 

In the year 1768-9, Mrs. Graydon opened a celebrated boarding 
house '' up Front street," at Drinker's house, at the nortli comer 
of Drinker's alley. That house had generally several British and 
other officers as inmates, and at different times was nearly filled 
by officers of the 42d Highland and Royal Irish. Baron de Kalb 
boarded there — Lady More and Lady Susan O'Brien. Sir William 
Draper too (immortalized by Junius !) was an inmate, and wiiile 
in Philadelphia was distinguislied as a great racket player. At 
one time he was a resident at Newbern, North Carolina, living 
among tliem w ithout display, as if seeking to hide iiimself from 
the lash of Junius. 

Dibley's tavern was an ancient house of some note in its day, at 
the east corner of Bank alley and Chesnut street, where Hide now 
has his dwelling and bookbindery. At that house an event occurred, 
about the year 1782, sufficiently remarkable for romance; indeed 
it gave rise to some poetry which I liave seen. A man came there 
to be an upper ostler, having with him a wife and two daughters 
(young women grown) of great gentility and beauty ; a»id the 
whole family being in much poverty, made use of the harness room 

• Those two-story frames were once " the timber houses" of Edward Shippen, s«'n. sold 
to Samuel Powell, to which family the present Coffee Iiouse belongs. 



404 'raver ns. 

over the stable for tlieir dwelling ! The case was this; viz. — The 
ostler, on an excursion in Maryland as a horse-jockey, heard of 
tlie widow S. as a lady of wealth; hy dress and pretensions he 
succeeded to marry lier ; he lived extravagantly, and brought the 
family to ruin. They came to Philadelphia to hide themselves 
from tlieir former intimates. After trying several expedients with- 
out success he began as the ostler to Dibley- The daughters 
were very pi'ett) and engaging : one attracted the attentions of a 
French gentleman who kept his hoise at the stable, and he made 
interest with the father, but the girl saw cause to repel him. To 
avoid her father's control, she sought a place in Mrs. Dibley's 
house as a seamstress for a few m eeks, and to be concealed from 
her father's knowledge. She had been there but a day or so, when 
she was seen accidentally by Mr. M. of Mount Holly, a rich iron- 
mastei'. He was instantly pleased with her charms ; inquired into 
her history of the landlady, made overtures of marriage — was ac- 
cepted — presented the young lady 2000 dollars for wedding pre- 
parations — soon he mai'ried her and took her to his home in Mount 
Holly, and being a very popular man, had great entertainments at 
his mansion — among the rest a gieatball in which his bride danced 
w ith great grace i her exertions to please and entertain her guests 
led her into unusual perspiration, and in going into the entry 
wliere the air was cool, she took a cliill and in five days after her 
wedding (lied — being but the seventh week after their acquaintance! 
The generous husband was inconsolable; he fell into frequent 
convulsions the night of her internment, for she was buried by 
torchlight after the English manner in solemn pomp.* After this 
he took the younger sister under his care, settled a large estate 
upon her, and she married to advantage. Such singular tran- 
sitions in one family in so short a time were indeed rare. I have 
heard all these incidents from a lady who was one of the guests, 
both at the wedding and at the funeral. 

Tliere was, many years ago. a very genteel house of resort in 
Second street above Spruce street, where only gentry went to drink 
colfee and to meet company in the afternoons. It was kept by a 
Mrs. Jokyls, wimse daughters were great belles. 

The foi'egoing notices all preceded my personal recollections. 
Those remembered by me as most conspicuous, 35 years ago, were 
the St. George and Dj-agon, at the south west corner of Arch and 
Second streets ; the Indian Queen, by Francis, in south Fourth 
street above Chesnut street, where Jefferson, in his chamber there, 
first wrote the celebrated Declaration of Independence — an original 
paper whii^h I am gratified to say I have seen and handled ; the 
old fashioned inn owned by Sober, south west corner of Chesnut 
and Fourth streets, and called the Cross Keys Inn, by Campbell — 
pulled down to make way for the present Philadelphia Bank — it 

* Mr. M. was a bachelor of about 50, and she -was but 18 yeai's of age. 



Taverns. 405 

was a house so old, witli double lii])j)od roof fronting Fourth street, 
that they knew no Cliesinit street to Aviiich to conform its gable 
end. and fairly set it down close by the gutter side, leaving no 
projjej- foot pavement to foot j)assengcrs in after years ! Another 
Cross Keys Inn (once Governoi- Lloyd's dwelling) was kept by 
Israel Israel at the north east coi-ner of Tliird and Chesnut streets. 
Mrs. Jenkins once ke|)t a famous house in Market above Fourth 
street; and the Conestoga Inn, by Major Nicolls, in the same 
neighbourhood, was (juite a military and v.estern-men hotel. 

There used to be a very old two story frame building used as a 
public house, culled the Black Bear, on the soutli side of High 
street about foi-ty yards eastward of Fifth street — it nn as a great 
resort for many years of western people and wagons ; it stood on 
elevated ground and had a great wagon yard : it is now all super- 
seded by large modei-n houses, and the old concern has back\l out 
upon Fifth street. 

The George Inn, at tiie south west corner of Arch and Second 
streets, so called from its sign of St. George and tlie Dragon, had 
at one time the greatest reputation and the biggest landlord in the 
city. '• Mine Host" was Michael Deiniison, an Englishman, who 
made his house at once popular to Britons as a countryman ; and 
to American travelling gentlemen as the great concentration of the 
Northern and Southern stages. My friend, Lang Syne, has furnish- 
ed some reminiscences of tlie inn, its landlord and guests, preserved 
in my MS. Annals in the Historical Society, page 525, from which I 
shall take occasion here to insert some lines of poetry made upon 
Mr. Dennison's quitting the concern and going back to England . 
with his acquired riches — to wit : 

Lines on Michael Dennisoii. 

His bulk increased by ale and venison, 

Alas 1 we soon must lose good Dennison. 

City of Pe7in ! his loss deplore, — 

Altho' with pain, his bulk you bore ! — 

Michael, farewell ! Heaven speed thy course, 

Saint George take with thee and thy horse ; 

But to our hapless city kind, 

The watchful Dragon leave behind. — 

Michael ! your wealth and full-sprcadyra?;/?, 

Shall publish Pennsylvania's fame. 

Soon as the planks beneatli )ou crack, 

The market shall be hung with black. 

Michael ! her stores might sure content ye. 

In Britain, none boast greater plenty, 

The Bank shall with the market join, 

To weep at once — thee, and thy coin ; 

Thy guineas, ranged in many a pile. 

Shall swell the pride of Britain's Isle : 

Whilst England's Bank shall smiling greet. 

The wealth that came from Chesnut street. 



406 Taverns. 

Finally, as a supplement to the whole, the reader is presented 
with some notices of tavern signs, such as they generally were in 
times hy-gone. Indeed, the character of signs in general were 
diflferent from things now. The storekee[)crs as well as taverns 
hung out their signs to the extremity of tlic foot pavement ; taylors 
had the sign of the Hand and Shears — druggists the Pestle and 
Mortar — tohacco sellers showed a Pipe — schoolmasters, a Hand 
and Pen — hiacksmiths. the Hand and Hammer. Among the tav- 
erns was Admiral Warren, the Turk's Head, the Rattlesnake, the 
Queen of Hungary, the Queen's Head, the Blue Lion, and last not 
least, "the man loaded with mischief," (carrying a wife on his 
back) an inn at the corner uniting Little Dock and Spruce streets, 
north side. In Front street above the Drawbridge was a fine 
painted sign in fine keeping for a " mirth house," — a fiddler in 
good style scraping his instrument '* as though it wept and moaned 
its wasted tones." SVhen the sign of Franklin was set up at Homly's 
Inn in 1774, at tlie south west corner of Walnut and Fifth streets, 
it was supported by this couplet — 

" Come view your patriot father ! and your friend, 
And toast to freedom, and to slavery's end !" 

In conclusion I add tlie notices of my fi'iend Lang Syne, who 
manifests some tact in this matter, to wit : 

The reminiscence of some gentleman of the '* Old School," in 
the progress of sign painting (not lettering,) in this city for the 
last 50 years, would be a good subject for a leading article in one 
of our Magazines. 

The first sign I remember to have noticed was one **down 
town," of a groupe of dogs barking at a full moon, which, smiling 
down upon them, said 

" Ye foolish dogs, why bark ye so. 
When I'm so high, and ye're so low." 

Another, in Third street, of Sir W^ alter Raleigh smoking, his 
servant throwing water over liim, thinking his master to be on 
fire. Another, of a man '' struggling through the world" — (a 
globe.) These must have been very inferior articles, but at the 
time, very interesting to my judgment. " Creeping lazily to 
school," I have often loitered, sometimes looking through the office 
windows of Squire Fleeson, (north west corner of Chesnut and 
Fourtli streets,) and the shop door of George Rutter, gazing upon 
the wonders (to me) of his pencil, in a variety of finished and un- 
finished signs — consequently often ''out of time" at the Quaker 
Academy over the way, for which I was sure to feel *' the Jlesh 
creep'' under " the strap^" well laid on by old John Todd. How 
often have I stood viewing the productions of Rutter's pencil, in 
different parts of the city — his Fox-cliase, Stag Hunt — the hounds 
in full cry. At the north west corner of Third and Market streets 



Taverns. 407 

one Brooks bad a delightful sign of an Indian Chief, drawing his ar- 
row to the head at a bounding deer. These have all gone with 
Rutter to *' the capnlets," or, like Alexander's clay, 
" May stop a hole to keep the wind away." 

When they first luinibcred the houses he painted the finger- 
boards for the corners ; one of which, the '' last of the Mohicans," 
may be seen at the corner of Fifth and Spruce streets, (south west) 
and though nearly defaced by time, forms a contrast to the clumsy 
hand-boards that succeeded them. The sign of a cj)ck picking up 
a wheat ear drew the ])ublic attention to Pratt, who painted also 
"the Federal Convention" — a scene within "Independence Hall" — 
Greorge Washington, President; William Jackson, Secretary; the 
members in full debate, with likenesses of many of tliose political 
"giants in those days" — such as Fraiiklin, Mifflin, . Madison, 
** Bob" Morris, Judge Wilson, Hamilton, 6cc. Tiiis invaluable 
sign, which should have been copied by some eminent artist, and 
engraved for posterity, was bandied about, like the casa santa oi 
Loretto, from " post to pillar," till it located in Soutli street near 
the Old Theatre. The figures are now completely obliterated by 
a heavy coat of brown paint, on which is lettered Fed. Con. 1787. 

Another observer says the subject is so far from exhausted, 
that old signs, from various quarters, still crowd upon my remem- 
brance ; in particular, I remember a very hideous one of Iludibras, 
which w as placed at a tavern in Second street, at the entrance into 
the old Barracks, to which was affixed the following couplet : 



" Sir Hudibras once TOde in state, 
Now sentry stands at Barracks gate 



;ks gate." 

[ am unwilling to leave unnoticed a new edition of one of our 
ancient subjects for a sign, where it has been continued for a great 
number of years, at a very old beer house in Chesnut near Front 
street; it is now, or lately was, the "Turk's Head," but in the 
former part of last century was "KmUi Khan," when the fame 
of that conqueror made his portrait a popular sign. In this respect 
the King of Prussia was once a great favourite, and still maintains 
his sw ay in some places, so that I have known a landlord upon the 
decrease of his custom to again have recourse to the old subject 
for a sign, that the house was formerly known by, with good sue- 



THEATRES. 



MUCH opposition was originally made to the introduction of 
theatrical entertainments into Philadelphia, chiefly by the religi- 
ous part of the community. From tliis cause those wliich were 
first regularly established, opened tbeir houses just beyond the 
bounds and control of the city oilicers. Finally, when it was first 
attempted to set up the Cbesiiut street theatre in the city, in 1793, 
great efforts were made by both parties to get up memorials pro 
and con. 

The earliest mention of theatrical performance occurred in the 
year 1749, in the montli of January. Then the Recorder of the city 
reported to the Common Couucil, that cei'tain persons had lately 
taken upon them to act plays in the city, and, as he was informed, 
intended to make frequent practice thereof, whiclj, it was to be 
feared, would be attended with very mischievous effects — such as 
the encouragement of idleness, and drawing great sums of money 
from weak and inconsiderate persons, who are apt to be fond of 
such kind of entertainment, tliough the performance be ever so 
mean and contemptible ; whereupon the Board unanimously re- 
quested the magistrates to take the most effectual measures for 
suppressing this disorder, by sending for the actors, and binding 
them to tlieir good behaviour, or by such other means as they should 
think pi'opcr. From the premises it is probable they were Thes- 
pians of homemade production, of such untutored genius as had 
never trod the stage. 

In the year 1754 some real Thespians arrived, called "Hallam's 
Company" from London, Including Mrs. Hallam and her two sons. 
In the month of March they obtained license to act a few plays 
in Philadelphia, conditioned that they offered nothing indecent or 
immoral. In Api*il they opened their "new theatre in Water 
street" — in a store of William Plumstead's, corner of the first alley 
above Pine street. Their first entertainment was the Fair Peni- 
tent, and Miss in her Teens. — Box, 6s. pit, 4s. and gallery, 2s. 6d. 
said to have been offered "to a numerous and polite audience,** 
— terms of attraction intended for the next play. In the prologue to 
the first performance some hints at their usefulness as moral in- 
structors were thus enforced, to wit : 

" Too oft, we own, the Stage with dangerous art, 

In wanton scenes, has play'd a Syren's part, 

Yet if the Muse, unfaithful to her trust, 

Has sometimes stray'd from what was pure and just ; 



Tlieatres. 409 

Has she not oft, with awful virtuous rage, 
Struck home at vice, and nobly trod the stage ■ 
Then as you'd treat a {luouriie Fair's mistake, 
Pray spare her foibles for her virtue's sake : 
And whilst her chastest scenes are made appear, 
(For none but such will find admittance here) 
The muse's friends, we hope, will join the cause, 
And crown our best endeavours with applause." 

In the mean time tliosc who deemed them an evil to society 
were very busy in distributing pamphlets gratis, if possible, to 
write them down. They continued, however, their plays till the 
month of" July. 

Wc hear nothing of this company again till their return in 1759 ; 
they then came in tlie montii of July to a theatre prepared the year 
before at the south west corner of Vernon and South streets, called 
the theatre on " Society Hill." It was there placed on the south side 
of the city bounds, so as to be out of the reach of city control, by 
city authorities: and -'Society Hill" itself was a name only. 
Having no laws, great efforts were now made by the Friends and 
other religious people to prevent plays even there; much was 
written and printed pro and con. The Presbyterian Synod, in July, 
1759, formally addressed the Governor and Legislature to pre- 
vent it. The Friends made their application to Judge William 
Allen to repress them. His reply was repulsive, saying he had 
got more moral virtue from plays than from sermons. ■ As a se- 
quel, it was long remembered that the night the theatre opened, 
and to which he intended to be a gratified spectator, he \rds called 
to mourn the death of his wife. This first built theatre was con- 
structed of wood, and is now standing in tlie form of three dwel- 
linghouses at the corner of Vernon and Soutli streets. The chief 
players then were Douglass, who married Mrs. Hallam ; the two 
Hallams, her sons ; and Misses Cheer and Morris. Francis Ment- 
ges, afterwards an officer in our service, was the dancing perform- 
er, — while he danced, he assumed the name of Francis. The mot- 
to of the stage was '-Totus mundus agit histrionem." F. Ment- 
ges had talents above his original profession, and was, in the time 
of the Revolution, esteemed a good officer. 

In the course of ten years these comedians had so far acted 
themselves into favour as to need more room, and therefore they had 
got themselves ready, by the year 1760, to open another theatre — 
a larger building, constructed of wood, situate also in south street, 
above Fourth street, and still keeping within the line of South- 
wark and beyond the bounds of city surveilance. The managers 
were Hallam and Henry. 

As a parting measure, in quitting their former theatre for the 
last mentioned one, they, in 1759, announced their regard to churcii 
by proposing to give the play of George Barnwell " at their thea- 
tre on Society Hill," as a benefit to the College of Philadelphia. 
3 H 



410 Theatres. 

" for improving the youth in the divine art of psalmody and church 
music," meaning thereby to help to buy an organ for the use of 
the charity children in the old academy. 

While the British occupied Philadelphia, they held regular plays 
in the Southwark theatre, the performers being officers of Howe's 
army, — the box tickets at one dollar, and the proceeds used for the 
widows and orphans of soldiers. Major Andre and Captain De- 
lancy were the chief scene painters. The waterfall scene, drawn 
hy the former, continued on the curtain as long as that theatre 
lasted. It was burnt down a few years ago. 

When the theatre was erected in Chesnut street in 1793, it re- 
ceived and retained the name of the "New Theatre," in contra- 
distinction to the Southw ark Theatre, which afterw ards generally 
was called the Old Theatre. Mr. Wignell was first manager. 

There was a small wooden theatre, about the year 1790, on the 
wharf up at Noble street ; it was turned into a boat shed. "Jack 
Durang," as Scaramouch, is all that is remembered by those who 
saw tlie company of that day. 

The reminiscences of the " Old Theatre" of 1788 to 98, as fur- 
nished by my friend Lang Syne, are to the following effect, to wit • 
*' The Old Theatre (Soutbwark) was the only theatre with a 
regular company, and all " Stars," in the United States, or at thai 
time in the new world. The building, compared with the new 
houses, was an ugly ill-contrived affair outside and inside. The 
stage lighted by plain oil lamps without glasses. The view from 
the boxes w as interce])ted by large square wooden pillars support- 
ing tlic upper tier and roof. It was contended by many, at the 
time, as Mr. James Fortin will testify, that the front bench in the 
gallery was the best seat in the house for a fair view of the whole 
stage. 

The stage box on the east side was decorated with suitable em- 
blems for the reception of President Washington, whenever he de- 
lighted the audience by his presence ; at which time The Poor 
Soldier was invariably played by his desire. " Old Hallam" pri- 
ded himself on his unrivalled Lord Ogleby in the Clandestine Mar- 
riage, and Mungo in the Padlock. '' Old Henry" was the pride 
of the place in Irishmen. An anecdote is related of his being one 
night in a passionate part, and whirling his cane about, when it 
flew out of his hand into the pit, without doing any damage ; on its 
being handed to him, he bowed elegantly and said, in character, 
"Faith, whenever I fly in a passion my cane flies too." Another: 
that, on being hit with an orange from the gallery, he picked it up, 
and bowing said, "That's no Seville (civil) orange." 

A gentleman of this city, known familiarly to the inhabitants 
generally, as "Nick Hammond," used to play for his amusement 
in Jews. Wignell's Darby was always beheld with raptures. 
Hodgkinson was the universal favourite in Tragedy, Comedy, 
Opera and Farce, and was supposed to be one of the best actors of 



Theatres. 411 

of '• JUL work,'* that ever trod the boards. His Robin in No Song 
No Supper, and Wignell's Darby, in tlie Poor Soldier, were rivals 
in the public taste, and have never been equalled here. Does none 
remember ? About this time Wignell and Reinagle being about to 
build a new theatre, the corner stone of which had been laid at the 
north west corner of Sixth and Chesnut streets, and Wignell 
having started "for England,'' to beat up for theatrical forces, 
Hallam and Henry made arrangements to retire from " Old South" 
to New^ York, where an immense pile of stone work was put up 
opposite the Park for their reception as a theatre. The old com- 
pany went out. and the new company came into public notice, in 
the winter of 1793. The only house on the "totlier side of the 
gutter" at the time, was Oeller's Hotel, which was fired by flames 
from Ricketts' Circus, (erected some years afterwards,) and both 
were burnt to the ground one evening. 



CUSTOM HOUSES, 



AMONG the earliest remembered Custom Houses, and Collec- 
tors of Customs, was William Peters, Esq. uncle of the late Judge 
Peters ; then succeeded Abraham Taylor, Esq. — these kept their 
ofdces at their own dwellings. Next followed John Swift, Esq. 
who had his residence and office in the house now Henry Pratt's, 
in Front below Race street. He continued in office from the year 
1760 to the time of the Revolution. The iirst Collector after the 
Revolution was Frederick Phile, who had his office in Second 
street above Christ church, vis a vis the Sorrel Horse Inn. From 
thence he removed it to tlie corner of Blackhorse alley and Front 
street. After this the office was held by Sharp Delany, Esq. who 
dwelt at the south east coi-ner of Walnut and Chesnut streets, and 
did the business of the Port of Philadelphia (within my recollec- 
tion) in his front parlour — these were ^- the days of small things." 
Its next remove was to something greater, to wit : to " Ross' build- 
ings" — a collection of two or three good houses on the east side of 
Front street below Walnut street. As business increased, the 
government of the United States finally determined on building 
the present large Custom House in south Second street. In pro- 
viding foi' that location they pulled down a large expensive house, 
not long built there by Doctor Hunter, as a Laboratory, &c. 

There was a tradition that the very old buildings which till 
lately stood on Walnut street, at tlie south east corner of Third 
and Walnut streets, had been *'the old Custom House," but I 
never had any facts to sustain the idea. 



BANKS. 



" Gold imp'd by thee can compass greatest things I" 

OUR city enjoys the pre-eminence in this department of finance, 
as having been tlic first city in the Union to establish a i3ank. The 
first permanent Bank was that of the North America in Chesnut 
street, although it is also true that there was an earlier one called, 
"the Bank of Pennsylvania," established by some patriotic gen- 
tlemen in 1780, for the avowed temporary purpose of "supplying 
the army of the United States with provisions for two months" — 
creating thereby a specie subscription of 300,000£. by about ninety 
persons, and the two highest subscriptions by Robert Morris and 
Blair M-Clenachan— 10,000£. each. The particulars of this Bank 
may be seen in Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania, vol. ild. p. 259. 

The Bank of North America, founded in 1781 by Congress, be- 
gan its career of specie with coin sent out from France, at the in- 
stance of Robert Morris, by Mr. De Chaumont. It was landed 
at Boston.. This fact was told to me by Mrs. Morris not long 
since. She also told me that the same gcnerons frichd, Mr. De 
Chaumont, extended to her an annual pension, by w liich she was en- 
abled to live without assistance from others. From the govern- 
ment her husband had so nobly served she received no succours. 

On page 248 of my MS. Annals in the City Library, is an ex- 
hibition of a small "one penny bill" of the Bank of North Amer- 
ica, of the year 1789. It is to be sure a small exhibit of a National 
Bank, but it had much greater concerns: and its history as an 
eventual restorer of sound credit and a good circulating medium, 
is already familiar to the public. Tlie little bill reads — 

" The President and Directors of the Bank of Noi'th America 
promise to pay to the bearer on demand one ninetietii of a dollar. 
AugusU 1789. Tench Francis, Cashier.** 

The next Bank, the Pennsylvania, was oi'iginally located in 
Lodge alley (the same now called Bank street) in a three story 
double front brick house, which had once been a distinguished 
lodging house by Mrs. Sword and Mrs. Brodeau. To rear the pres- 
ent stately marble Bank, they pulled dow n several houses w hich had 
themselves once enjoyed the reputation of " great things" in their 
early day. The facts concerning them is all that is intended in 
this notice, to wit : 

On Second street, on the south west corner of Lodge alley, stood 



414 Banks. 

D. Griscom's house, of antiquated construction, called in an old 
Almanac " the first built house of brick erected in Philadelphia :"* 
adjoining to it, southward, stood the house of James Logan, jun. 
bought of Thomas Storey, who derived it from the first owner, 
Edward Shippen, sen. It was a large house of double front, and 
a great display of dormer windows. These two buildings occu- 
pied the whole present front of the Bank. The latter had "the 
privilege of the wharf on the dock, at Dock creek, forever !" On 
the Lodge alley, westward of the former Bank there, stood the 
Masonic Lodge. The house which had been Shippen's and Storey's 
was thus described in 1707-8, by Samuel Preston, in his letter to 
Jonathan Dickinson, then in Jamaica, to wit : " In choosing thee a 
house I am most inclined to Thomas Storey's — it adjoins to David 
Lloyd's, [originally Griscom's, "directly opposite to Norris'" 
slate house] — it is most like Edward Shippen's, [where is now 
Wain's row] but larger — a story higher, and neatlier finished, with 
garden out-houses, &c. [down to Dock creek] and I know it will 
suit, or none in Philadelphia. The rent is prodigious high— he 
asks 70£. I offer 50£. and rather than fail will give 10£. more." 

The present Girard's Bank, built originally for the first Bank 
of the United States, was erected upon what had been tiie rear of 
Pemberton's fine garden, upon ground much lower than the present 
Third street. 

The Philadelphia Bank occupies the site of an old inn called the 
Cross Keys, an antiquated house, with double hipped roof, front- 
ing on Fourtli street, and having a range of stables at the Fourth 
street side. It had a heavy brick portico at the front door, and 
the house stood out far upon the Chesnut street pavement. 

Where the present Bank of the United States now stands, was 
once Norris' house and gardens, once much distinguished as a 
beautiful place "out of town." 

* Leed's Almanac, printed by W. Bradford, New York, 1694, says it is now U years 
since Andrew Griscom built the first brick house in Philadelphia. 



IVORTH EJVD. 



IN early times, <' North End" was the common name given to 
the Northern Liberties, when having its only road out Front street. 
In the present notice it will include the region of Cohocksinc creek 
over to Kensington, and westward over the foi'mer Campington. 
The ol)ject is to bring back to tlic mind's eye " its face of nature, 
ere banished and estranged" by improvement. 

The whole region was originally patented to Jurian Hartsfielder, 
in 1676, by Governor Andros of New York government. In ten 
years afterwards he sold out to D. Pegg his whole 350 acres, 
extending from Cohocksinc creek, his northern line, to Pegg's 
run. his southern line. That part beyond Cohocksinc, northward, 
which came under Penn's patent, was bought, in 1718, by J. Dick- 
inson—say 945 acres— at 26s. 8d. sterling, and extending from the 
present Fairhill estate over to Bush Hill. Part of the same estate 
lias been known in more modern times as '"Masters' estate and 
farm," and some of it is now in possession of Turner Camac. Esq. 
who married Masters' daughter. 

The primitive state of the North End near the Cohocksinc creek, 
is expressed in a petition, of the year 1701, of tlie country inhabi- 
tants (115 in number) of Germantown, Abington, ^c. praying the 
Governor and Council for a settled road into the city, and alleging 
that "'they have lately been obliged to go round new fences, from 
time to time set up in the road by Daniel Pegg and Thomas 
Sison,"* for that as tliey cleared their land, they drove the travel- 
lers out into uneven roads and very dangerous for cai'ts to pass 
upon. They therefore pray <'a road may be laid out from the 
corner of Sison's fence straight o\(er the creek [meaning the Co- 
hocksinc, and called also Stacey's creek] to the corner of John 
Stacey's field, and afterwards to divide into two branches — one to 
Germantown and the other to Frankford." They add also that 
Germantown road is most travelled — taking thereby much lime 
and meal from three mills, with much malt, and a great deal of 
wood, timber, kc. At the same time they notice the site of the 
present " long stone bridge and causeway over to Kensington, by 
saying " they had measured the road that is called the Frankford 
road, over the long bridge from about the then part of the tobacco 

• This name was spelt Tisou in another place. • 



416 :\'orth End. 

field, to a broad stone upon Thomas Sison's liill near his fences 
and find it to be 380 jierclies, and from thence to the lower corner 
of John Stacey's field to tlie aforesaid tobacco field 372 perches, 
beside (along) the meadow and creek by John Stacey's field, and 
of tlie latter we had the disadvantage of the woods, having no line 
to go by, and finding a good road all the way and vei'y good fast 
latids." I infer from this petition (now in the Logan collection) 
that they desired the discontinuance of the then road over the long 
bridge to Frankfoi-d,* and that both Germantown and Frankford 
might be in one, until they passed over the Cohocksinc creek on 
the present Germantown road, and then the Frankford road should 
diverge ''by as near a road, liaving fast land all along." 

A letter of Robert Fairman's. of the 30tli of 8 mo. 1711, to 
Jonathan Dickinson, speaks of liis having a poi'tion of 13 acres of 
his land next the Coxon ci-eek (Cohocksinc) and in Shackamaxo.f 
In another letter of the 12th of 3 mo. 1715. he says ''the old road 
and the bridge to it being so decayed and dangerous for passengers, 
my brother Thomas, with Thomas Masters, and others, thought it 
proper to move your court for a new road, v/hich being granted, a 
new bridge was made and the road laid out, and timber for the 
bridge was cut from my plantation next the creek: but not being 
finished before my brother Thomas died, has been since laid aside 
and the old bridge and road are i-epaired and used — thus cutting 
through that land of mine and his, so as to leave it common and 
open to cattle, ^c. notwithstanding the new road would have been 
a better route. This has proceeded from the malice of some wiio 
were piqued at my brother." 

In the year 1713, the Grand Jury, upon an inspection of the 
state of the causeway and bridge over the Cohocksinc, on the road 
leading to -'the Governor's mill" — where is now Craig's manu- 
factory — recommend that a tax of one pence per pound be laid "to 
repair the road at the new bridge by the Governor's mill, and for 
other purposes." In 1739 the said mill took fire and was burnt 
down. It was thought it occurred from the wadding of guns fired 
at wild pigeons. 

This mill seems to have been all along an ill adventure; for 
James Logan, in 1702. speaking of the Governor's two mills, says 
''those unhappy expensive mills have cost since his departure up- 
wards of 200 in dry money. They both go these ten days. The 
"Town Mill," (now Craig's place) after throwing away i50£. 
upon her, does exceeding well, and of a small one is equal to any 
in the province." The other mill alluded to was at Chester. 

In 1739, Mrs. Mary Smith with her horse were both drowned 

• It is possible, however, that the long bridge may have been one on piles directly out 
Front street as it now runs — as such piles were there in my youth, and a narrow cause- 
way. It was either the remains of old time, or it had been made by the British army 
wh«n they flooded that land. 

+ Thus determining, as I presume, that Shackamaxon began at Cohocksinc cfeek, and 
went up to Gunner's creek. 



Mriii £mL 417 

'* near the long bridge in tlic Northern Liberties." " 'Twas sup- 
posed it occurred by her iiorse attempting to drink at that pliicc 
where the water is vci-y deep." At the same causeway was quick- 
sand, in which a horse and chair and man all sunk ! 

When the long stone bridge was built, in 1 790, (its date is marked 
thereon and done by Sonders) they came, at the loot ol' the founda- 
tion, to several curiosities, described to me by those who saw tiiem. to 
wit — a hickory hand-cutK perfectly sound — several leaden weights, 
for weighing — a quantity of copper farthings, and a stone hollowed 
out like a box. and having a lid of the same. 

Old ]Mr. Wager (the father of the present Wagers) and Major 
Kisell have both declared, that as much as 60 to 65 years ago they 
had seen small vessels with falling masts go up the Cohocksinc 
creek witii grain, to the Globe mill — the same before called the 
Governor's mill. Old Captain Potts, who lived near there, told 
me the same thing when I was a boy. 

While the British army occupied Philadelphia, in the year 1777 
and '78, they dammed in all the Cohocksinc njcadows, so as to lay 
them all under w^atei' from the river, and tluis produced to them- 
selves a water barrier of defence in ccmnection with their line of 
redoubts across the north end of the city. Their only road and 
gate of egress and ingress northward, was at the head of Front 
street where it parts to Gcrmantown, and by Kensington to Frank- 
ford. 

On the 29th of July, 1824, the course of tlie Coliocksinc creek 
was overwhelmed with the heaviest and most sudden toi-rent of 
rain ever before remembered. The w ater rested four feet on the 
lower floor of Craig's factory. Wliite's dwelling house had nine 
inches depth cm its lower floor. It flowed four feet above the crow n 
of the arch of the bridge at Second street. All tliis 'inprecedented 
flood was occasioned by three hours of rain at midnight. The gen- 
oral desolation that w as presented at daylight will be long remem- 
hered by those who witnessed it. 

Formerly the Delaware made a great inroad upon the land at 
the mouth of the Coliocksinc. making there a large and siiallow^ 
bay, extending from Point Pleasant down to Warder's long w harf, 
near Green street. It is but about 30 years since the river came 
up daily close to the houses on Front and Coatcs' street, and at 
Coates' street the dock there, made by Budd's wharfed yard, came 
up to the line of Front street. All the area of the bay (then with- 
out the present street east of Front street, and having none of the 
wharves now there) was an immense plane of spatterdocks, nearly 
out to the end of Warder's wharf, and on a line to Point Pleasant. 
The low^er end of Coates' street was then low er than now ; and in 
freshets the river laid across Front street. All the ten or twelve 
houses north of Coates' street, on the east side, were built on 
made-ground, and their little yards were supported with wharf- 
logs, and bush-willows as trees. The then mouth of Cohocksinc 
31 



413 ?,^orihEnd. '^ 

^as at a wooden drawbridge, then tlie only communication to \ 
Kensington, whicli crossed at Leib's house opposite to Pophir lane ; i 
from tiicnce a raised causeway ran across to Point Pleasant. The j 
stone bridge north of it, leading to Kensington, was not then in 
existence. On the outside of this causeway the river covered, and 
spatterdocks grew, and on the inside there was a great extent o^ 
marshy groimd alternately \vet and dry, with the ebbing and flow- 
ing of tiie tide; tlic creek was embanked on the east side. The 
marsli was probably 200 feet wide where the causeway at the stone 
bridge now runs. The branch of this creek which run up to the 
Globe mill, [on the place now used as Craig's cotton manufactory] 
was formerly deeper than now. Where it crosses Second street, 
at the stone bridge north of Poplar lane, there was in my time a i 
mucli lower road, and the river w ater, in time of freshets, used to 1 
overflow the low lots on each side of it. The houses near the 
causeway, and wliicli were there 30 years ago, are now one story 
buried under gi'ound. The marsh grounds of Cohocksinc used to 
afford good shooting for woodcock and snipe, &c. The road be- 
yond, '' being Front street continued,'' and the bridge thereon, is 
all made over this marsh within the last 16 years; also, the road 
leading from the stone bridge across Front to Second street — the 
hill, to form that road, has been cut down full 20 to 23 feet, and 
was used to fill np tlie Front street causeway to the York road, &c. 
The region of country to tfie north of this place and of Globe mill, 
over to Fotn-th street mill-datn, was formerly all in grass com- 
mons, without scarcely a single house or fence thereon, and was a 
very great resort for shooting kill-dear and snipe. It was said 
the British liad burned up all the former fences, and for many 
years afterwards no attempt w as made to renew them. On these 
commons bulibaiting sometimes occurred, and many military train- 
ings. None of the present ropcwalks w ere tlien there ; but one run 
where Poplar lane now lies, from Front to Second street — that not 
having been a street till within 25 years ago. The British re- 
doubts remained till lately — one on the Delaware bank in a line 
with the stone-bridge street — then no houses were near it ; now 
it is all built \\\h and streets are run where none were seen. 
The next redoubt, west, stood in an open grass lot of Captain 
Potts, on Second street and in front of where St. John's Metho- 
dist church now stands. — [John sti-eet was not then run there.] 
Another redoubt stood on Poplar lane and corner of Fifth street, 
—another back of Bush Hill house, and another was on Fair 
Mount,— another on the hill south of High sti-eet, wliere the 
Waterworks were located. All the Cohocksinc marsh is now filled 
up and built upon, and an immense long wharf and a bridge from 
it is made to join a street to Kensington. 

There was a creek or inlet of water, as told to me by the aged 
John Brown, which went up from the river at the north side of 
Coates' street and Front street, and thence westward over Second 



.\'orth End. 419 

street at midway from Coatcs' to 15rown street (named after tlii.s 
Brown, who is a lai-ge owner) up to tlic south side of Coatcs' bu- 
rial ground. Up this creek he has gone in a boat as higli as 
Second street, and gathered wild plums from small trees which 
overhung the sides of it ; this was only done in times of floods. At 
the burial place were several springs ; and all the vaults there 
liave sinks in them to drain off the water. He gave it as liis opinion 
that several springy pieces of ground lay under the present St. 
John's church there. 

From Coates' street to i200 feet up Front street, it used to be 
formerly overflowed from the river, even after the causeway there 
was formed. John Brown has seen boys many times ferrying pas- 
sengers up and down BYont street in times of springtides. Before 
the causeway was formed spatterdocks grew there, and the tide 
flowed in there as high as Budd street. 

I remember that wiicn the present Butler's row, near the said 
creek, was built, the cellar foundations w ere begun upon tlie then 
surface, and the ground was then filled up around them one story 
high. Between this low ground and Coates' street was a de- 
scending hill, and on that hill, a friend, aged 56 years, tells me 
they used to dig deep pits, in his boyhood, in search of pirates' 
money. The same they did also at Pegg's run from Front to 
Third street. 

At the spot of ground east of Oak street, and on tiie north side 
of Avhat was called Warder's wharf, then a water dock for vessels, 
(now firm ground) a young woman of good connections was drove 
into the river there at night and stoned and drowned by some mis- 
creants who had abused her person. It occurred about 35 years 
ago, and the perpetrators have never since been found out. It was 
then a very forlorn place at night. 

There were no wagon-pavements in any part of the Northern 
Liberties till within tlie last 25 yeai's, and in many streets within 
10 years: several of the present streets were not even run, and of 
course there were no houses built. Thus Fourth, Fifth aiul Sixth 
streets from Vine or Pegg's run out to the Gerniantown road are 
all opened, and the bridges built thereon, and the low grounds 
filled up (some places running over deep brick-kiln ponds and gul- 
lies, &c.) witliin the last 12 and 16 years. Tl»c market houses 
from Coates' street to Poplar lane, were only begun 26 years ago, 
and the northern end was finished within 10 years. The Presby- 
terian church, at the corner of Coates' and Second streets, and the 
Episcopal at the corner of St. John street, and the Methodist 
church at the north end of St. John street, are all within 1 8 years. 
The Baptist church, now on Budd street near Noble street, is 
placed on a street now opened down to Vine street, which was not 
even run (and when it did, it run down some small houses) 16 
years ago. Old Fourth street was, indeed, an old road, and was 
called the Old York Road before the Revolution- 



420 J^'*orth End. 

Within 35 years the whole of Third street from Noble lane up 
to Coates' street, out westward from tlieiice, was all in grass lots, 
commons, or ponds. At tlie nortii east corner of Green and Old 
Foiirtii streets was a great skating pond, and near it, towards 
Third street, was another. Ponds were also heyond Fourth street. 
Tliese had been dug out for bricks in former years. The Northern 
Liberties were incorporated in 1803. 

Mr. John Brown told me that all the lots on the western side of 
Second street, from Green to Coates' street, were originally let for 
lower ground rents than will pay the present taxes, so that they 
were virtually lost to the primitive owners. 

Thomas Bradford spoke of his sometimes visiting what was 
called Coates' woods ; they consisted of 4 or 5 acres, near about 
the present Coates' burial ground, at tlie south east corner of 
Bi'own and Thii-d streets. The most of it was cut down by tlie 
late Colonel Coates, for pocket money, when he was young. 
Anothei" aged gentleman, W. W. informed me that he used to go 
out to the neighbourhood of Robin Hood, on Poplar lane, to gather 
chestmts and hickory nuts, there being there plenty of such trees 
wlien he was a youth — say 65 years ago. Mr. John Brown said 
that in his youth t!)e woods thereabou't were so far primitive and 
wild, as that he and othei* boys used to go tiier-e of nights with a 
dog to tree raccoons, and then shake them off to let the dog seize 
them. 

In 1741 Thomas Penn laid out the plot up town, at Callowliill 
street and Cabal lane, for a market house and tow n, and endeav 
oured to have the adjacent lots sold. ''Arbuckle's Row,*' along 
Callo\yhiIl street, and the market houses were made in consequence, 
but npne of tliem answered. It was then a speculation too far off 
from Philadelphia ! 

In 1743 the sclieme w as also first projected of making a SeconiS 
street over Pegg's marsh— called then ''the Swamp"— but it did 
not quickly take. 



SOUTH END & SOCIETY HII.I.. 



THE southern section of tlie city, although incorporated nine 
years earlier tlian the Northern Libeities — say in 1794 — did not 
make sucli rapid ijnproveujeiits. About the new market square the 
change, as a place of business, lias been greatest, occasioned in 
part by the lengthening of the market house, building it up from 
Lo:nbard street to Pine street and by the increase of wealthy pop- 
ulation out Pine and other southern streets. Thirty-five years ago 
no dry-goods, hardware, or fancy stores, as now there, w ere then 
seen. Twenty-five years ago none of the streets below South 
street runningVestward, were laid out beyond Fifth street ; and 
Catharine and Queen streets were only laid out as far as Second 
street. All beyond was commons or fenced lots. The south west- 
ern part of the city was always a wooden town, with a surplus pop- 
ulation of tlie baser sort ; and the general level of the ground there 
was lower than the general level now required for Southwark, es- 
pecially all that part lying south of Pine street atul westward of 
Sixtii street. Numerous houses still there show tlie streets now- 
raised above their door sills one or two steps. Toward the liver 
side, however, the ground was high, so much so, that along Swan- 
son street from below Almond street, the oldest houses now re- 
maining there show themselves much higher than the present level 
of the street. From this cause the old house at the south west cor- 
ner of Swanson and Almond streets may be seen to iiave its origi- 
nal cellar, once under ground, now at least ten feet out of ground ; 
and several houses now on western side of Swanson street, below 
there, may be seen to have a high ascent of steps. Similar noti- 
ces may be made of houses north of Catiiarine and Queen streets, 
which show that their doors, once on the ground floor, are now in 
their second stories. The same, too, may be seen of houses in 
Front and Penn streets below South street. At one time a great 
portion of the south w estern end of South waik belonged to Ed- 
ward Shippen. In the year 1730, after his death, his estate was 
advertised as containing *' 240 acres on the south side of said city." 
Southwark, especially in the neighbourhood of the present mar- 
ket house, by Pine and South streets, was so new and unsettled as 
late as the year 1767, that then we see public advertisement is 
made by Joseph Wharton and others, proposing to bestow lots ''for 
the promotion of religion, learning, and industry," and, sub rosa, to 



422 South End and Society Hill. 

benefit themselves, by making grants of lots for school houses, 
meeting houses, and market houses ; saying also, that the market 
place was already fixed upon, having a length of 1200 feet, and a 
width of 100 feet. 

By this fact we learn the measures which were taken to hasten 
the improvement of the South End, and to convert the former com- 
mons of Society Hill into something more productive to the land- 
holders.* Before this time it had been the locality for field train- 
ings or for field preachings, and before Penn street was formed 
through the high bluff formerly along the line of tliat street, the 
flag staff possessed the ground a little north of South street, to de- 
signate the Water Battery which lay at the base of the bank. 

As late as the year 1750 there was a place called " tlie Vineyard" 
and sometimes *' Stanly," [William Stanly was an original pur- 
chaser of 5000 acres,] which belonged then to Edward Jones, and 
contained Si acres of meadow, orchard and garden, iiaving its 
garden front on the south side of South street, not far from Second 
street, an abundance of cherries and peaches, and a spacious house 
with a piazza on its eastern and southern sides. 

Anthony Cuthbert, Esq. now aged, remembers when v/oods were 
general in Soutliwark from Third and Fourth streets to Scliuyl- 
kill, and when a ropewallc extended from Almond street and Sec- 
ond street westward. Mrs. H. S. now^ 78, remembers gatjiering 
M hortleberries at the new market place, and blackberries at the 
corner of Pine and Fourth streets. 

" Society Hill," a name once so prevalent for all the region 
south of Pine street, even down to the Swedes' church, lias been 
discontinued for the last 60 or 70 years. In olden time we used to 
read of " Cherry Garden on Society Hill," the " Friends' Meeting 
on Society Hill," the <^ Theatre (in 1 759) on Society Hill," "George 
Wells' place on Society Hill, near the Swedes' church," kc. The 
name, we take for granted, was derived from the ''Free Society 
of Traders," who originally owned all the land "from river to riv- 
er, lying between Spruce and Pine streets," including of course 
part of the prominent hill once a knoll at and about Pine and Front 
streets. The aged Thomas Bradford, however, suggests that it 
rook its name from the Welsh Society of Landholders, who, he 
says, once had a residence there in a large long building made by 
them. As I never met with any other mention of such a Society 
and building, I can only speak ofit as his opinion. 

* Mr. Powell, who dwelt there about that time, to encourage the establishment of the 
market there, used to give out he would buy all the butter which should be left unsold on 
market days. His ancestor, Samuel Powell, built the row of houses on the north side of 
Pine street, east of Second street ; and although three stories, they brought but I5j6. rent, 
seventy years ago ! 



WESTERN COMMONS, &c* 



WITHIN tlie sirort period of 35 years of the memory of tlie 
writer, the progress of change and improvement in the western 
bounds of tiie city have been \cvy great. If we take a survey of 
that section of the city lying south of Walnut street and west- 
ward of sixth street, we sliali say tiiat it does not exceed 25 years 
since all the houses out Walnut' street were built, a still shorter 
period for those out S])ruce street, and still later than cither out 
I'ine street. Before the houses were built tliey were generally 
open commons, clothed with short grass for cows and swine, k.c. 

When the Roman Catholic churcli, at the corner of Sixth and 
Spruce streets was built, it was deemed far out of town, — a long and 
muddy walk, for there were then no streets paved near to it, and 
no houses were then nigh. From this neiglibourhood to the 
Pennsylvania Hospital, then having its front of access on its east- 
ern gate, was quite beyond civilization. There were not streets 
enough marked through the waste lots in tlie western parts of the 
city to tell a traveller on what square he was travelling. James- 
town weeds and briars then abounded. 

We shall be within bounds to say, that 25 years ago so few- 
owners enclosed their lots towards Schuylkill, that tlie street 
roads of Walnut, Spruce, and Pine streets, &c. could not be traced 
by the eye beyond Broad street, and even it was then known but 
upon paper drafts. Roads traversed the commons at the conveni- 
ence of the traveller ; and brick kilns and their ponds were the 
chief enclosures or settlements that you saw. The whole area, 
however, was very verdant and of course agreeable in summer. 

Tlie ground forming the square from Chesnut street to Walnut 
street, and from Sixtli to Seventh streets, was all a grass meadow 
under fence, down to the year 1794,* when it was sold out for the 
benefit of the Gilpin and Fislier families. On the Chesnut street 
side it was high, and had steps of ascent cut into the bank, and 
across it went a footpath as a short cut to the Almshouse out 
Spruce street ; towards the Walnut street side, the gi'ound declined, 
so as in winter to form a little ice-pond for the skaters near the 
north west corner of Sixth and Walnut streets. On page 238 of 

• Persons of but CO years of age, remember it when they were accustomed as boys to 
gather blackberries t"herc. 



424 fyestern Cummons, Sfc. 

my MS. Annals in tiie City Library, is a picture of a military 
parade as seen there in 1795, and showing that tlien there was 
nothing but open field — the fences being tlien renio\ed. The only 
houses to be sf.cn. were the low brick building once the Logan 
Library, on Sixth street — in 1793 mad«» an asylum for tlie or- 
phans, — and the Episcopal Academy, built in 1780, on Cl'.csnut 
street, vis a vis the Arcade, com ei-ted afterwards into Oellei-'s 
hotel. About tiic year 1797 or 8. "Rickett's Circus," of brick . w as 
constructed upon tlie soutli west coiner of Chesnut and Si'-th 
streets, w hich burnt down in 1799. As it stood vis a vis t!ie Ciies- 
nut street Theatre, and combined theatrical fai'ces. it excited ri- 
valship. The Tiieatre, to cast tiie Circus into ridirule used to 
exhibit *' scrub races/' and performances, called " Aci-ossthe Gut- 
ter." 

At the south east corner of Seventh and Chesnut streets, where 
Wain's house was afterwards ei'CTted. stood an old red painted 
frame house, looking strangely to the eye, by being elevated at its 
ground floor full fifteen feet liigher than the common level oi" tfie 
street. By cutting through the street there, the whole cellar stood 
exposed, and the house was got up to by acoai-se flight of steps on 
the outside of the house. Tlie next square beyond, westwai-d, ^vas 
Norris' pasture lot, wliere the boys sometimes made their battle 
ground — afterwards made into Morris' square, to ruin him i?i tlic 
erection of an intended palace. On the north west corner ofClies- 
nut and Scventli streets was a high grass lot in a rail fence extiMid- 
ing half-way to Eighth street. Except one or two brick houses at 
the corner of Eighth street, vou met not another house to 
Schuylkill. 

There were no houses built out Arch or Race street, save here 
and there a mean low box, of wood, beyond Sixtli street, — of course 
no pavements, but wide ranges of grass commons "close cropt by 
nibbling sheep." None of the present regular and genteel rows in 
long lines of uniformity, w ere know n there beyond 25 years ago ; 
and those now beyond Tenth street are the fabric of the last ten 
years. 

'Tis but lately that about sixty large houses have been construct- 
ed by William Sansom, Esq. and othei's, at t!ic place called Pal- 
myra Square, out Vine street beyond Tenth street. Twenty years 
ago, or even fifteen, to have made sucli an investment of capital 
would have been deemed gross folly, but now such is the march of 
improvement westward, that the houses arc all occupied, and the 
whole is fairly united to what was before the older city. 

From the west side of Fourtli street north of Vine street out to 
Spring Garden, except a row of two story brick houses called the 
*' Sixteen Row" on the present Crown street, there was not to be 
seen a single house, nor any line of a street, — it was all green 
commons, without any fences any where, till you got among the 
butchers at Spring Garden, where they formed a little village far 



If^estern Commons, ^c. 425 

oj" by theviselves. From the corner of Vine and Sixth streets the 
commons was traversed to Peg^'s run in a north easterly direc- 
tion by a deep and wide ravine— the same route in which a concealed 
tunnel is now embedded. 

Finally, we shall close this article by some of the observations 
and musings of Robert Proud the historian, made by him in the 
year 1787, as he made bis walk over these western ranges, at a 
period anterior to those scenes and impressions, which I have also 
attempted to trace. They may afford soma interest by their com- 
parison with things now. >yithal it comes to us like the visit of 
an old friend, and leaves us almost the only si)ecimen we have from 
the historian — of the picturesfiuc or sensitive, to wit : 

In the afternoon of the 18th of « mo. 1787, I left the place of my usual 
residence in Fifth street, about three o'clock in the afternoon; I went up 
Arch street two or three squares, from which, turning up to Race street, 
I passed between the brick-kilns and Byrns', then turning to the right I 
proceeded directly to Vine street, or the north boundary of the city plan, 
which led me westward to near the place called Bush Hill, formerly the 
property of Governor Hamilton, where, opposite to his former man- 
sion house, I went over the fence, and stood and sometimes walked un- 
der a grove of trees for about a quarter of an hour. 

Here I contemplated a small water-course which run pleasantly under 
these trees, near Vine street, south of Hamilton's house, and which, as 
far as I could here observe, came hither from the north east through 
some low meadows, and in appearance might probably originate some- 
where about John Pemberton's ground, near Wissabiccon road, westward 
of Joseph Morris' old villa. From the place where I now was, this 
stream runs west, southward, to the Schuylkill, being increased in its pas- 
sage by some springs issuing from the high grounds about Bush Hill 
and Springetsbury, &c. but wasting nearly in proportion. 

I thence passed on within tlie fence, in Hamilton's meadow, to the 
western boundary of the field, and westward of the house; from thence 
turning north I kept that course, between Springetsbury and Bush Hill, 
along the eastern side of the fence, or Hamilton's western boundary, where 
grew many plants, shrubs, bushes, wild flowers. Sec. watered by a small 
stream, issuing from the springs in the higher grounds, a little above, 
northward, — here I broke off a sprig of American willow, observing 
along the water-course a variety of plants and wild flowers, and raising 
divers v/ild fowl on passing along, till I ascended the high ground, north- 
westwaid from Hamilton's house aforesaid. From thence turning round 
on the right hand above, or northward of the place where the gardens 
formerly belonging thereto used to be, I directed my course towards the 
east, observing, as before, many plants and flowers in bloom. 

But what more particularly drew my notice and reflection in this 
place, was, in observing the ground formerly occupied by pleasant large 
gardens, walks, groves and woods, now all naked and desolate, without 
a tree, and laid in common, like a barren wilderness or desert, heighten- 
ed by the sight of the ruins at the place called the Vineyard, near the 
same — the woods entirely gone, fences down, the garden places covered 
with Avild shrubs and bushes, and joined to the common ground, a kind 
3 K 



426 IFestern Commons, <§-c. 

of general desolation ! 8cc, a few years ago exhibiting a very diff«rent 
appearance to me, when t have visited those then pleasant places, &c. 
now affording cause of solemn reflection on the transitoriness and uncer- 
tainty of human affairs, besides the neglectful management of the present 
owner, which may properly bear such strictures as at present I forbear 
to make. 

Passing along, eastward, through divers fields now laid in commons, 
fences down, &c. I directed my course towards the city, here in full view 
from one end of it to the other, appearing, as it were, under or lower than 
my feet, — a beautiful prospect ; thence going right forward over divers 
fields, I came to John Pemberton's ground in a lower situation, where I 
stood awhile to look about and consider where I was ; for at first I did 
not know, though I had often been here many years ago; so great a 
change had taken place, even in this part of the vicinity of Philadelphia, 
&c. In this ground 1 noticed a spring of water which I had formerly 
observed when here ; this spring in its course from its fountain forms a 
pretty large stream running towards the city, to a still lower ground ; I 
followed it till I came to a low place, where it divides into two. One 
stream manifestly appeared to me to run south westward towards Schuyl- 
kill, asbeforeobserved, south of Hamilton's house or Bush Hill, and the 
other, eastward to the Delaware, neither of them appearing to have much 
fall or descent, except the former, where it approaches near Schuylkill. 
I followed the latter through divers fields, till I came near the brick-kilns 
before observed, when this stream, crossing the Wissahiccon road, forms 
what is called Pegg's run, and falls into Delaware river northward of the 
city plan. 

From my observation it appeared to me, that probably by means of 
these two streams, and other circumstances, which two streams manifest- 
ly appear to form at present one water-course between the two rivers, 
aided by other springs issuing from the high lands about Bush Hill and 
Springetsbury, &c. a very useful canal of water might easily be effected, 
and that without very much expense, to the great future utility of the city 
and vicinity in divers respects, all the way or space between the two 
rivers, at or near the boundary of the city plan, where the ground is 
lowest. 

From this place I came home by David Rittcnhouse's new dwelling, 
north west corner of Arch and Eighth streets; after this I immediately 
wrote these notes, — this in the space of an hour and an half nearly, slowly 
walking, and sometimes standing. 



427 



SPRINGS. 

" Yet often from the afiring the draught is soughty 
Which here to all doth freely Jlow unbought." 

Mackin's poem — 1729. 

PENN expressed his surprise, when here, at our numerous 
brooks, and added besides, "There are mineral waters, which op- 
erate like Barnet and J\*orth Hall, tliat are not two miles from Phil- 
adelphia." Gabriel Thomas too, in his description of 1698, speaks 
probably of the same springs, saying : "Not two miles from the 
metropolis are purging waters that pass by siege and urine, all out 
as good as Epsom." The idea of some good springs about the city 
was also expressed in tiie motto above, from Thomas Mackin's 
Latin poem, descriptive of Philadelphia in 1729. At this day none 
have any knowledge of any existing springs, and almost as little 
of any tliat are past. When Dr. Bond came to Philadelphia to 
settle as a physician in 1734, he found such fine chalybeates near 
the city as to attract his admiration ; and it is known that he 
gave much encouragement to tlieir free use by the sick and infirm. 

Having never been able to find one person who had any idea of 
the location of any of the springs so clearly referred to in the above 
citations, I have felt myself stimulated to find out, if possible, all 
and every case of springs, at any time formerly known to tlic an- 
cients. I give the following facts, to wit : 

" The Mineral Springs" I presume to liave been the same tound 
at "Bath town," in the Northern Liberties, and at a run a little 
this side of "Lemon Hill" seat, near the Schuylkill. The latter 
at present excites little or no attention ; the former was brought 
into much celebrity by the influence of Dr. Kearsley. In the year 
1765, we see an advertisement of John White and wife, who ad- 
vertise tlieir bath at the town of Bath, saying they will provide 
refreshments for those who visit it ; and they hope, from the vir- 
tues of the water, to answer the salutary purposes which the Founder 
[Dr. Kearsley,] originally intended. Their house at that day stood 
on a pleasant farm, called White's farm, having about the house a 
grove of grateful shade— itself on a green bank gently declining into 
the Cohocksinc creek. The house was sometimes called the ' ' Rxjse 
of Bath," because of the sign of a rose attached to the house. The 
house is now standing, dismantled of all its former rural and at- 
tractive charms, a two story brick building, on the next lot north 
of the Methodist church in St. John street : and the spring, now 
obliterated, once flowed on the south side of that church, on ground 



428 Springa. 

now converted into a tanyard by Pritchet, nearly due east from 
the Third street stone bridge. The spring, over wliich Dr. Kears 
ley had erected a bath house, stood about twenty to twenty-five feet 
west from the line of St. John street, on the southern side of the 
tanyard, as I have been told. I mention the location with sucIj 
particularity, that it may at some day cause a better speculation foi 
some of our citizens, to revive it there by digging or boring, than 
that of ** Jacob's Well" at New York. "The town of Bath," so 
imposing in name, never existed but on ciiarts. It was a specula 
tion once to make a town there, but it did not take. 

Under the article " Pegg's Run" I have already spoken largely 
of an extraordinary spring there, the property of Prosper Martin, 
which is also of purging quality, though not a chalybeate, throw- 
ing out sixty thousand gallons of water a day! This also was near 
the line of St. John street. 

Bathsheba's "• Spring and Bower," sometimes called " Bath and 
Bower," near the junction of Little Dock and Second streets, has 
been described elsewhere under the article " Loxley's House." 

Dock creek in early days abounded with springs, and I have 
been able to trace as many as three of them on the western side, to 
wit : At Morris' brewery, now called Abbott's, at the junction of 
Pear street and Dock street, there is now a spring arched over, 
which has a vault from it into the great tunnel. The fact was told 
to me by Timothy Matlack, who had it so covered in his early 
days, when once concerned in that brewery. They once esteemed 
their beer as surpassing that of any in the city, from the use of that 
spring, which they then concealed and kept a secret. It stood 
twenty feet cast from the east end of the brewhouse premises, and fif- 
teen feet back from the street. With such a guide I was after- 
wards enabled to detect some issues from it in the cellar of the 
eating-house now on the place. 

The late aged Owen Jones, Esq. told me he remembered a spring 
in the cellar of a brewhouse on the western side of Dock street, 
nearly opposite the present Custom House. 

There was formerly an excellent and much used spring on the 
west side of Dock creek, nearly due west from the Drawbridge. 
It may now be found under a platform in the area of the cellar door 
aj)pertaining to tbe stone house late of Levi Hollingsworth. John 
Townsend, an aged Friend, who died four oi* five years ago, told 
me, wiien in his 78th year, that he well remembered when the 
spring was open, and was much visited by boatmen, to take in 
their water for sea voyages. It had seats around it, and some shade 
trees about it. Thomas Brown, a Friend, afterwards built the 
stone h(mse there, having previously built a frame house in front 
of it, which was pulled down, as lying beyond the proper line of 
the street. 

The present aged Colonel A. J. Morris, now ninety years of age, 
told me he well remembered the spring which he presumed gave 



Spnngs. 429 

name to ''Spring Garden.'' He saw it in his youth \\l»cn there was 
no village there, but so much in nature's wildness, that he hunted 
birdsnests, and got stung by some iiorncts, whose nests he was in- 
specting. At that time he knew an elderly lady who told him that 
when she was young she and other company used to go up Pegg's 
run, then beautifully rural, and lined with shrubbery,* going in a 
boat up to tlie sj)ring at its source, and there drinking their tea and 
making their regale in a place of great rural attraction. As early 
as the year 1723, I observe "the liouse and land called Spring 
Garden, well known to most people, is offered for sale by Dr. 
Francis Gandovet." 

In tite year 1773 the citizens were much excited to the admira- 
tion of a fine mineial spring accidentally discovered on the lot of 
ground at the north cast corner of Ciiesnut and Sixth streets, now 
the premises of P. S. Duponceau, Esq. It was then ])ronounced, 
"from many accurate experiments then made, to exceed in strength 
any chalybeate in the country." While it enjoyed its fame many 
were supposed to have been benefited, but in a little while they dis- 
covered it owed its character to the remains of a sunken j)it. 

The present aged Joseph Crukshank told me he was shown by 
the aged Mr. Pearson, formerly City Surveyor, w here a creek run 
into the Schuylkill, somewhere niglt or between Pine and South 
street. It was then dry and partially filled up. But, he believes, 
liis kinsman, who now occupies a steam engine at the corner of 
Pine and Schuylkill Seventh street, derives his well-water from the 
liidden springs of that creek, as they have a surprising supply 
even when the wells around have generally failed. 

The house of Christopher Marshall, in Carter's alley, north side, 
has had a good spring in its cellar, even from its foundation. And 
his daughter, Mrs. Haines, told me that the well of the ])ump on 
Chcsnut street, a little west of Second street, had such a peculiar 
character many years ago, that Mr. West, at Vine street, who 
salted up provisions, used to send there for the w atcr used in pick- 
ling his meat. 

There was a powerful spring, now covered with a pump, at the 
corner of Dock street and Go-forth alley, in the rear of the Bank 
of Pennsylvania. It was discovered about 35 years ago, in dig- 
ging there a pump-well. All the ground was alluvial to the depth 
of 28 feet, and no appearance of water ; but in striking in the 
spade below that depth, still in alluvial soil, the water spouted up 
powei'fully, and rose so rapidly, to 15 feet, that they could never 
pump it dry enough to be able to build the well wall. The spring 
was excellent. Mr. Thomas Dixey, who told me these facts, then 
had a wooden curb sunk, and settled a brick wall in it. 

• SoQie scrubby remains of these I can even remember in my time ; and along the race 
of Craig's factory, and at his dam, the usual water bank shrubbery abounded, such as alder 
and rose bushes. 



GARDENS. 



UNDER this head we shall present slight notices of places 
conspicuous in their day, as places of observation or resort. 

The garden belonging to Isaac Norris at Fairhill, was kept up 
in fine cultivation as early as the year 1718. F. D. Pastorius, who 
was himself distinguished at Germantown as a terri cultore, gives 
the praise of Fairhill garden to the wife,— saying to her and her 
sisters, as daughters of Governor Thomas Lloyd, — '' I write an 
article respecting the treating of gardening, flowers and trees, 
knowing that you are lovers of gardens, — the one keeping the finest 
(at Fairhill) I hitherto have seen in the whole country, filled with 
abundance of rarities, physical and metaphysical, — the other a 
pretty little garden much like mine own, producing chiefly cordi- 
al, stomachic and culinary herbs." 

Of his own garden, Pastorius, who was a German, a scholar and 
a poet, thus speaks at Germantown— 

»-, . What wonder you then 

That F. D. P. likewise here many hours spends, 

And, having no money, on usury lends, 

To's garden and orchard and vineyard such times, 

Wherein he helps nature and nature his rhymes, 

Because they produce him both victuals and drink, 

Both med'cine and nosegays, both paper and ink." 

His poetry having been written in different colours, he remarks, 
that of turmerick and elder leaves 

« He forms his red and green, as here is seen." 

The taste which governed at the Fairhill place most probably 
inspired the fine arrangements of the garden grounds of "Norris' 
garden in the city, on the site of the present Bank of the United 
States, there occupying nearly half the square, and when still out 
of town, alluring strangers and people of taste to visit it. 

In the olden time, gardens, where they sold " balm-beer and 
cakes," were common as places of resort. Such a one of pecu- 
liar celebrity, called the '< Cheese-cake-house," once occupied the 
ground on the west side of Fourth street opposite to the Lutheran 
church— having there many apple and cherry trees, arbours and 
summer-houses, extending from Cherry street to Apple-tree alley 
— names probably derived from the place which they now serve to 
commemorate. The Cake-house was ancient. 



Gardens. 431 

There was a small " Mead -house" long known up Higli street, 
t>i$ a vis to Markoe's, above Ninth street. It was chiefly re- 
markable for its enormously large button wood trees. 

<* Cherry Garden," down on Society Hill, in the parlance of 
its day, was a place of much fame as a place of recreation. It was 
a large garden fronting on Front street vis a vis to Shippen street, 
occupying half the square and extending down to the river. The 
small house of one story brick, in wluch the refreshments were 
sold, is now standing with its dead wall on the line of Front street. 
In 1756, it was advertised for sale as the property of Harrison, 
who advertised to sell off some of it in lots " on Front and Water 
streets to the river in Cherry Garden." Colonel Morris spoke of 
it as he remembered it in the time of Clifton as its owner — said it 
had abundance of every shrubbery and greenhouse plants. See a 
picture of the house in my MS. Annals in the City Library, p. 282. 

Clement Plumstead, Esq. Alderman, kc. had a finely cultivated 
garden, distinguished in its day, at the north west corner of Front 
and Union street. In January, 1729, it was thus noticed in the 
Gazette, viz. ** Some vile miscreants one night this week got into 
the fine gardens of C. P. and cut down many of the fine trees there." 

The Spring Garden has been described under the article of its 
spring for which it was once famed. 

There were once a range of beautiful sloping gardens, declining 
from Front street houses into Dock creek, so as to be seen by 
passengers along the western side of Dock street. They belonged 
to Stedman, Cunningham, and others. They were seen by T. 
Matlack and such aged persons. 

At Turner's country-seat, called *' Wilton," down in the Neck, 
was some remarkable garden cultivation, inviting the strangers 
visiting the city to inspect it, which has been noticed in connexion 
with the premises, under the article ** Country Seats." 

Gray's garden, at Schuylkill ferry, about the time of the Revo- 
lution, then enjoyed the last and greatest fame. 



FONDS & SKATING PLACES. 



" The playful days of other years like shadows stole." 

TO those Mho still feel they '' love the play-place of their early 
•lays," it may afford some interest to see herein revived the recol- 
lection of those places, where on *' sounding skates" they once 
made their vigorous and gladdening speed. I speak only of those 
once within the present thiekly inhabited places, to wit : 

There used to be a deep pond at the north east corner of Arch 
and Eiglith streets, close by wliat was once called Dr. Church's 
family burying ground on Arch street. Another was on the south 
side of Arch street above Seventh street, called " Everly's pond." 

There v^as "■ Evans' pond" on the north side of Race street ex- 
tending back to Branch street. 

A- small pond lay at the north west corner of Arch and Fourtli 
streets. 

A pond, called ''Hudson's pond," lay at the north west corner 
of High stieet and Fifth street. Another lay near it, called "• Kin- 
scy's pond," on the south side of High street between it and Minor 
street at tiic western end. 

Pegg's run had ponds in the marsh there, always much visited 
and celebrated, of which mention has been made under the article 
*' Pegg's Run." 

Colonel A. J. Morris, now 90 years of age, formerly told me of 
his skating on a deep pond on the west side of Third street above 
Pine street; and Owen Jones, nearly as old as him, told me of a 
poTul once on the site where Duche's lot on the opposite side of 
Tliird street was formed. There he once saw an enraged bull drove 
in by dogs and pursuers. The fact of former much lower grounds 
on the western side of Third street is even now evidenced by a 
house in Union street, still standing fully two feet lower than the 
j)rescnt street. 

The foiegoing were generally such ponds as had been previ- 
ously formed by brick-kilns, or by i-aising streets higher than 
some miry lots. They were generally of that period when skated 
upon by such aged^crsons as Colonel Morris, TImmas Bradford. 
Alexander Fullerton. These spoke of them to me. 

Both Morris and Fullerton spoke to me of the " Great Blue- 



Ponds and Skating Places. 435 

house pond,"* at tlie south east corner of South and Ninth or 
Tenth streets. It was surrounded hy numerous willow trees, the 
great stumps of which even now remain there, although the former 
appearance of the pond is almost ohliterated. From that pond, 
they concurred in saving they could skate hy a continued line of 
water down to its outlet at Little Dock creek, hy the way of the 
present St. Peter's church in Pine street— then the whole range 
being in commons. This long water communication only showed 
itself in the winter seasons or in heavy raijis. 

Mr. Thomas White, now hut 63 years of age, tells me he used 
to skate at ♦' Nevill's pond," laying front of the present Presby- 
terian church in Pine street, and extending to Spruce street up to 
Fiftli street. He also skated on a pond on the north side of Spruce 
street, up to St. Mary's cliurch, and reaching neaidy fi'om Fourth 
to Fifth street. 

Those ponds and those days are no more ! The youths who 
sported on their mirror surface, have gone or are going hence- 
Those who survive may even yet— 

« Be mov'd amidst the shifting scene 

To smile on childhood's thoughtless joy, 

And wish they had forever been 

A careless, laughing, happy boy !" 

*The blue house was an old inn on the opposite corner. 



3 L 



FIRES & FIRE-BI^GIIVES. 



" Red flames and blaze there all amaze." 

IN 1683, William Penn speaks of a fire in the city, in which 
the newly arrived Germans were sufferers, and proposes a sub- 
scription for their relief. 

1711 — Samuel Preston, the Mayor, acquaints the Board of 
Council that he has frequently had in his consideration, the many 
providences this city has met with, in that fires that have so often 
happened, have done so little damage. He thinks it is our duty to 
use all possil)le means to prevent and extinguish fires for the 
future, by providing of buckets, hooks, engines, &c. which being 
considered, it is the opinion of the Board that such instruments 
sliould be provided ; the manner of doing it is referred to the next 
Council. 

1724 — The Grand Jury recommend the repair of the water engine, 
and that the city ladders, buckets, &c. be kept in order. 

1730 — A fire broke out in a store near Mr. Fishbourne's wharf, 
and consumed all the stores there, damaged several houses on that 
side of the street, and crossing the way seized the fine house of 
Jonathan Dickinson witli two others towards Walnut street, whicli 
are all ruined. The loss is 5000^9. The area was for 20 years 
afterwards called Dickinson's burnt buildings. — [The site was the 
same, in modern times, called Ross' buildings,'in Front street, south 
of Walnut street, eastern side.] A subscription was forthwith set 
on foot *'to supply the town" with everything requisite to put out 
fires. ' * It was then thought that if the people had had good engines 
the fire might have beeji put down." This was the greatest fire ex- 
perienced. 

The same year we find by the minutes of Council that fire ma- 
terials were speedily procured, to wit : 

Thomas Oldman produced a leather fire bucket as a sample : 
Av hereupon they agree to pay him 9 shillings apiece for 100 buckets. 
The Mayor, soon after, acquainted the Board that the two fire en- 
gines and 250 fire buckets sent for to England had arrived in July, 
and requests a provision of suitable places for their reception. 

Whereupon it was ordered tijat the buckets be hung up in the 
court house and that measures be used to place the engines, t« wit : 
— one at the corner of the great meeting house yard (south west cor- 
ner of Second and High street)— one at Francis Jones' lot, corner 



Fires and Fire- Engines. 4 35 

of Front and Walnut streets, and the old engine, in a corner of t!ic 
Baptist Meeting yard, Second street near Arch street. Wc can 
perceive by this distribution that there were but three engines in 
all, (two having just arrived) and shows that the great tire just 
before, had had but one engine to lielp to subdue it ! 

1735 — A writer in the Gazette says respecting fires: We have at 
present got engines enougli, but I question if water enough can be 
had to keep tliem going, in many places, for half an hour. It seems 
to me some public pumps are wanting. At the same time he ad- 
vises the forming of fire companies. 

1736 — The houses of "Budd's long row" (north of the Draw- 
bridge in Front street) took fire, and threatened to consume the 
whole, but the engines were worked successfully. 

1738 — Benjamin Franklin instituted the first fire company or- 
ganized in Philadelphia. 

1753 — By an advertisement in the Gazette, I sec that *' baskets 
and bags of the fire companies'* are called upon to be returned. 
Thus showing tlie early use of them, as we used to sec them hung 
up in the old halls and entries where now our ladies hang elegant 
lamps. 

I give in conclusion a list of fires occurring in Philadelphia 
during the years 1821 to *24 inclusive, making a total of 96 cases. 
It may be curious hereafter as a matter of reference. The facts 
were derived from official minutes. 

J^umber of Jires in each month of the following tjears : — 
1821. 1823. 1823. 1824. Totals. 



January, . 
February, . 
March, 


. 
. 3 

4 


1 
2 

I 


3 
7 

4 


1 
2 
5 


5 

14 
U 


April, 
May, 
June, . 


4 

. 3 

4 


1 
2 



4 
4 
3 


3 




12 
9 
7 


July, . . 
August, 
September, 
October, . 


3 
. 

2 
. 3 


1 
2 
3 
3 


2 
2 
1 





1 




6 
5 
6 
6 


November, 


2 


2 








4 


December, 


1 


4 


I 


2 


8 


Totals, . . 


. 29 


22 


31 


14 


96 



The fires which happened in the latter part of 1822 and begin- 
ning of 1823, were, generally, supposed to be the work of incen- 
diaries. 

The only fires of consequence, which occurred during the year 
1824, are two — March 29th, in Front above Arch street, and 
April 18th, in Second below Market street. 

The present manner of subduing fires presents an aspect quite 



436 Fires and Fire-Engines, 

different from former doings in such cases. Wlien there were no 
hose in use and no hydrants, but only pumps and buckets to keep 
the engines supplied, the scene was much more busy than now. 
Few or no idlers could be seen as lookers-on. They made long 
lines of people to '' hand along the buckets,'* and if the curious and 
the idle attempted to pass, the cry was passed along the line — 
"' fall in ! fall in !" If disregarded, a bucket of water was discharged 
upon them. Then it was quite common to see numerous women 
in the ranks, and it was therefore the more provoking to see others 
giving no help, but urging their way as near to the fires as they 
could. Next day was a fine affair for the boys to look out all the 
buckets they knew of their several neighbourhoods, and carry thenfi 
home. The street posts too, all along the streets, far from the 
fire, could be seen capt here and there with a stray bucket, asking 
for its owner ' 



INDIANS. 



-A swarthy tribe — 



Slipt from the secret hand of Providence, 

They come, we see not how, nor know we whence ; 

That seem'd created on the spot — though born, 

In transatlantic climes, and thither brought, 

By paths as covert as the birth of thought 1" 

THERE is in the fate of these unfortunate beings, much to awakere 
our sympathy, and much to disturb the sobriety of our judgment, 
much in their characters to incite our invohintary a(hniration. 
What can be more melancholy than their history ! By a law of 
their nature, they seem destined to a slow but sure extinction. 
Every where at the approach of the white man, they fade away. 
We hear the rustling of their footsteps, like that of the witliered 
leaves of autumn; and themselves, like "the scar and yellow 
leaf," ai'e gone forever ! 

Once the smoke of their wigwams, and the fires of their councils, 
rose in every valley, from the ocean to the Mississippi and the 
lakes. The shouts of victory and the war dance rung through the 
mountains and the glades. The light arrows and the deadly toma- 
hav/k whistled through the forest ; and the hunter's trace, and the 
dark encampment, startled the wild beasts in their lairs. The 
warriors stood forth in their glory. The young listened to songs 
of other days. The mothers played with their infants, and gazed 
on the scene with warm hopes of the future. Braver men never 
lived— truer men never drew the bow. They had courage and for- 
titude, and sagacity and perseverance, beyond most of the human 
race. They shrunk from no dangers, and they feared no hard- 
ships. They were inured, and capable of sustaining every peril, 
and surmounting every obstacle for sweet country and home. But 
with all this, inveterate destiny has unceasingly driven them 
hence ! 

" Forc'd from the land that gave them birth, 
They dwindle from the face of earth 1" 

If they had the vices of savage life, they had the virtues also. 
They were true to their country, their friends and their homes. 
If they forgave not injury under misconceptions of duty, neither 
did they forget kindness — 

" Faithful alike to friendship or to hate," 



438 Indians. 

If their vengeance was terrible, their fidelity and generosity were 
unconquerable also. Their love, like their hate, stopped not on 
this side of the grave. But \There are they now? — Perished ! con- 
sumed ! 



-The glen or hill, 



Their cheerful whoop has ceas'd to thrill !" 

The wasting pestilence has not alone done this mighty work ; 
no, nor famine, nor war. There has been a mightier power — a 
moral canker which hath eaten into their vitals — a plague which the 
touch ofthe baser part of our white men have communicated — apoi- 
son, which betrayed them into a lingering ruin. Already the last fee- 
ble remnants of the race are preparing for their journey beyond the 
Mississippi. I see them leave their long cherished homes; "few 
and fiiint, yet fearless still," they turn to take a last look of their 
deserted villages, a last glance at the groves of their fathers. 
They shed no tears ; they utter no cries ; they heave no groans. 
There is something in their hearts which surpasses speech; there is 
something in their looks, not of vengeance or submission, but of hard 
necessity, which stifles both — which chokes all utterance — which 
has no aim or method. It is courage absorbed in despair.* 

If such be the traces we may draw of Indian character, being 
ourselves tiie judges, what might it not be, if told by themselves, 
liad they but our art of letters and the aid of an eloquent press ! 
Few or none among themselves can tell their tale of ** wrong and 
outrage."' Yet a solitary case does exist, which, while it shows 
their capability of mental improvement, shows also in affecting 
terms, their just claims to our generosity and kindness. 

The beautiful and energetic letter, of April, 1824, to the people 
and Congress ofthe United States, by the Cherokee natives and 
Representatives at Wasliington city, has some fine touches of re- 
iined eloquence to this effect— saying, of their communications, they 
!»avebeen <* the lonely and unassisted efforts of the poor Indian ; for 
we arc not so fortunate as to have such help — wherefore that letter 
and every other letter was not only written but dictated by an 
Indian. The white man seldom comes forth in our defence. Our 
rights are in our own keeping, and the proofs of our loneliness, of 
our bereaved and helpless state, unknown to the eye of prejudice, 
having set us upon our resources, is known to those benevolent 
white brothers who came to our help with letters, and the lights of 
civilization and Christianity. Our letters (we repeat it) are our 
own, and if they are thought too refined for "Savages," let the 
white man take it for proof, that, with proper assistance, Indians 
can think and write for themselves." Signed — John Ross, and 
three others. 

The Indians were always the friends of Miquon, of Onas — of 
our forefathers ! It was their greatest pleasure to cultivate mutual 

* These introdttctoiy sentiments are generally from the leading ideas of Judge Story. 



Indians. 439 

good will and kindness. — '^None ever entered the cabin of Logan 
hungry, and he gave hiui no meat ; or cold, or naked, and he gave 
him no clothes !" Grateful hearts must cherish kindly recollections 
of a too often injured race. We arc tliercforc disposed, as Tejinsyl- 
vanians, to treasure up some few of the facts least known of them, 
in the times by-gone of our annals. 

We begin with tlieir primitive character and habits as seen by 
William Penn, and told in his letter of August, 1683, to the Free 
Society of Traders. 

The natives I shall consider in their persons, language, manners, reli- 
gion and government, with my sense of their original. For their persons, 
they are generally tall, straight, well-built, and of singular proportion; 
they tread strong and clever, and mostly walk with a lofty chin. Of 
complexion, black, but by design ; as the Gypsies in England. They 
grease themselves with bear's fat clarified ; and using no defence against 
sun, or weather, their skins must needs be swarthy. Their eye is litde 
and black, not unlike a straight-looked Jew. The thick lip, and flat 
nose, so frequent with the East Indians and blacks, are not common to 
them : for I have seen as comely European-like faces among them, of 
both, as on your side the sea ; and truly an Italian complexion hath not 
much more of the white, and the noses of several of them have as much 
of the Roman. 

Their language is lofty, yet narrow ; but, like the Hebrew, in signifi- 
cation full; like short-hand, in writing, one word serveth in the place of 
three, and the rest are supplied by the understanding of the hearer: im-* 
perfect in their tenses, wanting in their moods, participles, adverbs, con- 
junctions, interjections. I have made it my business to understand it, 
that I might not want an interpreter, on any occasion ; and I must say, 
that I know not a language spoken in Europe, that hath words of more 
sweetness, or greatness in accent and emphasis, than theirs. 

Of their customs and manners, there is much to be said ; I will begin 
with children ; so soon as they are born, they wash them in water ; and 
while very young, and in cold weather, they plunge them in the rivers, 
to harden and embolden them. The children will go very young, at 
nine months commonly ; if boys, they go a fishing till ripe for the woods ; 
which is about fifteeen ; then they hunt, and after having given some proofs 
of their manhood, by a good return of skins, they may marry ; else it is a 
shame to think of a wife. The girls stay with their mothers, and help 
to hoe the ground, plant corn, and carry burdens ; and they do well to 
use them to that young, which they must do when they are old ; for the 
wives are the true servants of the husbands ; otherwise the men are very 
affectionate to them. 

When the young women are fit for marriage, they wear something 
upon their heads, for an advertisement, but so as their faces are hardly 
to be seen, but when they please. The age they marry at if women, is 
about thirteen and fourteen ; if men, seventeen and eighteen ; they are 
rarely elder. 

Their houses are mats, or barks of trees, set on poles, in the fashion 
of an English barn; but out of the power of the winds; for they are 
hardly higher than a man ; they lie on reeds, or grass. In travel they 



440 Indians, 

lodge in the woods, about a great fire, with the mantle of duffils they 
wear by day wrapt about them, and a few boughs stuck round them. 

Their diet is maize, or Indian corn, divers ways prepared ; sometimes 
roasted in the ashes ; sometimes beaten and boiled with water ; which 
they call ho mine ; they also make cakes, not unpleasant to eat. They 
have likewise several sorts of beans and pease, that are good nourish' 
ment; and the woods and rivers are their larder. 

If an European comes to see them, or calls for lodging at their house 
or wigwam, they give him the best place and first cut. If they come to 
visit us, they salute us with an Itah ; which is as much as to say. Good 
be to tjouy and set them down ; which is mostly on the ground, close to 
their heels, their legs upright ; it may be they speak not a word, but ob- 
serve all passages. If you give them any thing to eat or drink, well: for 
they will not ask ; and be it little or much, if it be with kindness, they 
are well pleased, else they go away sullen, but say nothing. 

They are great concealers of their own resentments ; brought to it, 1 
believe, by the revenge that hath been practised among them. 

But, in liberality they excel ; nothing is too good for their friend : give 
them a fine gun, coat, or other thing, it may pass twenty hands before it 
sticks : light^f heart, strong affections, but soon spent. The most merry 
creatures that live, feast and dance perpetually ; they never have much, 
nor want much : wealth circulateth like the blood ; all parts partake ; 
and though none shall want what another hath, yet exact observers of 
property. They care for little ; because they want but little ; and the 
reason is, a little contents them. In this they are sufficiently revenged 
♦ on us : if they are ignorant of our pleasures, they are also free from our 
pains. We sweat and toil to live ; their pleasure feeds them ; I mean 
their hunting, fishing and fowling ; and this table is spread every where. 
They eat twice a day, morning and evening; their seats and table are 
the ground. 

In sickness impatient to be cured, and for it give any thing, especially 
for their children, to whom they are extremely natural : they drink at 
those times a Tesan^ or decoction of some roots in spring-water ; and if 
they eat any flesh, it must be of the female of any creature. If they die, 
they bury them with their apparel, be they man or woman, and the 
nearest of kin fling in something precious with theni, as a token of their 
love : their mourning is blacking of their faces, which they continue for 
a year : they are choice of the graves of their dead ; for lest they should 
be lost by time, and fall to common use, they pick off the grass that 
grows upon them, and heap up the fallen earth with great care and ex 
actness. 

These poor people are under a dark night in things relating to reli- 
gion, to be sure the tradition of it ; yet they believe in a God and im- 
mortality, without the help of metaphysics ; for they say, " There is a 
Great King that made them, who dwells in a glorious country to the 
southward of them ; and that the souls of the good shall go thither, 
where they shall live again." — Their worship consists of two parts, 
sacrifice and cantico : their sacrifice is their first fruits; the first and fat- 
test buck they kill goeth to the fire, where he is all burnt, with a mourn- 
ful ditt>' of him that performeth the ceremony, but with such marvellous 
fervency and labour of body, that he will even sweat to a foam. The 



Indians, 44 1 

other parts is their cantico, performed by round dances, somclimcs 
words, sometimes songs, then shouts, two being in the middle that begin, 
and by singing and drumming on a board, direct the chorus : their 
postures in the dance are very antick, and differing, but all keep measure. 
—This is done with equal earnestness and labour, but great aj^peurance 
of joy. In the fall, when the corn cometh in, they begin to feast one 
another. There have been two great festivals already, to which all come 
that will : I was at one myself. 

Their government is by kings, which they call 5ac/^ama, and those by 
succession, but always of the mother's side : for instance, the children of 
him that is now king, will not succeed, but his brother by the mother, or 
the children of his sister, whose sons (and after them the children of her 
daughters) will reign ; for no woman inherits : the reason they render for 
this way of descent is, that their issue may not be spurious. 

Every king hath his council, and that consists of all the old and wise 
men of his nation ; which perhaps is two hundred people : nothing of 
moment is undertaken, be it war, peace, selling of land, or traffic, with- 
out advising with them ; and which is more, with the young men too. It 
is admirable to consider how powerful the kings are, and yet how they 
move by the breath of their people. I have had occasion to be in coun- 
cil with them upon treaties fcr land, and to adjust the terms of trade. 
Their order is thus : the king sits in the middle of an half moon, and 
hath his council, the old and wise on each hand : behind them, or at a 
little distance, sit the younger fry in the same figure. 

The justice they have is pecuniary : In case of any wrong or evil fact, 
be it murder itself, they atone by feasts, and presents of their Wampum, 
which is proportioned to the quality of the offence or person injured, or 
of the sex they are of: for in case they kill a woman, they pay double, 
and the reason they render, is, " that she breedeth children, which men 
cannot do." It is rare that they fall out, if sober ; and if drunk, they for- 
give it, saying, " it was the drink, and not the man, that abused them." 

We have agreed, that in all differences between uS; six of each side 
shall end the matter : do not abuse them, but let them have justice, and 
you win them : the worst is, that they are the worse for the Christians, 
who have propagated their vices, and yielded them tradition for ill, and 
not for good things- 

For their original, I am ready to believe them of the Jewish race ; I 
mean, of the stock of the ten tribes, and that for the following reasons ; 
first, they were to go to " a land, not planted or known" which, to be 
sure, Asia and Africa were, if not Europe ; and he that intended that 
extraordinary judgment upon them, might make the passage not uneasy 
to them, as it is not impossible in itself, from the easternmost parts of 
Asia, to the westernmost of America. In the next place, I find them of 
like countenance, and their children of so lively resemblance, that a man 
would think himself in Dukes-place, or Berry street in London, when he 
seeth them. But this is not all; they agree in n/e*, they reckon by 
moons ; they offer Xhtir Jirst-fruits ; they have a kind of /ease of taber- 
nacles ; they are said to lay their altar upon twelve atones ; their mourn- 
ing a year., customs of women, with many things that do not now occur. 

Gabriel Thomas in his description of Pennsylvania, as written 
in 1698, says, "The natives of this country are supijoscd by most 
3 M 



442 Indians. 

people, to liave been of the ten scattered tribes, for tbey resemble 
the Jews in the make of their persons and tincture of their com- 
plexions. Tliey observe new moons ; offer their first-fruits to a 
Manitto or supposed deity, whereof they have two — one, as they 
fancy, above — (good) another, below— (bad.) They have a kind of 
feast of tabernacles, laying their altars upon twelve stones. They 
observe a sort of mourning twelve months ; customs of women, 
and many other rites.* They are very charitable to one another 
— the lame and the blind living as well as the best. They are 
also very kind and obliging to the Christians. They have among 
tliem many cui-ious physical wild herbs, roots and drugs of great 
virtue, whicli makes the Indians, in their right use, as able doctors 
as any in Europe." 

Oldmixon says there were in 1684, as many as ten nations of 
Indians in the province of Pennsylvania, comprising 6000 in 
number. 

William Penn held a great Indian treaty, in 1701, with forty 
Indian Chiefs, who came from many nations to Philadelphia to settle 
the friendship. The same year he had also a great Indian Council 
at Pennsbury — to take leave of him — to renew covenants, &c. 

Mrs. Mary Smith's MS. account of the first settlement of Bur- 
lington (herself an eye-witness) thus speaks of the Indians there 
in 1678, saying — "The Indians, very numerous and very civil, 
brought them corn, venison, &c. and bargained also for their land. 
It was said that an old Indian king spoke prophetically before his 
death, and said the English should increase and the Indians should 
decrease !" 

Jacob Taylor's Almanac of 1743 relates, that " An Indian of 
the province, looking at the great comet of 1680, and being asked 
wliat he thought was the meaning of that prodigious appearance, 
answered — */f sigmjies, we Indians shall melt away, and this 
country be inhabited by another sort of people.' This prediction 
the Indian delivered very grave and positive to a Dutchman of 
good I'eputation near Chester, who told it to one, now living, of 
ftill veracity." 

I have compiled from the work of the Swedish traveller, Pro- 
fessor Kalra, his notices of our Indians preceding the year 1748, 
to wit : 

Of their food and mode of living. -^-M.vcn.e, (Indian corn) some kinds 
of beans and melons, made up the sum of the Indians' gardening. Their 
chief support arose from hunting and fishing. Besides these, the oldest 
Swedes related that the Indians were accustomed to get nourishment 
from the following wild plants, to wit : 

Hopniss, so called by the Indians, and also by the Swedes, (the Glycine 
Apios of Linnaeus) they found in the meadows. The roots resembled 
potatoes, and were eaten boiled, instead of bread. 

* It is scarcely possible to read these coincidences of opinion with Penn's, which precede 
it, without thinking of Dr. Boudinftt's Star in West, and his efforts to prove them Jewish. 



Indians. 413 

Katniss, so called by the Indians and Swedes, (a kind of Sagillaria sa- 
gittifolia) was found in low wet ground, had oblong roots nearly as large 
as the fist ; this they boiled or roasted in the ashes. Several Swedes 
said they liked to eat of it in their youth. The hogs liked them much, 
and made them very scarce. Mr. Kalm, who ate of them, thought they 
tasted like potatoes. When the Indians first saw turnips they called 
them katniss too, 

Taw-ho, so called by the Indians and Swedes, (the Arum Virginicum 
or Wake-robin, and poisonous !) grew in moist grounds, and swamps ; 
they ate the root of it. The roots grew to the thickness of a man's 
thigh ; and the hogs rooted them up and devoured them eagerly. The 
Indians destroyed iheir poisonous quality by baking them. They made 
a long trench in the ground, put in the roots and covered them with 
earth, and over them they made a great fire. They tasted somewhat like 
potatoes. 

Taw-kee, so called by the Indians and Swedes, (the Orontium Aquali- 
cum) grew plentifully in moist low grounds. Of these they used the 
seeds, when dried. These they boiled repeatedly to soften them, and 
then they ate somewhat like pease. When they , got butter or milk from 
the Swedes, they boiled them together. 

Bilberries or whortleberries (a species of Vaccinium) was a common 
diet among the Indians. They dried them in the sun, and kept them 
packed as close as currants. 

Of their imfilements for doinestic or field use, — The old boilers 
or kettles of the Indians were either made of clay, or of different kinds 
of pot stone — (Lapis Ollaris.) The former consisted of a dark clay, mixed 
with grains of white sand or quartz, and probably bui'nt in the fire. Many 
of these kettles had two holes in the upper margin ; on each side one, 
through which they passed a stick, and held therewith the kettle over 
the fire. It is remarkable that none of these pots have been found 
glazed either inside or outside. A few of the old Swedes could remem- 
ber to have seen the Indians use such pots to boil their meat in. They 
were made sometimes of a greenish, and sometimes of a greyish pot 
stone ; and some were made of another species of a pyrous stone. They 
were very thin. Mr. Bartram, the botanist, shewed him an earthen pot, 
which had been dug up at a place where the Indians had lived — on the 
, outside it was nmch ornamented. Mr. Bartram had also several broken 
pieces. They were all made of mere clay, in which were mixed, 
according to the convenience of the makers, pounded shells of snails 
and muscles, or of crystals found in the mountains ; it was plain they 
did not burn them much, because they could be cut up with a knife. 
Since the Europeans have come among them, they disuse them, and 
have even lost the art of making them. — [All these remarks much ac- 
cord with the speculations which I have preserved on this subject, 
respecting the potteries found in the tumilii in the western countries.] 

The hatchets of the Indians were made of stone, somewhat of the 
shape of a wedge. This was notched round the biggest end, and to this 
they affixed a split stick for a handle, bound round with a cord. These 
hatchets could not serve, however, to cut any thing like a tree ; their 
means therefore of getting trees for canoes, Sic. was to put a great fire 
round the roots of a big tree to burn it off, and with a swab of rags on a 



444 Indians. 

pole to keep the tree constantly wet above until the fire beloAv burnt it 
off. When the tree was clown, they laid dry branches on the trunk and 
set fire to it, anvl kept swabbing that part of the tree which they did not 
want to burn ; thus the tree burnt a hollow in one place only ; when 
burnt enough, they chipt or scraped it smooth inside with their hatchets, 
or sharp flints, or sharp shells. 

Instead of knives, they used little sharp pieces of flints or quartz, or a 
piece of sharpened bone. 

At the end of their arrows they fastened narrow angulated pieces of 
stone; these were commonly flints or quartz. — [I have such, as well as 
hatchets, in my possession.] Some made use of the claws of birds and 
beasts. 

They had stone pestles of about a foot long and five inches in thick- 
ness ; in these they pounded their maize. Many had only wooden 
pestles. The Indians were astonished beyond measure when they saw 
the first wind-mills to grind grain. They were, at first, of opinion that 
not the wind, but spirits within them gave them their momentum. They 
would come from a great distance, and set down for days near them, to 
wonder and admire at ihem ! 

The old tobacco pipes were made of clay or pot stone, or serpentine 
stone— the tube thick and short. Some were made better, of a very fine 
red pot stone, and were seen chiefly with the Sachems. Some of the old 
Dutchmen at New York preserved the tradition that the first Indians 
seen by the Europeans made use of copper for their tobacco pipes, got 
from the second river near Elizabethtown. In confirmation of this, it was 
observed that the people met with holes worked in the mountains, out of 
which some copper had been taken ; and they even found some tools which 
the Indians probably used for the occasion. They used birds' claws in- 
stead of fishinghooks ; the Swedes saw them succeed in this way. 

Mr. Kalm, who, the reader may observe, was very curious and minute 
in all his investigations, has given a full catalogue of all the trees and 
]ilants he saw in Pennsylvania ; and to these he has often afiixed a 
variety of medical uses to which they were applied by the primitive in- 
habitants ; and also the colours to which many of them were adapted as 
dyes. It is sufficient for my purpose to mention the fact, and to con- 
clude with an unreserved confession of my gratification in having found 
so competent a chronicler of the incidents of the olden time ! 



The Indians made their ropes, bridles, and twine for nets, out 
of a wild weed, growing abundantly in old corn fields, commonly 
called Indian hemp — (i. e. Linum Virginianum.) The Swedes used 
to buy fourteen yards of the rope for a loaf of bread, and deemed 
them more lasting in the water than that made of true hemp. Mr. 
Kalm himself saw Indian women rolling the filaments of this plant 
upon their bare thighs to make of them thread and strings, which 
they dyed i-ed, yellow, black, &c. 

The Indians at first were much more industrious and laborious, 
and before the free use of ardent spirits, attained to a great age. 
Jn early time they were every where spread about among the 



Indians. 445 

Swedes. Tlicy had no domestic animals among them before the 
arrival of the Europeans, save a species of little dogs. They 
readily sold their lands to the Swedes for a small price. Such 
tracts as would have brought 400£. currency in Kalra's time, 
had been bought for a piece of baize or a pot of braruly ! 

The Indians told Mr. Kalni, as their tradition, that when they 
saw the first European ship on their coast, they were perfectly 
persuaded that Manitto, or God himself, was in the ship; but when 
they first saw the negroes, they thought they were a true breed of 
devils. 

The Indians whom we usually call Delawares, because fii'st 
found about the regions of the Delaware river, never used that 
name among themselves: they called themselves Lenni LenapCf 
which means ^^the original people," — Lenni meaning original, — 
whereby they expi-essed they Avere an nnmixed race, who had 
never changed their character since the creation; — in effect they 
were primitive sons of Mam, and others were sons of the curse, 
as of Ham, or of the outcast Ishmael, &c. 

They, as well as the Mengwe, (called by us Iroquois') agreed in 
saying they came from westward of the Mississippi — called by 
them ^amsesi Sipu, or river of fish — and that when they came over 
to the eastern side of that river, they there encountered and finally 
drove off all the former inhabitants, called the Mligewi — (and of 
course ihQ primitives of all our country !) who, probably, such as 
survived, sought refuge in Mexico. 

From these facts we may learn, that however unjustifiable, in a 
moral sense, may be the aggressions of our border men, yet on the 
rule of the lex talionis we may take refuge and say, we only drive off 
or dispossess those who were themselves encroachers, even as all ' 
our Indians, as above stated, were ! 

The Indians called the Quakers quekels, and ''the English," by 
inability of pronouncing it, they sounded Vengees — from whence 
probably we have now our name of Yankees. In their own lan- 
guage they called the English Saggenah. 

William Fishbourne, in his MS. narrative of 1739, says the 
proprietor's first and principal care was to promote peace with 
all ; accordingly he established a friendly correspondence, by way 
of treaty, with the Indians, at least twice a year. [This fact is 
worth remembering !] He also strictly enjoined the inJiabitants and 
surveyors not to settle any land to which the Indians had a claim, un- 
til he had first, at his own cost, satisfied and paid for the same ; so 
that this discreet method engaged their friendship and love to him 
and his people — even Avliile other colonies were at war and dis- 
tress by the Indians. 

William Penn's letter of the 25th of 5 mo. 1700, to James Logan, 
(in the Logan MSS.) says, that because of an injury done his leg, 



446 Indians. 

the Indians must go up to him at Pennsbury, along with the coun- 
cil, kc. Was not this assemblage for something liive a treaty ? 

Another such assemblage of Indians met there also in 1701 ; for 
John Richardson tells us in his journal, of his being there when 
many Indians and Chiefs were present to revive their covenants or 
treaties with William Penn Jbefore his return home. There they 
received presents — held their cantico or worship, by singing and 
dancing round the fire on the ground. 

In 1724 an Indian Chief, in addressing Sir William Keith, com- 
plaijis that although Onas gave his people their lands on the 
Brandywine, yet the whites have stopt the river ; the fish can no 
longer go up it ; their women and children can no longer, with 
their bows and arrows, kill the fish in the shallow waters ; it is 
now dark and deep; and they wish they may pull away the dams, 
that the water may again flow, and the fish again swim ! 

In 1704, the Indians of the Five Nations (Onandago) came on to 
Philadelphia, to trade and make a treaty.— James Logan was 
present. 

Mr. Carver, first settler at Byberry, became in great straits 
for bread stuff: they then knew of none nearer than New Castle. 
In that extremity they sent out their children to some neighbour- 
ing Indians, intending to leave them there, till they could have food 
for tliem at home ; but the Indians took off tlie boys' trowsers, and 
tied the legs fall of corn, and sent them back thus loaded —a 
rude but frank and generous liospitality !— His great granddaugh- 
ter, Mrs. S. told me of this fact as certain. 

The Indians upon the Brandywine had a reserved right (as said 
James Logan in his letter of 1731) to retain themselves a mile in 
l>readth on botli sides of one of tl»e branches of it. up to its source. 

fn the year 1742, (Vide Peters' letter to the Penns) there were 
7!i Philadelphia an assemblage of 220 Indians of the five nations. 
They had come from the north-westward to get goods. While in 
iho city, a fire of eight houses occurred, at which they gave great 
assistance. 

In the year 1744. by reason of some strife between the frontier 
people and Indians of Virginia and Maryland, they aim to settle 
their dispute, by the mediation of the Pennsylvania Governor, 
through a treaty, to be convened at *' John Harris' Ferry," (now 
Harrisburg) which was, however, not hdd there, but at Lancaster, . 
where the affair was adjusted satisfactorily. 

The last of the Lenape, nearest resident to Philadelphia, died in 
Chestercountv, in the person of < Old Indian Hannah," in 1803. 
She had her wigwam many years upon the Brandywine, and used 
to travel much about in selling her baskets, &c. On such occasions 
she was often followed by her dog and her pigs—all stopping where 
she did. She lived to be nearly a hundred years of age— had a proud 
andloftyspiritto the last— hated the blacks, and scarcely brooked 
the lower orders of the wliites ; her family before her, had dwelt 



Indians. 447 

with other Indians in Kennet township. She often spoke emphat- 
ically of the wrongs and misfortunes of her race, upon whom her 
affections still dwelt. As she grew old, she quitted her solitude, 
and dwelt in friendly families. 

A person visiting hercahin, on the farm of Humphry Marshall., 
thus expressed his emotions : 

Was this the spot, where Indian Hannah's form 
Was seen to linger, weary, worn with care ? 
Yes, — that rude cave was once the happy home 
Of Hannah, last of her devoted race ; 
But she too, now, has sunk into the tomb. 
And briars and thistles wave above the place." 

Several facts concerning the Chester county Indians, collected 
hy my friend, Mr. J. J. Lewis, may be read on page 513 of my 
MS. Annals, in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania — such as 
their thickest settlement being about Pequa, and along the great 
valley. In other places they usually settled in groupes of half a 
dozen families. The last remaining family was remembered about 
60 years ago, at Kennet, consisting of Andrew, Sarah, Nanny and 
Hannah, the last being the above mentioned Hannah — "last of 
the Lenape !" 

As late as the year 1750, the Shawnese had their wigwam at 
the Beaver pond, near the present Carlisle ; and as late as 1760, 
Doctor John, living in Carlisle, with his wife and two children, 
were cruelly murdered, by persons unknown. He was a Chief. 
The Governor offered 100£. reward. 



Indian Visits to the City. 

From a very early period it was the practice of Indian compa- 
nies occasionally to visit the city — not for any public business, but 
merely to buy, and sell, and look on. On such occasions they usu- 
ally found their shelter, for the two or three weeks which they re- 
mained, about the state house yard.* There they would make up 
baskets, and sell them to the visiters, from the ash strips which 
they brought with them. Before the Revolution such visits were 
frequent, and after that time they much diminished, so that now 
they are deemed a rarity. 

Such of the Indians as came to the city on public service were 
always provided for in tlie east wing of the state house, up-stairs, 
and at the same time, their necessary support there was provided 
for by the government. 

Old people have told me that the visits of Indians were so fre- 

* There was a shed constructed for them along the western wall ; under it was sheltered 
for some time, as old Thomas Bradford has told me, old king Hendricks and a party of bis 
warriors, just before they went to join Sir William Johnson at Lake George, 



448 Indians. 

quent as to excite but little surprise ; their squaws and children 
generally accompanied them. On such occasions they went abroad 
much in the streets, and would any where stop to shoot tit tnarks, 
of small coin, set on the tops of posts. They took what they could 
so hit with tbcii- arrows. 

On the 6th of 6 mo. 1749, there was at the state house an as- 
semblage of 260 Indians, of eleven different tribes, assembled there 
with the Governor to make a treaty. The place was extremely 
crowded ; and Canaswetigo, a Chief, made a long speech. There 
were other Indians about tlie city at the same time, making togetli- 
er probably 4 to 500 Indians at one time. The same Indians re- 
mained several days at Logan's place, in his beech woods. 

As the country increased in population, they changed their pub- 
lic assemblages to frontier towns— such as Pittsburgh and Easton 
for Pennsylvania, and Albany for iVew York, &c. 

They once hung an Indian at Pegg's run, at the junction of Ca- 
ble lane. The crowd, assembled there, stood on the hill. He had 
committed murder. Old Mrs. Shoemaker and John Brown told 
me of this fact, and said the place afterwards took the name of 
"Gallows Hill" for a long while. In my youthful days Callow- 
hill street was often called ''Gallows-hill street." 



Indian Marms and Massacre. 

The defeat of Braddock's army in 1755, near Pittsburgh, seems 
to have produced great excitement and much consternation among 
the inhabitants of Pennsylvania, even within a present day's jour- 
ney from Philadelphia!— 50, 000£. was voted by the Legislature 
to raise additional troops. The people at and about Carlisle were 
in great alarm as frontier inhabitants ; and Colonel Dunbar, who 
had the command of the retreating army, was earnestly be^sought 
to remain on the frontier, and not to come on to Philadelphia, as 
he soon afterwards did to seek for Winter Quarters. He was nick- 
named ' ' Dunbar the tardy ! " 

To give an idea how thin the settlement of our country was at 
that time, it may serve to say, that such near counties as North- 
ampton and Berks, experienced the ravages of the scalping knite, 
by predatory parties. From Easton to fifty miles above it, the 
whole country was deserted, and many murders occurred. Easton 
town, and the Jersies opposite, were filled with the terrified inhab- 
itants. Some sculking Indians were seen about Nazareth and 
Bethlehem. The Gazettes of the time have frequent extracts ot 
letters from persons in the alarmed districts. Philadelphia itself 
was full of sympathetic excitement. The Governor, for instance, 
communicates to the Assembly that he has heard that as many as 
1500 French and Indians are actually encamped on the Susque- 
hanna only 30 miles above the present Harrisburgh ! Some were 



Indiums. 449 

at Kittochtinny Hills, 80 miles from Philadelphia. The burnings 
and scalpings at the Great Cove is general. At Tulpehocken the 
ravages were dreadful : One little girl, of six years of age, was 
found alive, with her scalp off ! The Irish settlement at the Great 
Core was entirely destroyed. 

It may give some idea of the alarm which tliese events caused, 
even on the seabord, to know, that such was the report received at 
Bohemia^ in Cecil county, (received by an expi-ess from New Cas- 
tle, and believed,) that 1500 French and Indians had reached Lan- 
caster, and burnt it to the ground, and were proceeding onward ! 
Three companies of infantry, and a troop of cavalry immediately 
set off towards Lancaster, and actually reached the Head of Elk 
before they heard any counter intelligence ! — to wit, in November, 
1755. 

So sensitive as the frontier men must have felt, they became jeal- 
ous, lest the Philadelphians and the Assembly were too much un- 
der the pacific policy of the Friends to afford them in time the ne- 
cessary defensive supplies. To move them to a livelier emotion, 
an expedient of gross cliaracter was adopted, — it was, to send on 
to Philadelphia the bodies of a murdered family! These actually 
reached Philadelphia in the winter, like frozen venison from their 
mountains — were paraded through our city, and finally set down 
before the Legislative Hall — as ecce factum/ 

It seems much to dimir.ish the idea of time to say there are now 
persons alive at Easton, Nazareth, &c. who once witnessed fron- 
tier ravages in their neighbourhood, or had their houses filled with 
refugees ; and also persons, still in Philadelphia, who saw that par- 
ade of bloody massacre. Thomas Bradford, Esq. now alive, thus 
writes for me, saying: ''I saw, when ahoy, in the state house 
yard, the corps of a German man, his wife, and grown-up son, who 
were all killed and scalped by the Indians in Shearman's valley, 
not many miles from the present seat of government. At that time 
the Indians marauded all around the Blockhouse at Harris' Fer- 
ry" — (now Harrisburgh.) 

John Churchman, the public Friend, also saw those dead bodies, 
and has thus spoken of them : "The Indians having burnt several 
houses on the frontiers, and also at Gradenliutten in Northampton 
county, and murdered and scalped some of the inhabitants, two or 
three of the dead bodies were brought to Philadelphia in a wagon, 
in the time of the General Meeting of Friends there in December, 
with intent to animate the people to unite in preparations for war 
on the Indians. They were carried along the streets — many peo- 
ple following — cursing the Indians, and also tlie Quakers, because 
they would not join in war for their destruction. The sight of the 
dead bodies, and the outcry of the people, were very afflicting and 
shocking." 

With the bodies came the "frontier inhabitants, and surround- 
ing the A-ssembly Room, required immediate support." 
3 N 



450 Indians. 

The excitement in the Assembly ran high, between those who re- 
sisted and those who advocated means for the emergency. Out- 
door interest too, at the same time, was great ; for tlie citizens of 
Philadelphia offer, by subscription, and by proclamation, 700 dol- 
lars for the heads of Shingas ami Captain Jacobs, Delaware 
Chiefs — gone over to the interests of their enemies ! Among the 
wonders of that day for us now to contemplate, but of little notoriety 
then, was tlic presence of "Colonel Washington," on a mission 
from Virginia concerning the Indians. Little did he, or any of 
them of tliat colonial day, regard him as the future President of a 
new and great nation !* 

In the next year the scourge fell lieavy upon the Indians ; for Col- 
onel Armstro)ig burnt their town, and destroyed their people at 
Kittaning — a great affair in that day ! To commemorate it a 
medal was struck, and swords and plate wei'e distributed at the 
expense of the city to the officers, &c. 

In giving the preceding notices of Indian events, made so inter- 
esting and stiri-ing to the Philadelphians in that day, it will be ap- 
propriately followed by the history of an xVssociation formed in Phil- 
adelphia by leading members among Friends, for the avowed pur- 
pose of preserving the former friendly relations with the Indians, 
without the destructive intervention of war. It had, therefoi-e, its 
warm abettors and fierce opponents, as may be discerned in the 
following brief history of that Society, to wit : 

..Association for Freserving Peace with the Indians — year 1756. 

In the spring of the year 1755 the Indians on the frontiers of 
Virginia having commenced ravages on tlie people there, excited 
great alarm at Philadelphia. The pacific principles of the Friends 
had so long preserved the peace of Pennsylvania, that it seemed 
but natural, that they should feel peculiar reasons on sucJi an oc- 
casion to prevent hostilities from extending to their frontier in- 
habitants. They therefore united, in 1756, under the denomina- 
tion of "the Friendly Association for regaining and preserving 
peace witli the Indians," and by their private and individual 
subscriptions, raised several thousand pounds to enable them to 
execute their friendly designs. Benevolent as their disinterested 
designs were, tliey were reproached by some ; and even the govern- 
ment, in some instances, repelled their proffered services to preserve 
peace. The Edinburgh Reviewers have said " if Princes would 
use Friends for Prime Ministers, universal peace might be per- 

•I heard one fact of tlie lime, to be relied upon too : — Reese Meredith, a merchant of 
Philadelphia, seeing Washington at the Coffee House, was so pleased with his personal 
demeanour as a genteel stranger, that he invited him home, to dine with him on fresh veni- 
son. It formed a lasting friendship ; and caused afterwards, it is said, the appointment of 
another Meredith of the family, to be his first Treasurer of the Union. As this acquaint- 
ance was formed without formal introduction, it long remained a grateful recollection in 
Meredith's family, as a proof of his discernment 



Indians, 



Detuated " and the manner in which this Association negotiated 
both witli the provincial rulers and the hostile Indians, seemed to 
verify their peculiar qualifications for such peacctul offices. 

The minutes of their proceedings, containing about two quires 
of MS. cap paper, as preserved by Israel Pcmberton, having 
been in my possession, I made memoranda of incidents therein, 
which may be consulted by the curious or the interested m my 
MS. Annals in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, pages 181 



to 184. 



Thev bea;in by addressing a long letter, declarative of their de 
signs, to Governor Robert H. Morris, on the 12th of the 4 mo. 
1756, and beseeching liim not to declare war against the Indians, 
until pacific overtures should be made to the Indians, aiid offering 
to aid the same by services and money. He and his Council not 
according with their views, tliey proceeded forthwith to address a 
long letter to the General Assembly. A declaration ol war was, 
hov^ver, made. They then address letters to bespeak friendsliip 
for their designs, and for the Indians, by directing Israel lember- 
ton to write letters in their behalf to Sir William Johnson, and to 
Governor Sir C. Hardy at New York: copies of which are pre- 
served—also copies of Governor R. H. Morris' messages, conveyed 
by Indian agents to the Indians on the Susquehanna at leaogon. 
With these agents the Friends made much interest; and their re- 
mark on this interference is thus recorded—'^ From the time ot 
the first messengers arriving at Teaogon, the hostilities on our 
northern frontiers ceased, anil an acceptable respite being ob.ainea 
for our distressed fellow subjects, we enjoyed so muck real pleasure 
and satisfaction in this happy event of our endeavours as to engage 
us cheerfully to pursue the business we had begun, thougli many 
malicious calumnies and aspersions were cast upon us by persons 
from whom we had a right to expect encouragement and as- 
sistance." _ ., , J , 
They attended Indian treaties at Easton, at Lancaster, &c. and 
often made presents— measures which gave the Friends much as- 
cendency over the minds of the Indians, and inclined them to 
peace. 

The Faxtang Boys, and Indian Massacre. 

This was a story of deep interest and much excitement in its day 
—the year 1764. It long remained quite as stirring and affecting, 
as a tale of wo or of terror, as any of the recitals, in more modern 
times, of the recollections of that greater event— the war ot inde- 
pendence. The Indians, on whom the outrage was committed by 
those memorable outlaws, were friendly, unoffending, christian In- 
dians, dwelling about the country in Lancaster county, and tuo 
remnant of a once greater race-even in that neighbourhood where 



452 Indians. 

they had been so cruelly afflicted : For instance, in iroi, a letter 
of Isaac Norris* (preserved in the Logan MSS.) speaks thus, to wit : 
"I have been to Susquehanna, where I met the Governor ; we had 
a round-about journey, and well-traversed the wilderness ; we liv- 
ed nobly at the King's palace in Conestogoe.'* " They once had 
there (says J. Logan) a considerable towne" — called Indian town. 

The spirit wliich finally eventuated in the massacre, was dis- 
cerned and regietted at a much earlier period — say as early as 
1729-30. Then James Logan's letter to the proprietaries (Vide 
Logan MSS.) says, " The Indians themselves are alarmed at the 
swarms of strangers, (Irish) and we are afraid of a breach with 
them. The Irisli are very rough to them." In 1730, J. Logan 
complains of the Scotch Irish in a disorderly manner possessing 
themselves, about that time, of the whole of Conestogoe manor of 
15,000 acres — saying, as their justification, (the same as they did 
in effect at the massacre) that *'it was against the laws of God 
and nature that so much land should lie idle, while so many Chris- 
tians wanted it to labour on, &c." In truth, they did not go oif 
till dispossessed by the Sheriff and his posse, and their cabins 
burnt down to the number of thirty. They rested chiefly in Don- 
negal as a frontier people, at an exemption from rent, &c. 

In 1764, under an alarm of intended massacre, 14 being previ- 
ously killed on Conestogoe, the Indians took shelter in Lancaster, 
an . for tlieir better security they were placed under the bolts and 
bars of the prison : but at mid-day a party on horseback from the 
country, rode through the streets to the prison, and there forcibly 
entered and killed unresisting men and women on the spot ! The 
citizens of Lancaster were much blamed for so tamely suffering 
such a breach of their peace. Nothing was there done to appre- 
hend the perpetrators. In the mean time, other Indians in amity 
with us, hearing of the cruelty to their brethren, sought refuge in 
Pliihu! iphia, which when the Paxtang boys knew, being excited 
to more daring and insolence by their former sufferance — like 
blood-hounds, stimulated to a passion for more blood by the previ- 
ous taste — they forthwith resolved on marching down to Philadel- 
phia to destroy the remainder of the afflicted race, and to take 
vengeance also on all their friends and abettors there. They were 
undoubtedly Christian professors — used Bible phrases — talked of 
God's commanded vengeance on the heathen, and that the saints 
should inherit the earth, &c. They had even writers to plead their 
religious cause in Philadelphia ! ! ! 

The news of their approach, which out-run them, was greatly 
magnified; so that <' every mother's son and child" were half 
crazed with fear, and even the men looked for a hard and obsti- 
nate struggle ; for even among their own citizens there were not 
wanting of those who having been incensed by the late Indian war, 
thought almost any thing too good for an Indian. The Paxtang boys, 
to the amount of several hundred, armed with rifles, and clothed 



Indians. 453 

with hunting shirts, affecting the rudest and severest manners, 
came in two divisions as far as Germantown and the opposite 
bank of the Schuylkill, where they finally entered into affected 
negotiations with the citizens, headed by Benjamin Franklin, and 
returned home, terrifying the country as they went. 

In the mean tjme the terrified Indians sought their refuge in 
Philadelphia — having with them their Moravian minister. They 
were at first conducted to the barracks in the Northern Liberties 
by the order of the Governor. But tlie Highlanders there, refused 
them shelter ; and the Indians stood several hours exposed to the 
revilings of scoffers. Tliis was in the cold of December. They 
were thence sent to Province Island, afterwards by boats to 
League Island ; then they were recalled and sent to New York. 
In returning through Philadelphia they held their worship and 
took their breakfast in the Moravian church in Bread street. 
William Logan, and Joseph Fox, the barrack master, who gave 
them blankets, accompanied them as far as Trenton. A company 
of 70 Highlanders were their guard as far as Amboy, where they 
were stopt by orders from General Gage ; they then returned back 
to the Philadelphia barracks.* The alarm of the Paxtang boys 
being near — at night too — the city is voluntarily illuminated ! — 
alarm bells ring, and citizens run for arms, and haste to the bar- 
racks ! Many young Quakers joined the defenders at the barracks, 
where they quickly threw up intrenchments.f Dr. Franklin and 
other gentlemen who went out to meet the leaders, brought them 
into the city, that they might point out among the Indians the 
alleged guilty ; but they could show none. They, however, per- 
ceived that the defence was too formidable, and they affected to 
depart satisfied. 

The Indians remained there several months, and held regular 
Christian worship. In time they were greatly afflicted with small- 
pox, and 56 of their number now rest among the other dead, be- 
neath the surface of the beautiful " Washington Square." 

In the spring, these Indians were conducted by Moravian mis- 
sionaries, via Bethlehem and AVyoming, and made their settlement 
on the Susquehanna, near to Wyalusing creek. There they ate 
wild potatoes in a time of scarcity. 

The massacre of those Conestogoe Indians was thus described 
by Susanna Wright, of Columbia, to wit : *' The cruel murder of 
these poor Indians has affected and discomposed my mind beyond 
what I can express. We liad known the greater part of them from 
children ; had been always intimate with them. Three or four of 
the women were sensible and civilized, and the Indians' children 

* All the«e removals were measures of security, as fears were entertained from some oi" 
our own excited citizens, favourable to the Paxtang boys. 

t Among the most conspicuous of these were Edward Pennington and William Logan, 
who were of course had under dealings by the Society ; but as their generous purposes 
were popular, their sentence was mild — only an exclusion from service in aftairs of dis- 
cipline. 



454 Indians. 

used to play with ours and oblige them all they could. We had 
many endearing i-ecol lections of them, and the manner of eSecting 
the brutal enormity so affectetl us, that wo had to beg visiters to 
forbear to speak of it. But it was still the subject witli every 
body." 

No good succeeded to the wretches. They were well remem- 
bered by old Mr. Wright, long a member in the Assembly from 
Columbia. He used to tell at Charles Norris', where he staid in 
session time, that he had survived nearly the whole of them, and 
that they generally came to untimely or suffering deaths ! 



Present State and Refuge of the Delaware Indians. 

The Indian nation of the Delawares — our proper Indians — was 
once one of the most numerous and powerful tribes ; but arc now 
reduced to about four or five hundred souls, and scattered among 
other tribes. The cliief place where they now hold any separate 
character and community, is at the river Thames, in Upper Cana- 
da, about 70 miles from Detroit. There is there a place called Mo- 
ravian town — made memorable by being destroyed by our Ameri- 
cans in the last war, and by the death of Tecumseh, the celebrated 
Shawnee Chief, in the battle of the "Long woods." This is at 
present the last and only Moravian missionary establishment 
among the Indians of our country. There are there about 160 
souls under the mission of the Rev. Abram Luchenback, and his 
assistant, the Rev. Mr. Haman. They worship from printed books 
in the Delaware tongue. 

The wanderings of the poor Delawares under the Moravian 
auspices are curious. They first collected on Mahony, a branch 
of the Lehigh, from whence they were driven by the French war. 
They then rcnjoved to near Bethlehem, where they remained till 
the war of the Revolution ; thence they removed to Tioga ; thence 
to Allegliany and to Beaver creek, Ohio. Both of these settle- 
ments broke up and went to Muskingum near New Philadelphia, 
where in 1821 there were but about three families remaining; 
these removed to the above mentioned settlement on the Thames, 
which was established about tlie year 1793. 

In connexion with this renewed Moravian town, there is, higher 
up the Thames, a place called Bingham, occupied by Delawares ; 
and not far from them dwell some Munsee and Chippewa Indians. 

A small settlement of Delawares now reside near the mouth of 
Grand river in Upper Canada, where they form a part of the six 
nations who have a reserve of sixty miles in length on both sides 
of that river. Among some of these, the Methodist missionaries 
have wrought much civilization and moral improvement. 

The Indians formerly of Chester county, were of the Delaware 



Indians. 455 

or "Lenni Lenape." Of these was tiie tribe of the Nanticoke, 
which dwelt once, and lingered long, along the whole region drain- 
ed by the stream of the Brandy wine— 

" Their home for many an age was there 1" 

They removed from thence in the year 1757, to the vallies of tlie 
Wyoming and Wyalusing, on the Susquehanna. At the great 
treaty of St. Mary's in 1820, there was then present about twenty 
Chiefs and warriors, of the JK*anticokes ; and among them was one 
who had withstood the storms of ninety winters, who, in most 
dramatic pathos, told the Commissioners, that he and his people 
had once roamed through their own domains along their favourite 
Brandy wine. A gentleman then present related this as fact. Ah, 
poor Indian ! what recollections and reflections he must have had, 
if duly sensible of tlie change to him, and even to us ! 

" A mighty Chief, whose hundred bands 

Ranged freely o'er those shaded lands ; 

But now there's scarcely left a trace, 

To mind one of that friendly race 1" 



Tedtjuscungf 
A Delaware Chief, a frequent visiter to Philadelphia, from 1750 
to '60. — By this means, and his frequent intercourse with the whites, 
he had acquired a competent knowledge of our language ; he was 
a tall, large figure of a man ; he always regarded liimself as at 
home in the Norris family, where he was always welcomed : he 
generally had some retinue with him, and affected the character ot 
something superior as a sovereign; he was addicted to occasion- 
al excess in drinking. On one occasion, he went with a dozen 
of his train to Norris' country house at Fairhill — the male part of 
the family being absent, the females hid themselves, from terror ; 
he, however, entered and blustered about ; one of the hired girls 
fearing some mischief might be done to the property, for tliey were 
searching the closets for "food and drink, she took up courage, and 
went in to restrain them ; Tedyuscung affected to frighten her, 
saying they w^ould kill her if she did not provide them something 
good; she vapoured in return — but to make the best of it, she laid 
them a table and refreshments, and by some finesse succeeded to 
hurry them off; they had much noisy mirth before going. Mr. 
Norris used to talk of this afterwards good-naturedly to the Chief; 
and he used to promise ho more to take possession where there 
were none hut women to receive him. 

Governor Dickinson used to relate, that he attended a treaty at 
Albany, where Tedyuscung was a negotiator : while there, at a 
time when the Chief was making an ill-timed speech, being exci- 
ted by a sutplus of strong drink, his wife, who was present, was 



456 Indians, 

heard to speak in the most modest and silvery tones imaginable 
in the Indian tongue ; the melody of her tones enchanted every ear ; 
while she spoke, she looked steadfastly and with much humility to 
the ground ; every body was curious to inquire of the Chief what 
she said ; he answered rudely — "Ho ! she's nothing but a poor weak 
woman ! — she has just told me it was unworthy the dignity and the 
reputation of a great King like me to show myself drunken before 
ihe Council of the nation. " 



Isaac Still 

Was a celebrated Indian of good education, a leader of the last 
remains of the Delawares adjacent to Philadelphia. He was a 
christian man of fine morals and much good sense ; and was 
therefore employed as agent and interpreter, in French as well as 
English, in many important missions to distant Indians ; he was 
said to have travelled further over the surface of our country to the 
unknown wilds of the West, than any other individual, and having 
seen, as he said, the Rocky mountains and the white Indians ; his 
journal of observations were deemed important, and were therefore 
taken down by some one for publication ; but where it now is, is 
not known.* For a considerable time he dwelt with his family, in 
wigwam style, on a part of Logan's place, now called the Indian 
field ; their only son, Joshua, in the mean time, was educated at the 
Germantown school house. In 1771, he moved up into Bucking- 
ham, purposing tiiere to collect his scattered tribe, and to move 
them off to the Wabash, "far away, as he said, from war and rum." 
This he effected in the fall of 1775, having with him about 40 per- 
sons, chiefly females, as the men and the young and active (about 
20) had gone on before. Mr. Samuel Preston, who witnessed their 
departure, describes Still as a fine looking man, wearing a hat 
ornamented with feathers. The women, all bareheaded, each load- 
ed with a large pack on their back, fastened with broad straps 
across their foreheads, thus making their heads bear much of the 
burthen, they proceeded in regular form of march. Thus ended, 
in the year 1775, the last vestige of Leni Lenape from the neigh- 
bourhood of Philadelphia, and from Bucks county and Jersey ! 
Many further particulars concerning Isaac Still as an Indian, 
and of his services as a useful agent and ally to our cause, are told 
in several MS. letters from the said Samuel Preston, and may be 
consulted on page 556, and following, in my MS. book deposited 
with the Historical Society of PennsylTania, to whom the facts 
therein told, more appropriately belong. 

• It was done while he was on Logan's place, as he said himself, — and Mr. Samuel Pres- 
ton has suggested (Vide my MS. book,) some papers and families, where he thinks it might, 
yet be found, — say wnong the papers of LogaD, Doctor Barton, or H. Drinker, or E. 
Penningto*. 



IndiaiHi. 457 

Bucks county is also identified with another Indian of greatest 
fame, even of the renowned Taniancnd, (or Taniane, as Penn spells 
his name.) the tutelary saint of our country ! His remains repose 
by the side of a spring not far from Doylestown. A letter now be- 
fore me from my friend E. M. says, "I have Just I'cturned from 
visiting the identical spot in which the celebrated Indian Chief St. 
Tamane was buried. It is about four miles from this village, in a 
beautiful situation, at the side of an endless spi-ing, which, after 
running about a furlong, empties into the Nesliuminy, — the sjiot is 
worth visiting ; and the reflections it awakens is worth a league's 
Malk !" Another letter says, *' I have discovered a large Indian 
mound, known by*the name of the Giant's Grave," and ataiother 
place is an Indian burial ground, on a very high hill, not far 
from Doylestown." 

There is some tradition existing that king Tamanend once had 
his cabin and residence on the meadow near the Ridge road, situ- 
ated under a great Elm tree on Francis' farm. The character of 
Tamanend is told at length in tlie interesting work of Heckewelder. 



Miscellanea. 

An original deed ^'from Wiggoneeheenah, in behalf of all the 
Delaware Indians concerned," grants unto Edmund Cartlidge a 
piece of ground, formerly his plantation, laying in a turn of Cones- 
togoe creek, called Indian Point [no acres or bounds mentioned,] 
and dated in the presence of A. Cox, witness, on the Sth of April, 
1725. The Indian signature and seal is curious ; the seal is of red 
wax impressed with a running fox, and the Indian signature, in 
lieu of his name, is a tolerable good drawing of a similar animal. 
The deed itself is among the Logan MSS. In 1722, John Cart- 
lidge is named as killing an Indian at the same place. 

In 1720, the Gazette states that a run-away man was seen last 
" at an Indian town, called Pehoquellamen, on Delaware river." 
Who can designate that place ? Or who can now say where was 
<' Upper and Lower Dinderdonk" Islands, whei'e George Fox, the 
Friend, was ferried across the Delaware in Indian canoes ? 

In 1721, Sir William Keith the Governor, and his Council, and 
30 gentlemen, set out for Conestogoe, to there hold an Indian trea- 
ty with the Heads of the five nations. 

In the Gazettes of this period, I often observe Indians named as 
occasionally serving as sailors on board some of our coasting ves- 
sels. The Indians in Maine too, in fighting us, in the year 1727, 
coasted in an armed vessel there, and fought their cannon, &c. well 
as others ! At that time too, more Indians than others were em- 
ployed in all the Nantucket whalers. 

In 1728, some ten or twelve Indians in Manatawna, on the 
Schuylkill, fell into a quarrel with the whites, and several are 
3 



^^S Indians. 

killed. Governor Gordcn, in consequence, Tisits the Indians at 
J^rench creek, and at -Indian town" at Conestogoc, to incite them 
to peace, and he proclaims, that no molestation shall be offered t» 
any ol the Indian nations then in our borders, to wit : *' Delawares 
Conestogoc, Ganawese, Shawenese, Mingoes." At this time, sev- 
eral Delawares are stated as living about Brandywine. In the 
same year the Indians assault the ironworks at Marketasonev, 
and wore beaten off with loss. 

At this time, two brothers, Welshmen, are executed at Chester 
fortlie murder of three Indians; they declared they thought all the 
Indians were rising on them, in the case of the above strife. They 
appear to have been niaddened with shear fright, and killed the 
hist unoffending Indians they met. 

In the year 1755, the votes of the Assembly— vol. 4, gives some 
proceedings concerning the Shawnese, which show that their Chief 
once held a conference with William Penn, under the great tree at 
bhackamaxon, a fact to which their talks refer. 

Aboutthe year 1759 advertisements often appear in the Gazettes, 
• escribing children recovered from tlie Indians, and requesting 
their iriends to come and take them home. Several are described 
as haying sustained some injury; and in many cases can only tell 
their baptismal names, and the same of their parents ! 

In 1762, a number of white children, unclaimed, were given up 
by the Indians at Lancaster, and were bound out by order of the 
Governor. 

The Gazettes of the year 1768-9, contain such frequent and va- 
rious recitals of the havoc and cruelties of the incensed Indians ou 
the frontiers, as would, if selected, make quite a book of itself. 
Ut tue numerous calamities. Colonel Boquet, who commanded a 
regiment of Highlanders, and was at Fort du Quesne (Pittsburehl 
aftei- the peace of 1763, gives a very affecting recital of the de- 
anery up to him of all the prisoners surrendered by the Indians. 
Husbands went hundreds of miles in hopes of finding lost wives or 
children. The collection amounted to several hundred ! and the 
si.i it ot seeing husbands and wives, rushing into each others arms, 
a 1(1 children claimed by their parents, made the joy of all such 
extreme ! There was also the mourning of others, who hoped to 
ImU relatives— but neither finding nor hearing of them, made 
much lamentation. There were also Indians, who had adopted all 
tliose persons, and loved them as their children or relatives, and 
having then to give them up, showed great signs of distress. Some 
young Indians had become passionately fond of some young women, 
and some lew w omen had formed attachments for them. The In- 
dians loaded their friends at their departure with their richest 
gitts— thus proving they had hearts of tenderness, even to pris- 
oners. * 



459 



THE PIRATES. 



-A bucanicring race — 



The dregs and feculance of every land. 
THE story of the pirates had been in early timest one of deep 
interest and stirring wonder to our forefathers ; so much so, that 
the echo of tlicir recitals, fai' as we have been long since removed 
from their fears, have not yet ceased to vibrate upon our ears. 
Who among us of goodly years but has heard sometliing of the 
names and piracies of Kid and Blackbeard ! They have indeed 
much of the mist of antiquity about them ; for none remember the 
original tales truly, and all have ceased to read, for none know 
where to find the book of " the History of the Pirates," as published 
by William Bradford, in New York, in 1724. That book I have 
never been able to procure, although I have some conception of it 
and its terrifying pictures, as once seen and read by my mother 
when a child. It had every character of the marvellous surely, 
when it contained notices of the lives of two female pirates— even 
of Mary Reed and Anne Bonny ! 

Captain Kid. 
Captain Kid (William) used to be the earliest name of terror 
along our coast, although I believe he never committed any excesses 
near our borders, or on our vessels ; but partisans in his name 
were often named and dreaded. What countryman he was docs 
not appear, but his residence appears to have been in New York 
before his piracies were known, where he had a wife and ciiild. 
He most probably had been a successful privateersman, possessing 
then the friendship of Governor Fletcher, Mr. Nicolls. and Col. 
Robert Livingston ; the latter of whom recommended him to the 
Crown " as a bold and honest man to suppress the prevailing pira- 
cies in the American seas." It appears on record at New York, 
as early as March 1691, that Captain Kid then reclaimed a pressed 
seaman; and on the 17th of August, of the same year, he is re- 
corded as bringing in his prize and paying the King his tenth, 
and the Governor his fifteenth, of course showing he was once 
every way a legalized man among them. His being called " bold," 
probably arose from numerous acts of successful daring which made 
Lis name renowned while on the side of the law, and equally a sub- 
ject of terror when openly acknowledged a pirate. It appears 



"^^^ T/ie Firates. 

ft'om a pamplilet of facts in the case, set forth by the friends of the 
i^ari ot JJeJlomont about the year 1702, that Col. Robert Livin2:s- 
ton and Captain Kid being both in London in 1694, the former re- 
commended him to the crown officers, and also became his security, 
ZZZ 'r^'^^'i ^ommand of the Adventure Galley, and sailed 
VnS^^ V^*;"°^ '^ "" ^'^'^^F; ^^^^' "^ ^^"^'^ ''"t direct to New 
Tn 1. 1 If"? T"* to Madeira, Madagascar, and the Red sea. 
finilvlf n '^ k^a]" '"f P'""^"'"' capturing several vessels, and 
finally the Quedah Merchant, of 400 tons ; with her he came back 
to the^S est Indies, where leaving her in cliarge of one Bolton, he 
came m a sloopf to Long Island sound, and made many deposits 
on shore. Wh.Ie in the sound he sent one Emmet to the Earl of 
lielJomont, then transferred from the government at New York to 
that at Uoston, to negotiate terms of reconciliation. The Gover- 
nor assured him of fair treatment, in such terms of equivocacy as 
ensnared him so far that he landed the first of June. 1699-was 
then arrested and sent home to England for trial. Finally, he 
was executed at Execution Dock, the 23d of March, 1701, and so 
gave rise to the once notable - song of Captain Kid." Col. Liv- 
ingston again attempted to befriend him after his arrest at Boston, 
by offering some suggestions for his relief. He was one-fifth owner 
01 ins original enterprise, in concert with some noblemen in Eng- 
land. 1 he whole was an unofficial adventure of crown officers, 
possessing however, the sanction though not the commission of the 
King. Ihe expedition itself being thus of an anomalous charac- 
ter, excited considerable political inquiry in England, and finally 
became, after Kid's death, the subject of Parliamentary investiga- 
tion. 1 he particulars more at large have been preserved by me 
II. my MS. book of Historical Collections, given to the Historical 
Society of Pennsylvania. Smith's History of New York has some 
lew tacts concerning him— see 4to edition, p. 91. A Avriter at 
Albany, in modern times, says they had the tradition that Kid 
once visited Coeymans and Albany ; and at a place two miles from 
the latter it was said he deposited money and treasure in the earth. 
1 wo lamilies, now of wealth and respectability, of New York, have 
been named to me as original settlers at Oyster Bay on Long 
^Jand, who became suddenly enriched by their connexion with 
Jvid s piracies. The story was, that they deserted from his sloop 
above-mentioned, in the sound, after seeing the treasure deposited, 
antl that the chief was arrested, and the expedition destroyed, they 
profited by the exclusive gain. -^ ' ^ 

Many incidental facts of that day show that the pirates often 
had their triends and accomplices on shore, acting not unlike the 
armed vessels off our coasts in the time of the French Revolution, 

Vn1ir^L^"ff''p Universal History (Edition-1763,) says he left off cruising along" New 
York aud New England because of non-success. fa K 

f 1 he word sloop often meant a war vessfel without reference to the manner of her 



The Firates. 461 

ali ot" whom seemed to have accurate knowledge of fit ])rizes to 
sail or expected to arrive. The very circumstance of Kid's Iiaving 
a family in New York inferred his family alliances, and perhaps, 
if we now knew all things, we miglit sec, even now, some of his 
wealthy descendants. 

In 1699, Isaac Norris, sen. writes, saying, '' We have four men 
in prison, taken up as pirates, supposed to be Kid's men. Shelly, 
of New York, has brought to these parts some scores of them, and 
there is sharp looking out to take them. We have various reports 
of their riches, and money hid between this and tlie capes. There 
was landed about twenty men, as wc understand, at each cape, and 
several are gone to York. A sloop has been seen cruising off the 
capes for a considerable time, but has not meddled with any vessel 
as yet, though she has spoken with several." 

The above quoted letter, in the Logan MS. collection, goes to 
countenance the prevalent idea of hidden money. The time con- 
curs with the period Captain Kid was known to liave i-cturned to the. 
West Indies. It may have been the vej-y sloop in w hich Kid liim- 
self was seeking means of conveying home his treasure, and with 
which he finally went into Long Island sound to endeavour to 
make his peace. Four of the men landed at Lewistown, were ap- 
prehended and taken to Philadelphia; I saw the bill of their ex- 
pense,* but heard no more of them, save that I saw that Colonel 
Quarry, at Philadelphia, was reproaclied by William Penii for 
permitting the bailing of the pirates ; some were also bailed at 
Burlington. — Vide Penn's letter of 1701. One man of Jersey w as 
arrested by James Logan, on his own declaration that he had so 
hid money on Cape May, but the case was discharged by Logan 
himself, as something like a hoax. W^illiam Clark, the Collector 
of Customs "down the Delaware," at Lewistown I presume, had 
his house robbed by pirates, as he alleged. 

A letter from Jonathan Dickinson, tlien at Port Royal, dated 
the 5th of 4 mo. 1699, to his wife then in Piiiladelphia, says, 
'* Many pirates are, and liave been upon the coast. About two 
days since came new^s of Captain Kid's being upon our coast ; be- 
ing come from the East Indies with a great booty, but wants pro- 
visions. He is in a siiip which he took from the natives of those 
parts, having thirty odd guns, with 25 white men and 30 negroes. 
There is gone hence, two days since, Ephraim Pilkerton in a sloop 
well manned to go and take him." Probably the reason of so few- 
men on board the '' Quedah" was, that Kid himself was absent in 
the sloop before mentioned. 

An original letter, which I have seen, from John Askew in 
London, dated 22d of 3 mo. 1701, to Jonathan Dickinson, con- 
tains upost scriptum intimating the finale of this bold searover — 
saying, " Captain Kid, with some other pirates are to execute to- 

* Wessell Alricks, of Newr county, (New Castle) was paid 9£, loi- bringing pirates, in 
1 700, to Philadelphia, from the Whore-kills.— Logan MSS. 



4 Gi2 The Pirates. 

morrow at Execution Dock, in Wapping — Kid, to be gibbetted 
at Tillberry Fort. Gravesend.'* 

As a sequel to the whole, came out the ballad song of Captain 
Kid — a great rarity in the present day, although the pensive tones 
are still known to some, and have been latterly revived in mucb 
bad taste among the eccentric Camp-meeting hymns — singing, 
'* Farewell ye blooming youth," &c. For the use of the curious, 
both the facts and the style of the pirate song are here preserved 
from the recollections of an ancient person, to wit : 

1. My name was Captain Kid, > , . 
When I sail'd, when I sail'd, 5 
My name was Captain Kid, 
And so wickedly I did, 

God's laws I did forbid > , . 

When I sail'd, when I saU'd. 5 ''^^• 

2. My name, 8cc. 

I roam'd from sound to sound, 
And many a ship I found, 
And them I sunk or bum'd, 
When I sail'd, when I sail'd. 

3. My name, 8cc, 

I murder'd William Moore, 
And laid him in his gore, 
Not many leagues from shore, 
When I sail'd, when I sail'd. 

4. My name, Ecc. 
Farewell to young and old, 
All jolly seamen bold ; 
You're welcome to my gold 
For I must die, I must die. 

5. My name, Sec. 
Farewell to Lunnon town, 
The pretty girls all round ; 
No pardon can be found. 
And I must die, I must die, 

6. My name, &c. 
Farewell, for I must die, 
Then to eternity, 

In hideous misery, 
I must lie, I must lie. 



Blackbeard^ 

It would appear as if none of the pirates so much agitated the 
minds of our proper ancestors as Blackbeard — his very name 
raising ideas of something terrific and cruel. His proper name 



The Pirates. 463 

Avas Teach, wlio acquired the cognomen as possessing in his person 
an alarming hlack heard, prohahly clicrishcd for purposes of effect 
to terrify his enemy, and as in full keeping with his hlack or 
bloody flag. His depredations in our proper seas was consider- 
ably more modern than the piracies of Rid ; and after Blackheard's 
career was ended in 1718, there were many, as wc shall presently 
show, to succeed him. But we liave, however, mention of a pi- 
racy, even earlier than Kid's known piracies, even as early as 
his privateering ; for very eai-ly in the rise of our infant city, one 
Brown, of the Assembly, a son-in-law too of the Deputy Governor, 
Colonel Markham, was refused his seat in the House on his alleged 
connexion with the pirates.* Tiiey doubtless found such a de- 
fenceless place a ready market to vend some of their spoil, and the 
naval regulations could have had little or no means to prevent 
clandestine commerce. The bay and river doubtless furnished 
them many a secure place in whicli they could refit or provide 
their necessary supplies. Perhaps as jolly sailors, full of money 
and revelry, they sometimes found places even of welcome, from 
those who might choose to connive at their real character. We 
find, as early as 1692, that one Babit and others stole a sloop 
from Philadelphia for purposes of piracy, and also committed some 
thefts in the river. It was, however, but a small affair, and yet 
small as it was, it much excited the town. 

In the year 1701 such was the apprehensions from pirates, from 
their depredations on the seacoast, that watches were appointed to 
give alarm in Sussex. 

Mrs. Bulah Coates, (once Jacquet,) the grandmother of Samuel 
Coates, Esq. now an aged citizen, told him that she had seen and 
sold goods to the celebrated Blackbeard, she then keeping a store 

in High street, No. 77, where Beninghove now owns and dwells 

a little west of Second street. He bought freely and paid well. 
She then knew it was him, and so did some others. But they were 
afraid to arrest him lest his crew, when they should hear of it, 
should avenge his cause, by some midnight assault He was too 
politick to bring his vessel or crew within immediate reach ; and 
at the same time was careful to give no direct offence in any of the 
settlements where they wished to be regarded as visiters and pur- 
chasers, &c. 

Blackbeard was also seen at sea by the mother of the late Dr. 
Hugh Williamson of New York ; she was then in her youth coming 
to this country, and their vessel was captured by him. The very 
aged John Hutton, who died in Philadelphia in 1792, well remem- 
bered to have seen Blackbeard at Barbadoes after he had come in 
under the Act of Oblivion. This was but shortly before he made 

* Wilcox Phillips, who kept the inn for many years at the east enil of the long stone 
bridge lea<ling to the Kensington marketplace, (who would now be about 100 years of age) 
told an aged friend of mine that his grandfather, who lived on or about that spot, used to 
tell Jiim that a pirate had actually winteretl his vessel in the Cohocksinc creek, a little 
above that bridge. 



464 The Pirates. 

his last cruise, and was killed in 1718. The present aged Benja- 
min Kite has told me, that he had seen in his youth an old hlack 
man, nearly 100 years of age, who had heen one of Blackheard's 
pirates, hy* imi)ressment. He lived many years witli George 
Grey's family, the hrewer in Chesnut street neai- to Thii-d street. 
The same Mr. Kite's grandfather told him he well knew one 
Crane, a Swede, at the upper ferry on Schuylkill, who used to go 
regularly in his hoat to supply Blackheard's vessel at State Island. 
He also said it was known tliat that freebooter used to visit an inn 
in High street, near to Second street, with his sword by his side. 
Tliere is a traditionary story, that Blackbeard and his crew used 
to visit and revel at Marcusliook. at the house of a Swedish woman, 
whom he was accustomed to call Marcus, as an abbreviation of 
Margaret. 

How long Blackbeard exercised his piracies before the years 
1717 and '18, which terminated his profligate career, I am not 
enabled to say, but in this time the MS. papers in the Logan col- 
lection make frequent mention of him and others, as in that hateful 
pursuit, to wit : 

In 1717, Jonathan Dickinsiin at Philadelphia, writes, saying, 
*' The pirates have not yet quitted our coast, and liave taken one of 
our vessels at the cape, in which you happily did not ship my 
wine." 

In August, 1718, he says, " We have been perplexed by pirates on 
our coast and at our capes, who plundered many of our vessels, 
also several from Virginia, Maryland, and New York, and some 
of the piratical crews are come into our province to lurk and cover 
themselves." 

In March, 1718, he writes — "We have account from Virginia, 
that two small sloops fitted out there, and manned by the men-of- 
war's men against Captain Teach, alias Blackbeard, conquered his 
vessel after a bloody battle, and carried Teach's head into Virginia. 
We have heard too of Major Bonet and his crew, with another 
crew, were hanged in South Carolina: and of one Taylor and his 
crew at Providence. But this latter wants confirmation. How 
these sort of men have fared in other parts we wait to hear. For 
these two summers, they have greatly annoyed our trade. They 
j)illaged one of my vessels, and destroyed the letters." 

In another letter he writes and says, ''Colonel Spots wood, 
Governor of Virginia, formed a design with the Captain of a small 
man-of-war to send out two of their country sloops with about 50 
men, to attack Captain Teach, alias Blackbeard, a pirate then at 
North Carolina, whom they took, and brojight his head into Vir- 
ginia, after a bloody battle, and most of them killed and woun- 
ded,"*— he also adds a sentence of peculiar character, saying, ''I 
have to remark, that papers and letters taken in Blackheard's 

* James Logan says Governor Spotswood had before sent on to Philadelphia to get pro- 
clamations printed, offering a generous reward for pirates. 



The Pirates. 465 

pcwsession will strongly affect some persons in the government of 
North Carolina !" 

In 1717, James Logan writes, saying, "Wc have been extremely 
pestered with pirates who now swarm in America, and increase 
their numbers by almost every vessel they take — [compellingthem 
to enter by coercion or otherwise.] If s])eedy care be not taken 
they will become formidable, being now at least 1500 strong. They 
have very particularly talked of visiting this place ; many of them 
being well acfpiainted witli it, and some born in it, for they are 
generally all English, and therefore know our government can 
make no defence." 

In the same year he writes to the Governor of New York, say- 
ing, " We liave been very much disturbed the last week [in Octo- 
ber.] by the pirates. They have taken and plundered six or seven 
vessels to or from this place ; some they took to their own use^ and 
some they dismissed alter plundering them. Some of our people 
having been several days on board of them, had much free dis- 
course witli tliem. They say they are about 800 strong at Provi- 
dence, and I know not iiow many at Cajje Fear, where they are 
making a settlement. Captain Jennings, they say, is their Gover- 
nor in Chief, and heads them in their settlement. The sloop that 
came on our coast had about 130 men. all stout fellows, all Eng- 
lish, and double armed. They said they waited for tli«ir consort 
of 26 guns, when fney designed to visit I*hiladelphia ! Some of 
our masters say they know almost every man on board — most of 
them having been lately in the river ; their commander is Teach, 
who was here a Mate from Jamaica about two years ago." In 
another letter he says, " They are now busy about us to lay in 
their stores of provisions for the winter." 

In October, 1718, James Logan again writes to Colonel Hunter, 
the Governor of New York, by express, saying, '*We are now 
sending down a small vessel to seize those rogues, if not strength- 
ened from sea. We are in manifest danger here, unless the King's 
ships (which seem careless of the matter,) take some notice of us ; 
they probably think a proprietary government no part of their 
charge.* It is possible indeed, that the merchants of New York, 
some of them I mean, might not be displeased to hear we are all 
reduced to ashes. [Even so early it seems there were jealousies of 
trade !] Unless these pirates be deterred from coming up our rivefs 
by the fear of men-of-war outside to block them in, there is nothing 
but what we may fear from them, for that unhappy pardon [the 
same Teach, before embraced,] has given them a settled correspon- 
dence every where, and an opportunity [mark this,] of lodging 
their friends where they please to come to their assistance ; antl no- 
where in America, [mark this !] I believe, so much as in this town. 

* At that time, as J. Logan writes to John Askew in London, there was a King's ship 
•at New York, and three or four ia Virginia. 

3 P 



460 The Pirates. 

Remember too, sr}s he, that one of the capes of Delaware, and 
half of our hay and river, arc under thy governmoit." 

Such .was the picture of piracy, which once distressed and 
alarmed our forefathcj-s, and shows in itself much of the cause of 
the numerous vague tales we still occasionally hear of Blackbeard 
and the pirates. Here we have direct fact of his then being on 
the coast, well armed Avith a crew of 130 men, and waiting the ar- 
rival of another vessel, Avhen he meditated a visit of rapine and 
plunder on Philadelpliia itself! Think too of his crew being men 
generally known to Captains in Philadelphia — some of them born 
among us, — others had been lately in the river, and the whole 
busily concerting schemes to lay in their winter supply of provisions; 
and all this through the assistance on shore of former pirates 
among tlicm, who had been pardoned by tlie Act of Oblivion, and on 
the whole produced such favour to their object, even in Philadel- 
phia itself, surpassing any other town ! Think too of the alleged 
forceof the whole concentred outlaws — such as 800 in Providence, 
and so many at Cape Fear in North Carolina, as to have their 
own Governor ! 

As some incidental proof of '*the assistance on shorc'^ from pi- 
rates, holding their place among us under the former Act of 
Oblivion and Pardon, we may add, to wit : Isaac Noriis, writing 
to his Mend in October, 1718, says, ''My son Harrison, moving 
from Maryland, had all his household goods and a value of Eng- 
lish goods and stores on board of G. Grant's shallop, taken be- 
tween Apoquiminy and New Castle, and carried oft' with two valu- 
able negro men, by eight or ten pirates in an open boat — rogues 
that lately came in on the King's proclamation ! Grant (the owner 
of the shallop !) is suspected to be in the confederacy, and is in 
prison — having secreted goods belonging to R. Harrison, found 
with him, to the value of 40 to 50£.* 

The same year (1718) I found that the Grand Jury in Philadel- 
phia presented a case of piracy, to wit : John Williams, Joseph 
Cooper,! Micliael Grace, ^yilliam Asheton, George Gardner, 
Francis Royer and Henry Burton, with force of arms, viz. with 
swords, guns, cutlasses, kc. forcibly took the sloop Antelope of 22 
tons, riding in the Delaware, and bore her off", kc. It was, how- 
ever, marked Ignoramus, as not found, probably fromthe difficulty 
of procuring direct witnesses. 

When we thus consider " their friends" thus '' lodged among us 
every where," it presents additional reasons for the ideas of buried 
treasure of the pirates once so very prevalent among the people, of 
which I have presented several facts of digging for it under the 
head of Superstitions. They believing that Blackbeard and his 

* This is the same familj- into which the Hon. Charles Thomson married ; they settled 
at Harriton in Merion, where C. T. lived and died. 

t It may be seen in the seqtiel that Joe Cooper became commander of a pii-ate vessel, 
snd he and his crew came to their otitimely end ia the bay of Honduras in 1725. 



The Pirates, 467 

accomplices buried money and plate in numerous obscure places 
near the rivers ; and sometimes, if the value was great, tliey killed 
a prisoner near it. so that his gliost might keep his vigils there and 
terrify those who might approacii. Those immediately conuec ted 
with pirates might keep tlieir own secrets, but as they might have 
children and connections about, it might be expected to become the 
talk of their posterity in future years that tbeir iatbers had certain 
concealed means of extravagant living : they may have heard them 
talk mysteriously among their accomplices of going to retired 
places for concealed things, kc. In short, if given men bad par- 
ticipation in the piracies, it was but natural that their proper 
posterity should get some bints, under reserved and mysterious 
circumstances of hidden treasure, if it existed. Certainly it was 
once much the expectation and the talk of the times— for instance, 
the very old two-story house at the north east corner of Second 
street and Gray's alley, (i. e. Morris' alley) originally built 
for Stephen Antjiony, in digging its cellar they found there a 
pot of money, supposed to have been buried by the pirates. This 
story I heard from several very aged persons. I have stated else- 
wliere tlie fact of finding another pot of money in Spruce street 
near Front street. 

It may seem strange to us that so much aggregate depravity 
among English seamen could have been found as to accum i' ite 
such numbers of pirates as alleged at Providence and Cape Fear, 
but they bad just come out of a war in which privateering had 
been mucli fostered and depended upon by many. It presents an 
awful proof of the corruption of morals usually produced by the 
legalized robbery, called privateering, so generally conducted in 
an irresponsible manner. Indeed the ideas of privateersmen and 
pirates were so identified in the minds of people generally, that i\ 
privateer was often called the pirate. 



Other Pirates. 

The death of Blackbeard and his immediate companions appears 
to have had no visible restraint on the spirit of desperate adven= 
ture in others. It doubtless broke the connection with us on shore; 
but as general searovers, there still continued later accounts of 
several, roaming and ravaging on the high seas, to wit : 

In the Gazettes of 1720, there is frequent mention of our vessels 
encountering " pirates" in the West Indies. They are pillaged, but 
not murdered ; nor otherwise so barbarously maltreated as now. 

In 1721, it is observed that "the pirates" act generally under the 
colours of Spain and France.—" We liave advice that Captain Edwards, 
the famous pirate, is still in the West Indies, where they have done ni- 
credible damage," and at the same time the Gazette says, " A large 
sloop has been seen from hence (off Cape May) cruising on and off for 



468 the Firatts. 

ten days together, supposed to be a pirate," and three weeks later she 
is mentioned as running ten leagues up the bay, and thence taking out a 
large prize. 

In 1722, mention is made of a pirate brigantine which appears off and 
at Long Island — commanded by ope Lowe, a Bostonian. They had 
captured a vessel with five women in her, and sent them into port in 
safety in another vessel. His name often afterwards occurs as very suc- 
cessful ; at one time he took Honduras, Stc. One Evans, another pirate, 
is also named. While Lowe was off Long Island, several vessels were 
promptly fitted out against him, but none brought back any renown. 

In ! 753, the above " Captain Lowe, the pirate, and his consort, Harris, 
came near the Hook; there they got into action with his Majesty's ship 
the fireyhound. The two pirates bore the black flag, and were com- 
manded by the celebrated Lowe." The Greyhound captured Harris' 
vessel, having 37 whites and 6 blacks, prisoners ; but Lowe's vessel es- 
caped, having on board, it is said, I50,000=g. in gold and silver. The 
names of the prisoners are published, and all appear to be American or 
English. They were tried and all executed, not long after, at Long 
Island. What a hanging day for 44 persons at once I 

Before this action they had probably been near Amboy, 8cc. as it was 
just before announced that " two pirate vessels looked into Perth Am- 
boy, and ipto New York !" 

On the return of Captain Solgard to New York, of the Greyhound,' 
he is presented the freedom of the city, in a gold snuff box. Lowe is af- 
terwards heard of as making prizes of twenty French vessels at Cape 
Breton. He is stated as peculiarly cruel, since his fight above, to Eng- 
lishmen, cutting and slitting their ears and noses. There is also named 
one Lowder— another pirate on the banks. 

In 1724, Lowe, the pirate, lately came across a Portuguese, and plun^ 
dered her. His vessel is a ship of 30 guns, called the Merry Christmas ;. 
he has another ship in company as his consort. Captain Ellison, of New 
York, was taken in sight of Barbadoes by Sprigg, the pirate, by whom 
he was well treated, though plundered some. Soon after, the Gazette an- 
nounces that it is said that Sprigg the pirate is to come on our coast to 
the Eastward, to careen. He is in the Old Squirrel man-of-war, which 
being sold for a merchantman was taken by Lowe, and run away with 
by Sprigg and others of Lowe's crew. He says when he gets more 
men he will come and take Captain Solgard, with whom he before fought 
off the Hook, and who was at this time again out in the Greyhound, 
cruising along the coast for pirates. 

The same year (1724) it is announced that they hear from Honduras 
by Captain Smith, that ^' Sprigg, the pirate,'' is there in the Bachelor's 
Delight of 24 guns, in company with Skipton in the Royal Fortune of 22 
guns- — the same which h^d been commanded by Lowe, but his crew 
mutinying set him ashore. Skipton is a North countryman, and merci- 
ful They promise to visit our coasts in the spring. 

In 1725, it is said that Sprigg, tl^e pirate, was put ashore by his men 
in the West Indies, whereby he was taken prisoner to Jamaica. From 
Barbadoes it is heard that Line, who was commander of his consort, was 
taken into Currocoa. There they were paraded to the prison, with their 
black silk flag ! Line had lost his nose and an eye, and the wounds of 



The Plratei. 469 

ins men stan^ as they walked. Line confessed he had killed 57 masters 
of vessels ! — Possibly it was boasting over-much. Skipton, the pirate, 
wit!--! 80 men, is stated to have been taken by his Majesty's ship the l)ia- 
m'>nd, in the bay of Honduras, together with Joseph Cooper,* another 
pirate vessel. When one of these vessels saw she must surrender, the 
Captain with many of liis men went into the cabin and blew themselves 
up! 

This year of 1725 appears to have been fatal to the pirates. 
Their career seemci almost every where run out, and terrible and 
inglorious their end — " The way of the transgressor is hard !'* 
After this the former frequent mention of pirates, in almost every 
weekly paper, subsides. The peaceful and honest mariners no 
longer fear to traverse the ocean. There was still delays of justice 
to some, when, as late as October, 1731, Captain Macferson and 
four others were tried for piracy and hanged. 

* Joe Cooper was before mentioned as a pirate, known and presented by the Grant^ 
Jury at Philadelphia m 1718. 



THE SWEDES. 



5^'HE following few facts concerning the Swedes, the earliest 
cultivators of our soil, may be worthy of some brief notices, to wit : 
Penn's letter says the Swedes and Fins came soon after the Dutch ; 
while the latter pursued traffic the others turned to husbandry, sett- 
ling chiefly about tlie freshes of the river Delaware. Such as Penn 
saw them, they were a plain, strong, industrious people, but had 
made no great improvements. Their houses were full of fine 
children. 

Numbers of Swedes lived about Kensington and on Gunner's 
creek, before the arrival of Penn. They had grants of land from 
Alexander Henoyon, the Governor of New York, as early as 1664 — 
that is the date of the deed to old Peter Cock for Shackamaxon. 
On tiiat creek, three fourths of a mile from its mouth, now so dimin- 
ished, they once built large sloops, and afterwards a bi'ig at its 
mouth. 

The Swedes dwelt in numbers on Tinicum, calling the place 
New Gottenburg. At their church there, the first corps ever 
buried was Catharine, daughter of Andrev,^ Hanson, October 24, 
1646. 

To the church upon Tinicum Island all tlie Swedes, settled 
along the Delaware, used to go in their canoes from long distan- 
ces. They did the same in visiting the primitive log church at 
Wiccoco, — almost all their conveyances were preferred by water. 
There was a store upon Darby to which they always went by wa- 
ter, even when the land route was often nearest. 

The old Swedish inhabitants were said to be very successful in 
raising chick turkies ; as soon as hatched they plunged them into 
cold water, and forced them to sw^allow a whole pepper corn, — they 
then returned it to the mother, and it became as hardy as a hen's 
chick. When tliey found them drooping, their practice was to 
examine the rump feathers, and such two or three as were found 
filled with blood were to be drawn, and the chick would revive 
and thrive. 

- Kalm, the Swedish traveller, who was here among his countrymen 
in 1748, has left us such notices as follows concerning them, to wit : 

Tlie ancient Swedes used the sassafras for tea, and for a dye. 
From the persimon tree they made beer and brandy. They cal- 
led the mullein plant the Indian tobacco ; they tied it round their 
arms and feet, as a cure when they had the ague. They made 
their candles generally from the bayberry bushes ; the root they 



The Swedes. 471 

used to cure tooth ache ; from the bush they also made au agree- 
able smelling soap. The magnolia tree they made use of for vari- 
ous medicinal purposes. 

The houses of the first Swedish settlers were very indifferent; 
it consisted of but one room ; the door was so low as to recjuire you 
to stoop. Instead of window panes of glass they had little holes, 
before which a sliding board was put. or, on other occasions they 
had isinglass; the cracks between logs wei-e filled with clay; 
the chimnies, in a corner, were generally of grey sandstone, or 
for want of it. sometimes of mere clay ; the ovens were in the same 
room. They had at fii-st separate stables for tlie cattle ; but after 
the English came and set the example, they left their cattle to suf- 
fer in the open winter air. The Swedes wore vests and breeches 
ofskins; hats were not used, but little caps with flaps before them» 
They made tlieir own leather and shoes, witii soles (like moccasins) 
of the same materials as the tojjs. The women too, wore jackets 
and petticoats of skins ; their beds, excepting the sheets, were of 
skins, of bears, wolves, kc. Hemp tliey had none, but tliey 
used flax for ropes and fisliing tackle. This rude state of living 
was, however, in the coimtry places principally, and before the 
English came, who, rough as they must have also lived for a time, 
taught a comparative state of hixury. 

The Swedes seem, however, to liave retained an hereditary at- 
tacimient to skin garments, for witiiin the memory of tiie a"-ed 
Mrs. S. she had seen old Mauntz Stille,down the Passyunk rolid, 
in liis calfskin vest and jacket, and buckskin breeches. 

Many Swedes settled along the western side of the Schuylkill. 
Matthias Holstein, a primitive settler in Upper Merion, took up 
1000 acres there. Mauntz Rambo, an aged Swede, alive about 50 
years ago, born near the Swedes Ford, was a celebrated hunter in 

his day ; he killed numerous deer in the neighbourhood in iiis time 

once he shot a panther which he found attempting to attack his 
dog. He remembered many Indians still among them, in his 
younger days. 

My friend Major M. Holstein, fond of his Swedish descent, tells 
me, that when he went to tlie Swedes' church in Merion as a bov, 
all the men and women came there on horseback, and all the 
women wore '* safe-guard petticoats," which they took off" and hung 
along the fence. , 

His grandmother, born at Molothan, four miles from Potts- 
grove, remembered the Indians once about them, and that she her- 
self when young, had been carried some distance on a squaw's 
back. They then did all their travelling by canoes on the Schuyl- 
kill. When married, she and her wedding friends came down to 
the Swedes Ford in their canoes. In the same manner they always 
made their visits to Philadelphia. 



THE GERMANS. 



THIS hardy, frugal, and industrious portion of our population 
in Pennsylvania, so numerous and exclusive in places as to pre- 
serve their manners and language unaltered, are so often the sub- 
ject of remark in the early MSS. which I have seen in the Logan 
collection, &c. as to deserve a separate notice, to wit : 

When the Germans first came into the country, saxe those who 
were Friends and settled in Germantown in 1682-3. it is manifest 
there was a fear they would not be acceptable inliabitants, for 
.Tames Logan in 1717 remarks, "We have of late great numbers 
of Palatines jjoured in upon us without any recomun^ndation or no- 
tice, which gives the country some uneasiness, for foreigners do not 
so well among us as our own people," the English. 

Itt 1719 Jonathan Dickinson remarks, " We are daily expecting 
ships from London which bring over Palatines, in number about six 
or seven hundred. We had a parcel who came about five years 
ago, who purchased land about sixty miles west of Philadelphia, 
and prove quiet and industrious. Some few came from Ireland 
lately, and more are expected tlience. Tiiis is besides our common 
supply from Wales and England. Our friends do increase mighti- 
ly, and a great people tiiere is in this wilderness country, which 
is fast becoming a fruitful field.'* 

Kalm, the Swedish traveller, here in 1748, says the Germans all 
preferred to settle in Pennsylvania, because they had been ill-treat- 
ed by the authorities in New York, whither they first inclined to 
settle. Many had gone to that colony about the year 1709, [say 
1711,] and made settlements on their own lands, which were inva- 
ded under various pretexts. They took great umbrage, and beat 
some of the persons who were disposed to dispossess them. Some 
ef their leading men were seized by the government. The re- 
mainder in disgust left the country, and proceeded to settle in Penn- 
sylvania. After that, even those who arrived at New York would 
not be persuaded to tarry, but all pushed on to Pennsylvania, where 
a better protection was granted to their rights and privileges. 
This mortified the New Yorkers, but they could not remove the 
first unfavourable impressions. As many as twelve thousand came 
to Philadelphia in 1749. 

This emigration from New York to Pennsylvania is further in- 
cidentally explained by James Logan in his MS. letters to the pro- 



The Germans. 475 

prietaries. In writing to them in tlie year 1724, he manifests 
considerable disquietude at the great numbers coming among them, 
so numerous that he apprehends the Germans may even t'eel dis- 
posed to usurp the country to themselves. He speaks of the lands 
to the northward, (meaning Tulpehocken) as overrun by the un- 
ruly Germans, — the same who, in the year 1711, arrived at New 
York at the Queen's expense, and were invited hither in 1722 
(as a State policy) by Sir William Keith when he was at Alh:.uy, 
for purposes of strengthening his political influence by favoui-ing 
them. 

In another letter of 1725, he calls them crowds of bold and indi- 
gent strangers from Germany, many of whom had been sohliers. 
All these go into the best vacant tracts, and seize upon them as places 
of common spoil. He says they rarely approach him on their arri- 
val to propose to purchase : and when they are sought out and clial- 
lenged for their rights of occupancy, they allege it was published 
in Europethat we wanted and solicited for colonists, and had a su- 
perabundance of land, and tliereforc they had come without the 
means to pay. The Germans in aftertime embroiled witli the In- 
dians at Tulpehocken, threatening a serious affair.* In general, 
those who sat down without titles acquired enough in a few years 
to buy them, and so generally they were left unmolested. Logan 
speaks of 100,000 acres of land so possessed, and including the 
Irish squatters also. 

" Bold master-spirits, where they touch'd they gain'd 
Ascendence — where they fix'd their foot, they reign'd 1" 

The character of the Germans then known to him, he states, arc 
many of them a surly people— divers of them Papists, — the men 
well armed, and, as a body, a warlike, morose race. In 1727, he 
states that 6000 Germans more are expected, and also many 
from Ireland ; and these emigrations he hopes may be pi-evented in 
future by act of parliament, else he fears these colonies will, in 
time, be lost to the crown ! — a future fact. 

In 1729, he speaks of being glad to observe the influx of stran- 
gers, as likely to attract the interference of parliament, for truly, 
says he, they have danger to apprehend for a country where not 
even a militia exists for government support. To arrest in some 
degree their arrival the Assembly assessed a tax of 20 shillings 
a head on new arrived servants. 

In another letter he says, the numbers from Germany at this 
rate will soon produce a German colony here, and perhaps such a 
one as Britain once received from Saxony in the fifth century. 
He even states as among the apprehended schemes of Sir William 
Keith, the former Governor, that he, Harland and Gould, have 
had sinister projects of forming an independent province in the 

* It was at Tulpehocken Conrad Weiser, a German, so often employed as Indian inter- 
preter, was settled and died— say at present Womelsdorf, where he had his farm, 
3 Q 



474 The Germam. 

West to the westward of the Germans, towards the Ohio — probably 
west of the mountains, and to be supplied by his friends among 
the Palatines and Irish, among %yhofn was his chief popularity at 
that time. 

In later time, say about the year 1750 to ^55, the Germans 
Jiaving become numerous, and therefore powerful as make-weights 
in the ])alitical balance, wcr«> much noticed in the publications of 
the day. They were at that period of time in general very hearty 
co-0])erators with tlie Friends, then in considerable rule in the 
Assembly. A MS. pamphlet before me, supposed to have been 
written by Samuel Wharton in 1755, shows his ideas of the pas- 
sing events, saying, that the party on the side of Friends derived 
much of their influence over the Germans through the aid of C. 
Sower, wlio published a German paper in Germantown from the 
time of 1729, and which, being much read by that people, influen- 
ced them to the side of the Friends, and hostile to the Governor 
and Council. Through this man, says he, they have persuaded 
them there was a design to enslave them ; to enforce theii* young 
men [by a contemplated militia law,] to become soldiers, and to 
load them witii taxes, &c. From such causes, he adds, they came 
down in shoals to vote, and carry all before them. To this I may 
add, that I have heard from the Norris family that their ancestors 
in the Assembly were warmly patronised by the Germans in uni- 
on with Friends. His alarms at this German influence at the 
polls, and his proposed remedies for the then dreaded evils, as they 
show the prevalent feelings of his associates in politics, may serve 
to amuse the present generation. He says the bad effects of these 
successes of the Germans will probably be felt through many gen- 
erations ! Instead of a peaceable, industrious peojjle as before, they 
nr grown now insolent, sullen and turbulent, — in some counties 
threatening even the lives of all those who oppose their views, be- 
cause they are taught to regard government and slavery as one 
and the same thing. All who arc not of their party they call 
** Governor's men," and themselves they deem strong enough to 
make the country their own ! Indeed, they come in, in such force, 
say upwards of 5000 in the last year, I see not but they may soon 
be able to give us law and language too, or else, by joini)ig the 
French, eject all tlie English. That this may be the case, is too 
much to be fearetl, for almost to a man they refused to bear arms 
in the time of the late war, and they say it is all one to them 
"which King gets the country, as their estates will be equally 
secure. Iiideed it is clear that the French have turned their hopes 
upon this great body of Germans. They hope to allure them by 
grants of Ohio lands. To this end they send their Jesuitical emis- 
saries among them to persuade them over to the Popish religion.* 

* It is true that the Jesuits at an carlv period founded a missionary station at Lancaster; 
and in- 1734, Governor Gordon, from the fear &f their being connected with French in- 
f rrests, brought the subject brfore the Conncil. 



The Germans. '^' J 

In concert with this the French for so many years liavc encroached 
on our province, and now are so near their sclieine as to be witliiu 
two (lays inai'ch of some of our back settlements— alhiding of 
course to the state of the western wihis, overrun by French and 
In(!ians Just before the arrival of Braddock's forces in Virginia, 
in 1755.' 

The writer imputes their wrong bias in general to their ''stub- 
boi'n genius and ignorance," which he proposes to soften by edu- 
cation — a schejne still suggested as necessary to give the general 
mass of the inland coujitry Germans right views of public and in- 
dividual interests. To this end, he proposes that fait'.ifiil Protestant 
ministers and sclmolmsvsters should be supported among them—a 
scheine, as we shall presently see, whicli actually came to pass. Their 
children should be taught the English tongue; the government in 
the mean time should suspend their right of voting for members of 
Assembly: and to incline them the sooner to become English iu 
education and feeling, we should compel them to make all bonds 
and other legal wi-itings in English, and no newspapei- or almanac 
be circulated among them unless also accompanied by the English 
thereof. 

Finally, the writer concludes that '' without some such measure 
1 see nothing to prevent tliis province from falling into the hands 
of the French !" The paper at length, may be. seen in my MS. 
Annals in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, pages 198 to 202. 
There may be consulted also, in the City Library, several pam- 
phlets, pro and con, concerning the Germans and Quakers, printed 
in 1747-8— one is " Plain Truth,"—" An Answer to Plain Truth," 
—and in 1764 appears *'the Plain Dealer," and "An Answer" to 

it> &c. • • T.^ 1 1 

The same writer gives a passing notice of a Society in England, 
of noblemen and gentlemen, to raise funds for some English schools 
for the Germans among us; and in 1755 Benjamin Franklin pub- 
lished a book, entitled •' A Brief History of the Charitable Scheme 
for Instructing Poor Germans in Pennsylvania." It is the same 
scheme alluded to in the Pennsylvania Gazette of 1755, saying 
therein, that a great Society is formed in Europe for the raising of 
money for instructing tiie poor German children, and giving tiiem 
ministers, kc. It is patronised iu Holland and England by the 
first nobility and gentry, and some of our first citizens are made 
Trustees of the charity— such as Hamilton, Allen, Franklin. Pe- 
ters, &c. The Rev. Mr. Schlatter is made visiting and travelling 
Inspector and Agent, and *he Rev. Dr. Smith, our Provost, was 
charged with the publication of a German newspaper. The States 
of Holland and West Friesland grant 2000 guilders per annum, 
for five years. Much is given in Amsterdam. The General As- 
sembly of Scotland gave 1200£. sterling. The King of England 
gave 1000£. — the Princess of Wales lOOi?. — the proprietaries also 
agreed to give annually, &c- The style of tlie whole forcibly re« 



476 The Germans, 

minds one of the popular missionary schemes of the present day. 
It is all done in the name of advancing the interests of the Pro- 
testant religion — giving pious education — teaching them ''to read 
their Bible, to sing psalms, to write and cast accounts," and also 
*'to furnish pious instruction where they have no ministers." The 
wliole ! ffpct of this formidable array, now that the effervescence 
has subsided, and the means have been fully exerted, might tempt 
a looker-on to suggest mi bono ! 



THE IRISH. 



THE Irish emigrants did not begin to come into Pennsylvama 
until alMUit the vi'-.r 1719. Those which did come were generally 
from the Nortl/of Irrjand. Such as came out first generally set- 
tled at and near the disputed Maryland line. James Logan, writing 
of them to the proprietaries, in I7i24. says they have generally 
taken up the southern lands, [meaning in Lancaster county, to- 
wards t!ie Maryland line] and as they rarely approached him to 
propose to purchase he calls them hold and indigent strangers, 
saying as their excuse, when challenged for titles, that we had 
solicited for colonists and they had come accordingly. Tiiey were, 
however, understood to he a tolerated class, exempt from rents by an 
ordinance of 1720, in consideration of their being a frontier people, 
forming a kind of cordon of defence, if needful. They were soon 
called bad neighbours to the Indians, treating them disdainfully, 
and finally were the same race who committed the outrage called 
the Paxtang massacre. These general ideas of them are found in 
the Logan MS. collection. Some of the data is as follows : 

In 1725 James Logan states that there are as many as 100,000 
acres of land possessed by persons (including Germans) who reso- 
lutely set down and improve it without any right to it, and he is 
much at a loss to determine how to dispossess them. 

In 1729 he expresses himself glad to find the Parliament is about 
to take measures to prevent the two free emigration to this country. 
In the mean time the Assembly had laid a restraining tax of 20 
shillings a head for every servant arriving ; but even this was 
evaded in the case of the arrival of a ship from Dublin with 100 
Papists and convicts, by landing them at Burlington. It looks, 
says he, as if Ireland is to send all its inhabitants hither, for last 
week not less than six ships arrived, and every day two or three 
arrive also. The common fear is, that if tliey thus continue to 
come they will make themselves proprietors of the province. It is 
strange, says he, that they thus crowd where they are not wanted. 
But few besides convicts are imported thither.* The Indians 
themselves are alarmed at the swarms of strangers, and we are 

* Augustus Gun, of Cork, advertised in the Philadelphia paper, that he had power from 
the Mayor of Cork, for many years, to procure servants for America. 



4ro The Irish. 

afraid of a breach between them — for the Irish are very wugh to 
them. 

In 1730 he writes and complains of the Scotch Irish, in an au- 
dacious and disorderly manner possessing themselves about that 
time of the whole of Conestogoe manor of 15.000 acres, being the 
best land in the country. In doing tliis by force, they alleged that 
'•it was against the laws of God and nature, that so much land 
should be idle while so many Christians wanted it to labour on, and 
to raise their bread," &c. The Paxtaug hoys were all great sticklers 
for religion and for Scripture quotations against "the heathen !" 
They were, however, dispossessed by the Sheriff and his posse, and 
their cabins, to the number of thirty, were burnt. This necessary 
violence was perhaps remembered with indignation, for only 25 
years afterwards the Paxtang massacre began by killing the 
Christian unoffending Indians found in Conestogoe. Those Irish 
were generally settled in DonegaL 

In another letter he writes, saying, I must own, from my own 
experience in the Land Office, that the settlement of five families 
from Ireland gives me more trouble than fifty of any other people. 
Before we were broke in upon, ancient Friends and first settlors 
lived happily, but now the case is (juite altered, by strangers and 
debauched morals, &c. All this seems like hard measure dealt 
upon these specimens of ''the land of generous natures," but we 
may be excused for letting him speak out, wlio was himself fi'om 
the " Emerald Isle," where he had of course seen a better race. 

His successor, Richard Peters, as Secretary to the proprietaries., 
falls into similar dissatisfaction witli them — for in his letter to tliem, 
of 1743, he says he went to Marsh creek, in Lancaster county, to 
warn off and dispossess the squatters, and to measure the manor 
land. On that occasion, the people there, to about the number of 
seventy, assembled and forbid them to proceed, and on their per- 
sisting they broke the chain and compelled them to retire. He 
had with him a Sheriff and a Magistrate, They were afterwards 
indicted— became subdued, and made their engagements for leases. 
In most cases the leases were so easy that they were enabled to 
liny the lands ere they expired. 



NEGROGS AND SL.AVE8. 



He finds his fellow guilty — of a skin 

Not colour'd like his own ! — For such a cause 

Dooms and devotes him as his lawful prey. 

IN tiie olden time dressy blacks and dandy colour'd beaux and 
belles, as we now sec them issuing from tlieir proper churches, 
were quite unknown. Their aspirings and little vanities have been 
rapidly gi'owing since they got those separate churches, and have 
received their entire exemption from slavery. Once they submit- 
ted to the appellation of servants, blacks, or negroes, but now they 
require to be called coloured people, and among themselves, their 
common call of salutation is — gentlemen and ladies. Twenty to 
thirty years ago, they were much humbler, more esteemed in their 
place, and more useful to themselves and others. As a wliole they 
show an overweening fondness for display and vainglory — fondly 
imitating the whites in processions and banners, and in the pomp 
and pageantry of Masonic and Washington Societies, &c. With 
the kindest feelings for their race, judicious men wish them' wiser 
conduct, and a better use of the benevolent feelings wliich induced 
their emancipation among us. 

We have happily been so long relieved from the curse of slavery, 
that it's scarcely known to the youiiger part of the comnnniity how- 
many features we once possessed of a slave-owning colony. The 
following facts in the case will prove new to many : 

The first negi^o slaves ever imported into North America were 
brought in a Dutch ship in 1620, and sold in Virginia. 

The state of slavery in Pennsylvania was always of a mild 
character, not only from the favourable and mild feelings of the 
Friends in their behalf, but from the common regai'd they found in 
families in general where their deportment was commendable. 
Hector St. John, Esq. who wrote concerning the state of slavery 
in Pennsylvania* as it was just before the period of the Revolu- 
tion, says, '*In Pennsylvania they enjoy as much liberty as their 
masters — are as well fed and as well clad ; and in sickness are 
tenderly taken care of — for, living under the same roof, they are in 
effect a part of the family. Being the companions of their labours, 
and treated as such, they do not work more than ourselves, and 

* VMe his Farmer's Letters. 



480 • J\*egroes and Slaves. 

think themselves happier than many of the lower class of whites.— 
A far happier race among us, he adds, than those poor suffering 
slaves of the South." 

The first efforts ever made in Pennsylvania towards the eman- 
cipation of the blacks proceeded from* the Society of Friends in 
Germantown, the most of whom, at tiiat pei-iod, were emigrants from 
Germany. These in the year 1688, under tiie aii'^pices of F. D. 
Pastorius, moved a petition or remo'isti",iMr<> to the Yearly Meeting 
of Friends, saying in effect, it was not Christiim-like to buy ;:nd 
keep negroes. The Meeting forbore then to give an> positive 
judgment in the case. But inquiry was created. Cotetnporary 
with this period William Penn iiimself. whose light or i-eilections 
on tlic case were not equally awakened, says, in liis letter of the 
4th of 8 mo. 1685, to his steward. James Harrison, at Pennsh ^ry, 
•* It were better they were blacks, for then we might have them 
for life," intimating thereby, t!iat his indented servants tliere, were 
changed too often. , , ^ ir -i^i 

In 1693, the separate Meeting of Friends under George Keith, 
assembling at the house of Pliilip James, in Philadelphia, gave 
forth a paper declaring their sense of the duty of emancipation— 
" after some reasonable time of service."— Vide Gabriel Thomas. 

The large original proprietors of property in Philadelphia and 
Pennsylvania, called -the Free Society of Ti-aders" of 1682, al- 
though as a corporation tiiey might be said, like others, "to be 
without souls," conceded an article very favourable to emancipa- 
tion saying, "If the Society should receive blacks for servants, 
they !5hall make them free at 14 years end, upon condition that 
they will give unto the Society's ware-house two-thirds ot what 
they are capable of producing on such a parcel of land as shall be 
allotted to tliem by the Society, with a stock and necessary tools. 
Then comes a proviso of rather singular character, saying, " And 
if they will not accept of tliese terms they shall be servants till 

they will accept of it !" ^ x r- tii -i j i u- 

I have seen among the earliest pamphlets extant of Philadelphia 
publication, one from the Friends' Meeting of Philadelphia, of the 
13th of 8 mo. 1693, giving "exhortation and caution to Friends 
concerning buying and keeping negroes." The sum of the coun- 
sel was. that none should attempt "to buy except to set free. 
This little address contained many of the arguments now usually 
set forth against slavery. , . . * j 

In 1696, the Yearly Meeting of Friends having concerted some 
measures to discourage the bringing in of more slaves, and to pre- 
serve the morals of those they had, the subject was renewed m 
the year 1700, on the arrival of William Penn, m consideration of 
his pressing upon the Philadelphia Meeting his wishes concerning 
the same. Their sense of the subject was expressed as follows, 
to wit : " Our dear friend and Governor, having laid before this 
Meeting a concern that liath laid upon his mind for some time 



J\*egroes and Slaves. 4sl 

concerning the negroes and Indians, tliat Friends ought ixt he xovy 
careful in disciiarging a good conscience towards them in all 
respects, hut more especially for llie good of their souls; upon ( on- 
sidoration whereof, this Meeting concludes to appoint a Meeting 
for negroes, to be kcj)t once a month, &c." 

At the same time he introduced a hill into the Assembly " for 
regulating negroes in their morals and marriages," — also another 
''for their trials and punishments." The former was defeated by 
the jealousies then in the House. From the same causes an act of 
more security was substituted in 1705 against the negroes, entitled 
** An Act for the trial and punishment of negroes." It inflicted 
lashes for petty offences, an<l death for crimes of nmgnitude. They 
were not allowed to carry a gun without license, or be whipped 21 
lashes — noi- to meet above four together lest they might form ca- 
bals and riots. They were to be whipped if found abroad after 
nine o'clock at night without a pass, &c. At and before 1705, it 
had been in practice to bring Indians as slaves from the Carolinas, 
to the offence of the Pennsylvania Indians. This was prevented 
by an Act. 

In 1715, Mr. Isaac Norris in one of his lettei-s speaks thus con- 
cerning a question in Meeting respecting slaves : " Our Meeting 
was large and comfortable, and our business would have been very- 
well were it not for the warm pushing by some Friends, of Chester 
chiefly, in the business of negroes. The aim was to obtain a 
minnte that none should buy them for the future. Tiiis was 
opposed as of dangerous consequence to the peace of the church ; 
for since they could not tell how to dispose of those we liave, 
and that many members nmst still possess them, and then it 
might fall to their lot in duty to deal with future offenders, 
which as it could not in itself be equitable, such must do it 
with an ill grace, and at best it would be a foundation for pre- 
judice and evil speaking one of another, so that it was got over/' 
The liberating genius of Benezet has since cast better lights upon 
this subject, perplexed as they then deemed it. 

The early efforts made to repress slavery were reiterated and 
numerous in our Provincial Assembly. As early as the year 1705, 
a duty was imposed on their impoi'tation : this was renewed in 
1710. In 1711, they struck at the root of the evil, by forbidding 
their introduction in future ; but the Privy Council in England, 
scandalized by such liberal policy in so new and so diminutive a 
community, whilst their policy was to cherish slavery in so many 
other colonies, quashed the act in an instant. The Assembly, not 
daunted by such a repulse, again in 1712, upon petition, "signed 
by many hands," aimed at the same effect, by assessing the large 
sum of 20£. a head. This was again cancelled by the same trans- 
atlantic policy. When the petition for the 20£. duty was present- 
ed, another was offered in the name of William Southeby, pray- 
ing '<for the total abolition of slavery in Pennsylvania !" 
3 R 



482 JVegroes and Slaves. 

Ttius early were the minds of our forefathers awake to this mani- 
fest infraction of human rights, and having their consciences and 
feelings enlisted in tlic cause, though often thwarted in their pur- 
poses, they still continued to renew their efforts, so that more than 
one dozen of acts may be counted upon our statute books, tending 
directly or indirectly to repress or abolish slavery prior to our 
Revolution. Finally, the memorable act of 1780, when we had 
"set up for ourselves," for ever released us from the thraldom of 
^' Sinews bought and sold !" 

A letter of 4 mo. 1715, from Jonathan Dickinson, a merchant of 
l^hiladelphia, and a Friend, to his correspondent in Jamaica, says, 
''I must entreat you to send me no more negroes for sale, for 
our j)eople dont care to buy. They are generally against any 
coming into tlie country. Few people care to buy them, except 
for those who live in other provinces." — Vide the Logan MSS. 

Some benevolent individual, as early as the year 1722, adver- 
tised in the Mercury Gazette of Philadelphia, that " a person, late- 
ly arrived, freely offers his services to teach his podr brethren, the 
male negroes, to read the Holy Scriptures without any charge." 

The celebrated Whitfield embraced the benevolent scheme of 
ameliorating the condition of the blacks he saw in our colonies. 
In 1739 he published his letter to the southern planters, against 
the practice of slavery, and in favour of the blacks ; at the same time 
he takes up 5000 acres on the Forks of Delaware, (the same sold 
to Count Zinzendorf for Bethlehem,) in order to erect a negro 
school, &c. His choice of Pennsylvania for his negro colony and 
settlement, showed thus early his favourable opinion of the good 
feelings to that race in Pennsylvania. 

At the same time we may perceive, that as a slave holding colony 
the odious features of slavery were necessarily to be seen among 
us, — such as the public buying and selling, — their arrival and lan- 
ding from ships, &c. I give the following facts in illustration of 
things as they were once among us, to w it : 

Year lf36 — William Allen and Joseph Turner, merchants, 
advertise for sale some likely negroes from Barbadoes ; another 
about the same time advertises for sale a likely breeding negro 
w Oman and her hoy of two years old. 

Year 1762 — Messrs. Willing and Morris advertise for sale 170 
negroes just arrived from the Gold Coast. 

It was the common incident of the day to vend blacks of both 
sexes at public sale, at the old London Coffee House, setting up 
the subject upon the head of a cask for display to the purchasers 
around. 

After better views and feelings had long prevailed, old recoUec- 
tions were strongly revived in an incident which occurred in the 
year 1800. — The Ganges sloop of war captured two vessels en- 
gaged in slavery, and brought them into our Delaware — one had 
118 and the other 16 slaves. In encamping tliese at the Lazaretto 



J^egroes and Slavta. 48 o 

tor the benefit of free air and healtli. a husband and wife, separated 
in the ships, never expecting to meet again, recognised ^'ach other. 
Tlieir mutual recognisance was passionately fond and affec ,ng. 
Tlie sudden surprise and joy was too powerlul for the wife, and she 
became a premature mother. But th.-ough the ^^cll directed kind- 
ness of the Abolition Society she was restored to health and 

' Before the Revolution it was a common incident in Philadelphia 
to send family servants to the jail to get their do/en lashes, tor 
acts of insubordination. This was done at the pleasure ot the 
master, and was usually executed on receiving a written message 
from the owners. An old gentleman told me o( a case which he 
witnessed :-A master sent his servant, - Hodge s C^^o, wi h his 
letter, wherein he requested to have him well whipt. The black 
was shrewd, suspected it conveyed some ill to him. and tell upon 
a device to shun it. He stretched himself on the stall at the mar- 
ket house near the prison, atfecting to have been seized ^vit'^ vio- 
lent cramps and pains in the bowels. When he had succeeded to 
excite the pity of some bystanders, he begged a black tellow near 
him to hurrv away and deliver his letter, as it was a matter requi- 
ring haste. The appeal answered the purposefully; for, maugrc all 
his remonstrances, he received all the lashes bespoke tor ''the 

^\Vhen slaves were purchased in early times with intention to be 
taken to other colonies, there was seen, even in Philadelphia, 
the odious spectacle of "the drove," tied two and two, passing 
through the city towards the country—Several ot the aged have 
told me of witnessing such things even m the gentle city ot 1 enn . 
Many can still remember when the slaves were allowed the 
last days of the fairs for their jubilee, whicli they employed (• light 
hearted wretch I'^in dancing the whole afternoon in the present 
Washington Square, then a general bui'ying ground-the blacks 
ioyful above, while the sleeping dead reposed below ! In that ntiu 
could be seen at cmce more than one thousand of both sexes divided 
into n-nnerous little squads, dancing, and singing, "each m t}ieir 
own tongue," after the customs of their several nations in Airica. 
Finally, a discerning lady, who has witnessed -the former 
years," and has seen the comparative happiness of the blacks- 
has felt too, her strong affections and domestic relations to her 
family servants-thus speaks of her sense of the change produced 
in family comforts ! " In tlie olde.i time domestic com brts were 
not eve/y day interrupted by the pride and profligacy o servants. 
The slaves of Philadelphia were a happier class ot people than the 
free blacks of the present day generally are, who taint the very air 
by their vices, and exhibit every sort of wretchedness and profli- 
gacy in their dwellings. The former felt themselves to be an in- 
tegral part of the family to wiiich they belonged, fhey expe i- 
enced in all respects tlie same consideration and kindness as whita 



"^^^ ^Yegwes and Slaves. 

servants, and they were faithful and contented." The truth is in 
numerous cases where they wei-c freed, they preferred to remain 
and receive their M-ages till their deaths. 

Kalm, the Swedish traveller, speaks of the then only free negroes 
in Phiiadolpna in 1748, as having been manumitted by a QvVaker 
master-probably referring to Ralph Sandiford, who freed all of his 
in the year 1733, and probably presenting to ns the first instance 
01 the kind known in our annals. 

There is an ancient charity for the blacks of Philadelphia, founded 
as early as the year 1696, and yet, although in actual operation, is 
as much unknown to tjjc mass of our citizens as if it were in Africa' 
I originated with the Rev. Dr. Bray, American missionary, the 
Jiishop of London, and Mr. D'Alone, Secretary to King William 
Its primary object was '"the conversion of adult negroes, and the 
education of their children "in the British plantations. Its ope- 
ration witli our Philadelphia blacks began about the year 1760. 
And in 1774 the ground rents of a large lot in our ci'ty was set 
apart for the payment of the expenses of two schools for blacks, 
one for- each sex, to be educated gratuitously. " Tiie Associates" 
m l^ngland are perpetual: and from their appointments, three of 
our citizens, cmiichmcn, constantly serve the schools as directors 
and gmernors.— Those now in service are William Meredith, Tho- 
mas Hale, and James S. Smith, Esquires. Such a charity, supported 
by ioiTigners, deserves to be better knoWn, and especially by those 
i.> Jacks who may become its beneficiaries. 



REDEMPTION SERVANTS. 



NUMEROUS persons used to arrive every year from Germany 
and Ireland, who engaged themselves for a term of years to pay 
their passages. Some of them turned out frugal and industrious, 
and became in time a part of our wealthy citizens. In souje few 
cases they appear to have been convicts from Ireland. In one case 
tliP servant was found to be a Lord, and returned home to inherit 
his estate. Tlie general facts are to the following effect, to wit : 

In 1722 tlie Palatini servants were disposed of at 10£. each, 
for 5 years of servitude. About this time a MS. letter of Jonathan 
Dickinson says, '^Many who have come over under covenants for 
four years are now masters of great estates." 

1728 — An advertisement reads. "Lately imported, and to be sold 
cheap, a parcel of likely men and women servants." — These were 
probably servants from Europe. 

] 729 — 1,1 New Castle government there arrived last year, says 
the Gazette, 4500 persons, chiefly from Ireland ; and at Philadel- 
phia, in one year, 267 English and Welsh, 43 Scotch— all ser- 
vants, 1155 Irish, and 243 Palatines, of whom none were servants. 

In 1737, an article appears in the Pennsylvania Gazette to the 
following effect, to wit : "An errant cheat detected at Annapolis ! 
A vessel arrived there, bringing 66 indentures, signed by tiie May- 
or of Dublin, and 22 xvigs, of such a make as if they were intend- 
ed lor no other use than to set out the convicts when they should go 
ashore." Thus these convicts were attempted, under fraudulent 
papers and decent wigs, to be put off as decent servants, and espe- 
cially when surmounted with wigs ! Same time is advertised "for 
sale, a parcel of English servants from Bristol." 

In 1741, public information is given to merchants and captains 
that Augustus Gun of Cork, bellman, has power from the Mayor 
there, to procure servants for America for this many years past. 

Such an advertisement in a Philadelphia paper, was of course an 
intimation that the Mayor of Cork was willing to get off sundry 
culprits to the colonies. 

In 1750, some of our good citizens take alarm at the idea of hav- 
ing criminals, "unwhipt of justice," imposed upon them. They 
thought the offences of such, when among us, swelled our criminal 
list One writes upon the subject and says "When we see our pa- 



48G Redemption i^ervants. 

pcrs filled so often with accounts of the most audacious robberies, 
the most cruel murders, and other villanies, perpetrated by con- 
victs from Europe, what will become of our posterity ! In what 
could Britain injure us more than emptying her jails on us? 
What must we think of those merchants, who. for the sake of a lit- 
tle petty gain, will he concerned in importing and disposing of 
these abominable cargoes." From the tenor of tlie preceding ar- 
ticle it is probable they got pi'emiums in some cases for taking off 
such unwelcome guests. In some cases the severity of British law s 
pushed off young men, of good abilities, for very small offences, 
who made very capable clerks, storekeepers, &c. among us. I have 
knowledge of two or three among us, even w ithin my memory, w iio 
rose to riches and credit here, and have left fine families. One 
great man before my time had been sold in Mai'yland as an offender 
in Ireland. — While serving his master as a common servant, he 
showed much ability, unexpectedly, in managing for him an impor- 
tant lawsuit, for which he instantly gave him free. He then came 
to Philadelphia, and amassed a great fortune in landed estate, 
now of gi'eat value among his heirs. 

When Kalm was here, in 1748, bespeaks of wages of hired peo- 
ple as from 16 to 20£. currency. A servant woman got from 8 to 
W£. a year, and laid up money. About the same rate of wages 
continued down to the period of the Revolution. At such wages 
families were better served than now. and most of them were ac- 
customed to remain in the same families for years. 

Tlie case of Lord Altham, who came to this country in 1728 
when a lad, and served out his servitude, as James Annesley, with 
a farmer, on the Lancaster road, forms in itself a curious and in- 
teresting recital. The circumstance has furnished the ground- 
work for Roderick Random, and for the popular novel of Florence 
M'Cartey. The facts are as follows, to w it : 

The facts concerning this singular case are taken from the evidence giv- 
en on the trial, and may be depended on as awthentic. 

Arthur Annesley (Lord Altham) married Mary Sheffield, natural 
daughter of the Earl of Buckingham. By her, in the year 1715, he had 
a son, James, the subject of this memoir. In the next year the parents 
had some differences, which terminated in a separation. The father, 
contrary to the wish of the mother, took exclusive possession of his son 
James, and manifested much fondness for him, until the year 1722, when 
he formed some intimacy with Miss Gregory; and about the same time 
his wife died. Miss G. expecting now to become his wife, exerted her- 
self greatly to alienate his affections from his son, by insinuating that he 
was not his proper child. She succeeded to get him placed from home, 
at a school in Dublin. In November, 1727, Lord Altham died ; and his 
brother Richard, wishing to possess the estate and title, took measures 
to get rid of his nephew, James, by having him enticed on board an 
American vessel, which sailed from Dublin in April, 1728. He was 
landed at Philadelphia, then in his thirteenth year, and sold as a Redcmp- 



Redemption Sei-vants. 487 

tionerl and actually served out 12 years in rough labour, until a seem- 
ing accident, in the year 17 30, brought him to such acquaintance, as led, 
in the next year, to his return home. The case was this : Two Irish- 
men, John and William Broders, travelling the Lancaster road, in the 
year 1730, stopt at the house near the 40 milestone, where James was 
in service with an old German. These countrymen entering into con- 
versation perceived they were severally from Dumaine, in the county of 
Wexford, and that James Annesley was the son of Arthur. The two 
Broders volunteered to go back to Ireland, and testify to the discovery 
they had made, and actually kept their word at the trial which afterwards 
occurred. James subsequently stated his case to Robert Ellis, Esq. of 
Philadelphia, who, compassionating his case, procured a passage for 
him to Admiral Vernon, then in the West Indies, by whom he was af- 
terwards landed in England. But shortly after his arrival at London 
James unfortunately killed a man, for which he had to stand a trial ; and 
then Lord Allham, the unnatural uncle, exerted himself to have him 
convicted, but he was nevertheless acquitted as innocent. An action 
was brought against the uncle, and went to trial in November, 1743, and 
the verdict was given in favour of James, our Redemptioner. The un- 
cle appealed to the House of Lords; and while the case was pending 
James died, leaving the uncle in quiet possession of his ill-gotten estate, 
showing, however, while he lived, which was not long, the spectacle ot 
a finished villain, even in an Irish nobleman. 



THE FRIEJ^D^. 



-'■ In stillness thus the little Zion rose." 

THE following constitute such special notices of the Friends a» 
1 occasionally met with in the course of ray researches. 

In 1684, Thomas Lloyd in writing a letter to the Friends' Meet- 
ing at Dolaran, in North Wales, dated the 2d of 6 mo. says, that 
there were then 800 people at Friends' Meeting in the city. At 
that time, says another writer, all denominations assemhled with 
the Friends in much harmony and good fellowship, until discord 
and confusion was introduced by George Keith's schism. 

In 1691 a scene of rare confusion was exhibited in Friends' 
Meeting. The facts in the case haA^e been told by Thomas Wil- 
son, a public Friend, who was present. George Keith who had 
just separated, sent T. Wilson and his companion, James Dickin- 
son, a challenge to dispute. They readily agreed to meet, and 
ma)iy Friends of both parties assembled. George Keith railed 
much. He and his abettors requested another meeting, which was 
also granted. At ajiother time George Keith went into Friends' 
Meeting while James Dickinson was there, and preached fawn- 
ingly, as though he and James Dickinson were in unity ; but James 
stood up and confuted him. Then Keith withdrew in much wrath, 
and the people of other denominations present, being numerous, 
cried aloud, — '' Give way and let the devil come out, for the little 
black man from England (J. D.) has got tlie day !" 

In 1702 — 8th of 9 mo. Isaac Norris' letter says, " George Keith 
hath been twice here, but has not yet disturbed our Meeting as 
liatii been his custom to the Eastward. He is now the talk and 
news of the town ; but has little to boast of in all his progress 
hitherto. His own party here is like to fall with him. All his 
sermons is railings against the Friends. 

During the time of this scliism there came out a printed pam- 
phlet of 24 pages against orthodox Friends, which might be deemed 
a curiosity for its rare and gross scurrility. It is without imprint, 
but shows from its context that it was done at Philadelphia about 
the year 1701. Ample extracts of the whole have been preserved 
in ray MS. Annals in the City Library, on pages 190 to 193. 
There indeed they deserve to be buried, were it not that their style 
of abuse is so unique as to show a charaGteristlc of some minds of 



The Friends. 480 

that day, wliicli we could not conceive of in modern times ; they 
besides contain some local refefeiices which may possihly seivo on 
some needful occasion to illustrate some local incidents. The 
wliole has the appearance of being set fortii as the venom of Keith's 
adherents. It assails the characters, by name, of every leading 
man in Friends* Socictv, making them severally immoral men 
(though sly) of the grossest kind. ' It is called '*the Cage of Un- 
clean Birds,"— because so Gcoi-gc Fox called false professors. I 
have purposely suppressed all the names, and refer to the whole 
now rather as matter of amusement than of scandal. The Friends, 
then vilified, must have been endowed with much moderation, to 
have endured such a publication, or else the doctrine of libels was 
ill understood and without practice among them. Some of the facts 
are ludicrous enough. One, a minister too, is accused by name of 
packing his flour barrels with only good flour at the ends ! and 
also of blowing in money scales to make his light money pass off" as 
weight ! It reproaches* them of vainglory in building '« a great 
Cathedral Meeting Place at Philadelphia"— corner of Second and 
High streets. 

I have seen the first record of marriages among Friends in 
Philadelphia for the first 32 years of the city. The first named is 
in 1682, of Thomas Smith with Priscilla Allen. These had before 
passed one Meeting in the Isle of Wight. The next marriage is 
that of David Breintnall with Jane Blanchard, in 1683. In 1684, 
eleven couples are married there. My own name — of Watson, is 
of very frequent occurrence among them. One singular name is, 
I presume, intended to commemorate a providence of God to the 
parents in their voyage, to wit r— Seamercy Adams^ married to 
Marv Brett in 1686. 

I have in my possession the original parchment certificate of one 
of those early marriages. It is chiefly curious as showing several 
signatures of the primitive leading Friends, and the vej-bal form 
of the instrument too, is somewhat different from the present. 

In early days the bride, among Friends, wore a black silk hood 
over the head, with the long ends hanging down the front of the 
shoulder. It was neat and graceful. By this token she was uni- 
versally known in the street as one '' adorned as a bride." She 
always went on foot publicly to Meeting in a kind of p-ocession of 
eight or ten couples. She was preceded by the father and mother 
of the groom, then by her own parents,— next **the happy pair"— 
then their special friends. 

The wedding entertainments in olden times were very expensive 
and harrassing to the wedded. T!ie house of the parent would be 
filled with company to dine. The same company would stay to 
tea and supper both. For two days punch was dealt out in pro- 
fusion. The gentlemen visited the groom on the first flooro and 
then ascended to the second floor to see the bride in the presence of 
her maids, &c. Then every gentlemen, ieven to 150 in a day, scv- 
3 S 



4^0 The Friends, 

crally took his kiss — even the plain Friends submitted to these do- 
ings. I have heard of rich families among them which had 120 
persons to dine — the same who had signed their certificate of mar- 
riage at the Monthly Meeting — these also partook of tea and sup- 
per. As they formerly passed the Meeting twice, the same enter- 
tainment was also repeated. Two days the male friends would 
Call and take punch, and all would kiss the bride. Besides this, 
the married pair for two entire weeks saw large tea parties at 
their home; having in attendance every night the groomsman 
and bridemaids. To avoid expense and trouble, Friends have 
since made it sufficient to pass but one Meeting. When these mar- 
riage entertainments were made, it was expected also, that punch, 
cakes, and meats, should be sent out generally in the neighbour- 
hood — even to those who wei-e not visiters in the family. Some of 
the aged, now alive, can remember such weddings. 

When the walking on the side-walks in Philadelphia streets 
was impeded with heavy snows, as in days of yore, the Friends 
were notable for their early care to provide good paths to Meeting, 
When Richard Hill (a distinguished man) married Miss Stanley, 
in 1727, they swept the snow from the corner of Norris' alley and 
Front street, up to the Meeting-house at the corner of Second and 
High streets — thus making a snow-path of three squares in length. 
An old doggerel used to say, — 

" The rain rains, and the winds blow : 
High heads — what a panic seize 'em I 
Old Friends — to Meetings go, 
Sweeping their way with a besom." 

Another expressed the fact in these words, to wit : 

" The Quakers will to Meetings go, 
And if theii- streets be full of snow, 
They sweep it with their besom." 

When the Hectors and Hotspurs of the day were fierce for war 
measures on the Indians, finding they could not get the sanction 
of the Friends to their intended embroiling measures, they fell 
upon expedients, such as satires and caricatures could enforce. 
Thus an ancient pamphlet printed at Ephrata,* contains a tirade 
called the ♦* Cloven Foot Discovered," some of which reads thus, 
viz. 

" Pray, worthy friends, observe the text : 
Get money first, and virtue next. — 
Nought makes our Carolina curs 
To bark and bite, but skins and fiirs,'* 8cc. 

In another place it reads thus : 

" In many things, change but the name, 
Quakers and Indians are the same. 

'♦Snppo'^ed by PrFest F«rrttjn, of LaBes»l»«-; 



7%e Friends. 491 

1 don't say all, for there are such, 
That honest are — e'en of the Dutch: 
But those who the Indians' cause maintain 
Would take the part of bloody Cain, 
And sell their very souls for gain 1" Sec. 

When in the year 1756, the Governor had proclaimed a day oi 
Casting and prayer on account of the calamity of the Indian war, 
the Friends did not join in it as a ceremony. Some squibs ap- 
peared against them ; one reads thus, to wit : 

•' Perverseness is a breach in the spirit : 
Quakers (that like to lanterns bear 
Their light within them) will not swear. 
Like mules — who, if they've not tlieir will 
To keep their own pace, stand stock still !" 

The passions and tlie writers who gave point and effect to such 
ti'ifles in their day, are all dead. I presume I need scarcely add, 
1 give no revival to any of them but in shear good nature, treating 
them rather as the comic of history, than as of any power to re- 
vive harm in our day ! 

The state of the Friends as a part of the civil community down 
to the year 1739, has been thus noticed in a MS. account by Wil- 
liam Fishbourne, of that Society, saying, " As the chief part of the 
inhabitants were Quakers, they with others were and are concerned 
in acts of government ; but as the province increased and prospered 
in every respect, many of other persuasions came and settled here 
with worldly views, who have formerly attempted to wrest tho 
civil power out of the Quakers' hands, as it is ver}*^ probable tliey 
may and will again ; as they publicly begin to tliink and observe 
the country in its increased wealth and commerce " cannot be safe*' 
under the conduct of men who from their principles (of religion) 
would continue it in a defenceless state and leave it an easy prey 
to any enemy. Tlius not regarding (the fact) the peaceable intro- 
duction, and continuing from the first settlement both in time of 
peace and war." 

In the year 1748 there was great efforts made in Philadelphia for 
the defence of the city, by erecting and furnishing two batteries at 
the South wark end, and raising about 1000 volunteers. On this 
occasion some of the Friends, then in public employ, admitted the 
right of defensive measures, among whom were James Logan, 
whose letters to Benjamin Franklin on the occasion, I have seen. 
Kalm, the Swedish traveller, who was then here, remarks, " When 
the redoubt was erected at Swedes' church to prevent the French 
and Spanish privateers from landing, there was much opj)osition 
and debate, for the Quakers opposed the measure. Papers were 
printed and circulated pro and con ; but when the danger became 
imminent at the close of the war, many of the Quakers withdrew 
their opposition, and helped the measure with their money." Thi> 



492 The Friends, 

is probably aii overdrawn i)icture — g ving the act of a few under 
the name of " many." 

In the same yeai". Governor Thomas haA^ng rcqiiii'ed of the 
Assembly measures for ])rotection and defence, made some excite- 
ment there amo)ig the Friends, then members. On tliis occasion 
John Churchman, a public Friend, deemed himself called to visit 
that body and to set forth his testimony against war measures. It 
perhaps shows tlie kind feelings of that day, and the influence 
which Friends then enjoyed in the House, to say, that on making 
his wish known to speak, through the Speaker, he was allowed to 
go in and deliver his religious counsel. The sum of what he then 
said at considerable length is ]!reserved in his Journal. ''Beware 
(said he) of acting to oppress tender consciences, for many whom 
you now repi-esent would be greatly gi-ieved to see warlike prepa- 
rations carried on by a law, consented to by their brethren in pro- 
fession, contrary to the charter, for it is concluded that a reverent 
and true fear of God, the ancient arm of power, would be our 
greatest defence and safety," &c. I have elsewhere spoken more 
at large on some other facts showing the embarrassments which 
Friends found in the exercise of civil government, evil as they 
found it. 

A writer, of the year 1755, (Samuel ^Vharton's MS.) writing on 
the political influence of the Friends, and wishing to see them ex- 
cluded, tells the opinion of his day, as held by him and his party, 
saying, "But if it be asked by what means the Quakers, whose 
measures (against war) are so unpopular, get continually chosen , 
into our Assemblies, I answer— they enter into cabals in their Year- 
ly Meetings, which is convened just before the Election, and being 
composed of deputies from all the Monthly Meetings, provides a fit 
jdace for conducting political intrigues under the mask of religion." 
1 presume few of the present day will credit this scandal ; but, as 
the feature of that day, it may now amuse a modern Friend thus to 
see such a novel use of their religious meetings ! They are also 
accused of procuring great influence in the Elections among the 
Germans through the aid of C. Sower's German paper, which al- 
ways advocated Friend's principles. Sower himself was a very 
good man, and therefore had a deserved influence over his country- 
men. In 1759, four Friends, then members of Assembly, vacated 
theii' seats at the desire of the Council of the Crown, because it 
was a time of war. 

I have seen in the possession of Mr. Henry Pemberton of Phila- 
delphia, among other letters of William Penn of about the year 1677, 
one oi them, iiaving a Postscript to which is the signature of the cel- 
ebrated George Fox. He used, like Peini and other writers of 
that day, two small effs, in lieu of one capital, as thus — "G-ff"." 
Another autograph of Fox and of Barclay I have seen with R. 
Haines. 

The Friends were long accustomed to hold night meetings on the 



The Friends. 49.5 

Sabbath ; their house on the Bank Hill, in Front near Arch street, 
was at first called Evening Meeting, because chiefly made for such 
a convenience when that at the Centre Square was too far of!'. 
They continued the. Evening Meetings till after ti»c Revolution, 
when they were constrained, by their sense of "not letting their 
good being evil spoken of," to disuse them, because their youug wo- 
men (as alt some other Meetings almost ever since,) were mobbed 
by rude young men, who assenil)hMl in long lines of idlers, genera- 
ting and cherisiiiiig more evil witliout the walls, than the good peo- 
ple could counterbalance w ithin. The change met the approbation 
of the discreet — oftliosewho virtually aim by every means "to 
suppress vice and immorality " 

My friend Lang Syne, who has good feelings for tliose kind of 
reminiscences, has left some picturesque traces of some of the old 
preaching Friends, and of some of their school teachers, calculated 
to revive pleasing images of the past to those who love the associ- 
ations of their early days. He thus speaks of his recollections of 
the preachers, saying, "James Pemberton, Nicholas Wain, Daniel 
Oifley. Artiiur Howell, William Savery and Thomas Scattergood 
were the then " burning and shining lights." From the preacher's 
gallery, as beheld through the "mist of years," James Pemberton 
sat at the head of the gallery — an immovable figure, very erect, 
and resting w ith both hands crossed on the top of his cane. Nich- 
olas Wain appeared at all times with a smile of sunshine upon his 
countenance. An impertui'bable severity rested on the dark fea- 
tures of Thomas Scattergood. Arthur Howell always sat shroud- 
ed beneath his hat drawn down over his face, and the upper part 
of his outside coat elevated to meet it — like unto a prophet "in his 
mantle wrapt," and isolated in thought from all sublunary things. 
William Savery possessed a mild solemnity of voice and feature, 
which distinguished him as a preacher above other men ; his softer ^ 
and solemn tones and words in preaching, like those which may be 
imagined of tlie jEolean harp rudely touched by the wind, sunk 
through the cars down into the heart as "the dew of heaven" fall- 
ing gently to the earth. The voice of Daniel Offley was as a sound 
produced by the falling of a bar of his own iron on the brick pave- 
ment before his furnace door. Among his dozen hammermen he 
was always accustomed to raise his piercing voice distinctly above 
their pattering sounds. 

Of the teachers, moi-e will be said in another place under the ar- 
ticle "Education." Friends' academy then consisted of four dif- 
ferent masters : — Robert Proud, Latin master; William Waring, 
teacher of astronomy and matliematics ; Jeremiah Paul; "The 
Master of Scholars " was John Todd. 



PERSONS AI^D CHARACTERS. 



" A mingled groHpe— of good or ill." 
*< The charm of biography consists of minor truths neglected 
by graver history." 

THE following facts concerning the persons severally named, 
are not intended as their proper biography, but as slight notices 
of individual character, Avhich might be usefully preserved. As a 
general list, it will embrace alike, noble or ignoble — not a roll 
of merit, but of notoriety, to wit : 

The First Born — John Key. 

John Key, '*the first-born" of our dty, of English parentage, 
was born in 1682, in a cave at '* Penny-pot landing," i. e. at the 
north west corrjer of Vine and Water street. William Penn was 
pleased to distinguish the person and the circumstance, by the gift 
of a city lot; the original patent of which is in my possession 
through the politeness of George Vaux, Esq. The tradition of the 
spot granted was utterly lost to common fame ; but this patent 
shows its location to have been on the south side of Sassafras 
street, nearly opposite to Crown street, say ris a vis to Penning- 
ton's sugar house. ' 

The i)archment and seal are in fine preservation. — The seal is 
flat, circular, four inches wide, of brown wax, appended by a green 
ribbon. It may be curious to preserve the following abstract, to 
wit: *' William Penn, Proprietary and Chief of Pennsylvania, sends 
greeting, &c. that a certain lot of ground between the Fourth and 
Fifth streets, bounded on the north by Sassafras street, &c — in 
breadth 492 feet and in length 306 feet ; first granted by warrant 
from myself bearing date the 26th day of 3 mo. 1 683, unto John Key, 
then an infant, being the first-born in the said city of Philadel- 
phia," &c. The patent to confirm the warrant aforesaid, is dated 
the 20th of July, 1713; the first-born being then a man of 31 
years of age. The lot it appears lie sold at the age of 33 years 
(say on the 24th of May, 1715,) to Clement Plumstead ; and the 
latter in 2 years afterwards, sold it to Richard Hill for only twelve 
pounds ! This he joined to many other lots, and made of it " Hill's 
Farm." Further particulars may be read in my MS. Annals in 
the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, page 50. 



Fersons und Characters, 4^ 

This notable first-born lived to good old age at his home in 
Chester county, and was accustomed to come occasionally to the 
city, always walking the streets with an unusually active step» 
although necessarily wondering at the changing scenes he constant- 
ly witnessed. Considering that he only died, in his 85th year, 
as late as the year 1767, (July) persons must be still alive who 
must have heard him talk of those things ! When the hospital 
was founded in 1755, he was present by request, to lay the corner 
Stone ! 

It was remarkable that the same year (August 10th, 1767,) was 
also the year of the death of ''the first born" child in the province 
of English parents, born in 1681, one year before John Key, in 
a cave by the side of the Delaware river. — This venerable man of 
86 died at Brandywine Hundred, Emanuel Grubb by name. He 
was active and vigorous to the last, and actually rode to Philadel- 
phia and back on horseback, equal to 40 miles— only a few months 
before his death. His habits were temperate, never drinking any 
ardent spirits. 

As those two venerable "first-borns" lived botli near Chester, 
they had means of intercourse ; and strange must have been their 
several emotions in talking over the years of improvement which 
they had witnessed down to the year 1767 ! What a feast they 
might have afforded to younger minds ! 

But another and a still earlier first-born, than either of the pre- 
ceding, dwelt also in their neighbourhood, in the person of Rich- 
ard Buffington, (son of Richard) he being *'the first born English- 
man in Pennsylvania,^* having been born in what was afterwards 
''the province," in the year 1679. The facts in his case were 
peculiarly commemorated in the parish of Chester on the 30th of 
May, 1739 ; on that day tlie father, Richard, having attained his 85th 
year, had a great assemblage of his proper descendants, to the num- 
ber of 115 persons, convened in his own house, consisting of chil- 
dren, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren — the first-born being 
then present in his sixtieth year. 

These affections and respects to "first-borns" were alike com- 
mendable and natural. They possessed a peculiarity of character, 
and a relationship to things around them, which none others could 
enjoy, or even share with them. They were beings by themselves — 
alone ! Others also have had and signalized the'w Jirst-born ! The 
New Yorkers had their first-horn^ in the person of Sarah Rapaelje, 
born in 1625, and the maternal ancestor of the Bogerts and Han- 
sens. When she became the widow Forey, Governor Stuy vesant, 
in consideration of her birth, granted her a valley of land near the 
city. The Virginians had tlieirs, and such was their respect to 
him, that in the case of his rebellion, his life was spared to him, 
and he lived to be 80 years of age.* Our sister city of Baltimore 

* Vide Samuel BoifBaJ' Jotttna!. 



496 Persons and Characters. 

honoured tht'iv frst-born, in tlie person of Mrs. Ellen Moale, wjie 
died in that city in 1825, in her 84th year — she haying heen 
the first born wliitc woman in that place. Strange it was, that 
she in her own person could say of such a city as Baltimore, that 
she had seen it first covered with w oods, then become a field, next 
a village, and last a city of 70,000 souls ! 

E(hvard Drinker. 

Edward Drinker was born on the 24th of December, 1680, in a 
small cabin, near the present corner of Walnut and Second streets, 
in the city of Philadelpliia. Flis parents came from a place called 
Beverly, in the State of Massachusetts. The banks of the Dela- 
ware, on which the city of Philadelpliia now stands, were inhabit- 
ed, at the time of iiis birth, by Indians, and a few Swedes and Hol- 
landers. He often talked to his companions of picking whortle- 
berries and catching rabbits, on spots now the most improved and 
populous in the city. He recollected about the time William Penn 
came to Pennsylvania, and used to point to the place where the 
cabin stood, in which he, and his friends that accompanied him, 
were accommodated upon their first arrival. At twelve years of age, 
he went to Boston, wliere he served his apprenticeship to a cabinet 
maker. In the year 1745, he returned to Philadelphia with his 
family, where he lived until the time of his death. He was four 
times married, and had eighteen children, all of whom were by his 
first wife. At one time of his life, he sat down, at his own table, 
with fourteen children. Not long before his death he lieard of the 
birth of a grandchild, to one of his grandchildren, the fifth in suc- 
cession to himself. 

He retained all his faculties till the last year of his life. Even 
his memory, so generally diminished by age. was but little im- 
paired. He not only remembered the incidents of his childhood 
and youth, but the events bf latter years ; and so faithful was his 
memory to him, that his son has informed that he never heard 
liim tell the same story twice, but to different persons, and in dif- 
ferent companies. His eye-sight failed him many years before his 
death, but his hearing was uniformly perfect and unimpaired. His 
appetite was good till within a few days before his death. He gen- 
erally ate a hearty breakfast of a pint of tea or coffee, as soon as 
he got out of his bed, with bread and butter in proportion. He ate 
likewise at eleven o'clock, and never failed to eat jdentifully at 
dinner of the grossest solid food. He .drank tea in the evening, 
but never ate any supper ; he had lost all his teeth thirty years be- 
fore his death, which was occasioned, his son said, by drawing 
excessive hot smoke of tobacco into his mouth : but the want of 
suitable mastication of his food, did not prevent its speedy diges- 
tion, nor impair his health. Whether the gums, hardened by age, 
supplied the place of his teeth in a certain degree, or whether the 



Persons and Characters. "^97 

'smmmms 

mmmmms 

a pint of water. His son, a man ^^ ^f [.;^^';"J,'^^^,^ vhich 

weight of his y';?''''*- »"'^^f "tf ,ly ,t I drink to him that is 

;:r to P Hsh'wHh ag^^ ^r::^:^ sL-ess. Let hi„. dri,.u 

thirty years mt^eR_^v.D^ ^^.^ _^^,_ .^ ,^^^^^4 

becom; the seat of a city not only the A^'f /» J/f * ' ^^ ^ ^l f jS 
the new but rivallina; in both, many of the first cities in tue om 
worW He saw regular streets where he once pursued a hare : h* 
Tw ciiur^h^^^^^^^^^^^^ upon morasses, where he had often heard the 



"^^^ Perseus and Characters. 

oS!"!"/ ""[ ^r ^' ' '*' ^^^ .'"'^'^^^"■^ ^"'^ M-arehouses, where he had 
oft^n seen Indian savages draw f.sl, from the river for thdr daitv 
subsistence ; and he saw sliips of every size and ,.<.p n /L V ^ 
Avhere he had often seen nothing hut ImHan lltc^oll 'T?'f' 

iivst and last treaty with the India.is, without the for na L ? 
J)en ink or paper; he saw all the intei-mediate sta^t tSoLh 
which a people pass, from the most simple to the h |hest e^e^^^^^ 
CvZnT''' • He«^^^ Jhcl^eginningand end of tlie emZ of 
Great Britain, m Pennsylvania. He had hecn tiie suhiect of sevon 
successive crowned heads, and afterwards becan e a ?1 hi cfti^ 
of a republic ; for he embraced the liberties and hide e int "f 
America in his withered arms, and triumphed in tl^lTst years I 
his life in tlie salvation of his countrv. ^ ^^ '^ 

poHtict^aiJTwl'"of^fo^'^''rr^''' '''f ''' '''' ^» «P»-it «-5 

and great-grandchildren. The Mtj::^^ stso , I rusld'Io 
often see him at las falher-s, described liim to me as a ttle vWth 
ered oI( man, leaning heavily upon his sta.T, whilst Mi Sanson?^ 

^tiir^^^ini^s!^------^^^^^ 

.nice— a Mack iromuu—. 

AVas a slave, born in Philadelphia, of parents who came Irom 
Barbadoes, and lived in that city until she was ten yea^ old 
when her master removed her to Du^k^s Ferrv, in whfch ^ei^h 
bourhood slie cont nued to the end of her days.* She reme^^^^^^^^ 
the ground oii which Philadelphia stands when it was TS^^ 

Lamoi??!^ " /^'' Vf "f ^^' ""^''^ inhabitants) hunted wild 
game in the woods, while the panther, the wolf and the beasts of 

leVred "Ter"^' -^ ajiout the wigwams and c'aMns in w ic 
Smem^vv v' -^.^'''^ intelligent woman, and halving a 

^ood memory, vyhich she retained to the last, she would often mike 

im co"itl^'"t" 'V'" P'^^''^*"" ^"'^ improvements of the city 
fZ l'^l'\ f ".? ^1*^'' conversation became jieculiarly interest^ 
ing, especially to the immediate decendantsof he first se te of 
.vhose ancestors she often related acceptable anecdotes ' '^ 

She remembered AVilliamPenn, Thomas Story, James Lo^an 
and several other distinguished characters of th'at day DuSig 



Persona and Charader&, 49j9 

a short visit which she paid to Pliiladclphia in her last days, many 
respectable pci-sons called to see her, who were all pleased with 
her innocent cheerfulness. In observing the increase of the city, 
she pointed out the house next to the Episcopal church, to the 
southward in Second street, as the first brick building tiuit was 
erected in it. The first church, she said, was a small frame of 
Avood that stood within the present walls, the ceiling of which she 
could reach with her hands. She was a worthy member of Christ 
ciiurch ; used to visit it on horseback at 95 years of age ; loved to 
hear the Bible read ; had a great regard for truth. She died in 
1 802, and retained her hearing ; she lost her sight at from 96 to 
100 gradually, but it returned again. When blind she was skil- 
ful in catcliing fish, and would row herself out alone into the stream; 
at 102 years of age her sight gradually returned, partially. Before 
she died, her hair became pes-fectly white; and the last of her 
teeth dropt sound from her head at the age of 110 years ; at tliis 
age she died (1802) at Bristol, Pennsylvania. For forty years she 
received ferriages at Dunk's Ferry. This woman said she re- 
membered that the bell of the church was aftixed in the crotch of 
a tree, then standing on the church alley. 

F. D. Pastorius. 

Among the primitive population of Philadelphia county there 
were some very fine scholars — such as Thomas Lloyd, Thomas 
Story, F. D. Pastorius, James Logan, John Kelpius, and others. 
Lloyd and Pastorius came over in 1683, in the same ship, and ever 
after were very great friends. Pastorius was a wiiter of numerous 
pieces, during his 36 years residence in the colony. He left a 
beautiful w ritten <iuarto book of about 300 pages, of various selec- 
tions and original remarks, entitled the Bee. It was witli his 
grandson, Daniel Pastorius, in Germantowji, until very lately, and 
has got lost by the negligence of some of its readers. I have, how- 
ever, in my possession some of his MSS. from which I shall here 
make some remarks. 

One book, in my possession, is a quarto MS. of 54 pages, enti- 
tled '' Scripta Sunt per Franciscum Daniclem Pastorium, Ger- 
manopoli, Pennsylvania, 1714. Born in Germany, October 4th, 
A. D. 1651, at Limpurg." The contents of this book are princi- 
pally dedicatory letters, acrostics and poems, to his friends, the 
three daughters of Thomas Lloyd, being animal compositions, com- 
memorative of his and their safe landing at Philadelphia, on the 
20th of 6 mo. 1683.* All his writings embrace much of piety. 
Those ladies he treats as eminently religious, to w it : Rachel Pres- 
ton, Hannah Hill, and Mary Norris, each bearing the names of 
their husbands. These papers are not calculated for general in- 

* It appears he bsgan tbera to them in 1714; 



500 Fersons and Characters. 

terest, or inspection : but to the descendants of the families namcd^ 
they shoiihl be very gratifying— even as he himself has remarked : 
he writes, »» that some of your children and the children's children 
might have a few rhythmical copies to write after," &c. When 
we consider that Pastorius was a German, it is really surprising 
he could write so well in English as he did ! I extract from his 
poem, entitled a "Token of Love and Gratitude :"_ 
" I'm far from flattering ! and hope ye read my mind, 
Who can't nor dare forget a ship-mate true and kind, 
As he, your father, was to me, (an alien) — 
My lot being newly cast among such English men. 
Whose speech I thought was Welsh, their words a canting tune. 
Alone with him, I could in Latin then commune ; 
Which tongue he did pronounce right in our German way, 
Hence presently we knew, what he or I could say — 
Moreover, to the best of my remembrance. 
We never disagreed, or were at variance, — 
Because God's sacred truth (whereat we both did aim) 
To her endeared friends, is every where the same — 
Therefore 'twas he, that made my passage short on sea, 
'Twas he, and William Penn, that caused me to stay 
In this, then uncouth land, and howling wilderness. 
Wherein I saw, that I but litde should possess, 
And if I would return home to my father's house,* 
Perhaps great riches and preferments might espouse, 8cc. 
Howbeit nought in the world could mine affection quench 
Towards dear Penn, with whom I did converse in French,t 
The vntues of these two (and three or four beside) 
Have been the chiefest charms wliich forc'd me to abide." 

In his poem of the next year, 1715, he states the name of the, 
ship by which they came : 

" When I from Franckenland, and you from Wales set forth— 

In order to exile ourselves towards the West ; 

And there to serve the Lord in stillness, peace, and rest !" 

" ; A matter of eight weeks 

Restrained in a ship, America by name. 
Into America, [America] we came." 

It appears the Captain's name was Joseph Wasey, a courteous 
man, under whose skilful management and God's providence, they 
were enabled to escape "from the cruel enslaving Turks, once 
supposed to be at our heels." It appears the panic on board was 
vciy great, and at frequent times they used to converse of these 
tliings—thus on page 38, he says, " Pray what would we have 
given if Joseph Wasey, at our former crossing of the Atlantic plain 
had been able to set us ashore, when, (on the 26th of 5 mo. 1683} 

* His father was born at Erfurth (« Erfurti") the 21st of September, 1624 
anJther ves" eL '""^ ' """' "°* ™ ^^ "'^P' **"* "* Philadelphia, for Penn came ir. 



Persons and Characters. 501 

juistakiiij; a French morel. autman for a Turkish caper [Were these 
t!..>n e\i)«'cte(l or. the Athintic wave !*] we were m a imnic ioar— 
every mother's child of us ! Or when (the 2tl and 12th of the b mo.) 
our ship was covered with a multitude of huge surges, and, as it 
were, >vith mountains of terrihle and astonishing waves ; to which 
that of the 9th of the 5 mo. was but a gentle torerunnci-. 

In his contribution of tlie 2()tli of 6 mo. 1718, to his Inends and 
shipmates, Hannah Bill and Mai-y Norris, he commemorates then- 
arrival on that day, 1683, by the following remarks, " fi'^ *"»': 
tunate day of our arrival, although blessed with your good father s 
co.npany on shipboard. I was as glad to land from the yessel every 
whit as St. Paul's shipn.ates were to land at Melito. 1 hen 1 hila- 
del])liia consisted of three or four little cottages ;t all the residue 
bein- only woods, underwoods, timber, and trees, among vvmch I 
several times have lost myself in travelling no farther than from 
the water side to the house (now of our friend William Hu(5son,) 
then allotted to a Dutch baker, whose name was Cornelius Bom.j 
What mv thoughts were of such a renowned city (1 not long be- 
fore having seen London, Paris, Amsterdam, Gandt, &c.) is need- 
less to rehearse unto you here. But what I think now ot the same, I 
dare ingenuously say, viz. that God has made of a desert an en- 
closed garden, and the plantations about it, a fruitful field." 

Thomas Lloyd, 

Named with such profound respect and ardent affection by Pas- 
torius in the preceding sketch, was Deputy Governor so long as 
he would serve— a man of great worth as a scliolar, and a religious 
man. He came to this country in 1682, and died at an early age • 
of a malignant fever, on the 10th of 7 mo. 1694, in the 45th year 
of his age, leaving behind him three married daughters, very su- 
perior women, to wit : Rachel Preston, Hannah Hill, and Mary 
Norris. His family was respectable and ancient in Wales, he was 
himself educated at the University, talked Latin fluently on ship- 
board with Pastorius. He exercised as a public minister among 
Friends in this country, and in his own country suffered impris- 
onment for truth's sake. 

J^orris Family. 

The first Isaac Norris came to our city, as a respectable mer- 
chant from Jamaica, beginning the fortunes of his family here in 

* There must have been a common dread of them then, for I perceive that in 1702, John 
Richardsoa in his Journal tells of being encountered off Bai-badoes by a « Turkish fngate 

"^t These cottages were those of the Swedes, &c. before settled there, of which Drinker's 

iThis house of William Hudson was standing 40 years ago in the rear of C. C. Wat- 
son's house, No. 92, Chesnut street. Its front was to Third street, with a Courtyard, 
and great trees in it, and a way out to Chesnut street also. 



5i>2 Persons and Characters, 

the earliest settlement of this city. He was of tiie Society of Friends, 
was always of great influence there and in the public Councils, 
as a member of tfic Council, of the Assemhly, &c. 

The name of Norris has been remarkable for its long continu- 
ance in public life, from the origin of tlie city to the period of the 
Revolution. In September, 1759, Isaac Norris, who had been al- 
most perj)etual Speaker, resolved to resign his puhlic employ, 
and in declining his re-election remarks tbus : '* You were pleased 
to make choice of me to succeed my fatlier in the x\sserahly at the 
Election of the year 1735." Thus showing, the latter had been in 
the Assembly more than 24 years. He adds, *•! never sought 
emolument for myself or family, and I remained at disadvantage 
to my private interest only to oppose the measures of unreasonable 
men." — A true patriot in motive, surely. 

An anecdote is related of the Speaker Norris, about the time of 
his resignation, when opposing the measures of Governor Mor- 
ris' administration ; he, having left the chair, concluded his speech 
with all the fire of youthful patriotism and the dignity of venera- 
hle old age combined, saying, *' No man shall ever stamp his foot 
on my grave and say. Curse him ! or, here lies he who basely 
betrayed the liberties of his country." 

Jonathan Dickinson^ 

A name often mentioned in these Annals — was a merchant and a 
Friend, who came with his family to our city about the year 1697. 
They had been shipwrecked in their voyage, with other passengers, 
in the Gulph of Florida, and suffei-cd great hardships among the 
Indians there; particulars of which liave been publislied in a small 
hook entitled " God's protecting Providence — man's surest help in 
time of need." He possessed a large estate in Jamaica, from 
whence he emigrated, as well as landed jjroperty near our city. He 
purchased of the proprietaries 1230 acres of part of the manor 
of Springetsbury, being the chief part of the north end of the 
Northern Liberties, extending across from Second street to Bush- 
hill, and since growing into an immense estate. He lived on that 
pari of it called the Vineyard. One of his daughters married 
Tlioma!^ Masters, to whom the estate descended. Such as it is, it 
cost originally hut 26s. Sd. an acre ! He, directly after his 
purchase, wiiich seemed a reluctant one too on his part, sold out 
a part to Richard Hill at a good advance, and soon aftei- wards the 
whole i)roperty hore a nominal great advance in value. As he in- 
creased in wealth, he was enabled to live in a style of generous 
hospitality and elegance, keeping his coach when but eight four- 
wheeled carriages were owned in the province. He died in 1722, 
leaving as his issue three sons and two daughters. The eldest 
son, though married, died in 1727 without issue; his brothers also 
had no families. Tiie daughter, Mary, married in Rhode Island, and 



Jfersona and Characters. j05 

10 licr hcii'ti went tljc Point no I'oint estate of several hundred 
acres, sold out in 1740 and '50, to Oldinan, Linn, Roberts, &c. 
The daughter, Hanjiah, married Tlionias Masters, and by her came 
a large part of *'thc Masters' estate" in the Northern Liberties, 
above the Fourth street road, now tlic property of Penn and Camac, 
by marriage of Masters' (laughters. 

Tlie Dickinson family of the present name in Philadelpliia and 
Trenton came from Delaware, and were no connexion of the above. 

Samuel Carpenler 

Was one of the greatest improvers and builders in Philadelphia, 
dwelling among us at the same time as a racrciiant. He was prob- 
ably at one time, if we except the Founder, the wealthiest man iu 
the province. There is extant a letter of his of the year 1705 to 
Jonathan Dickinson, offering for sale part of his estate, wherein 
he says *' I would sell my house and granary on the wharf (above 
Walnut street) where I lived last, and the wharves and warehouses ; 
also the globe and long vault adjacent. I have three-sixteenths of 
5000 acres of land and mine, called Pickering's mine. I have sold 
my house over against David Lloyd's [the site of the present Bank 
of Pennsylvania] to William Trent, and the scales to Henry Bab- 
cock, and tlie Coffee House [at or near Walnut street and Front 
street] to Captain Finney, also my half of Darby mills, to John 
Bethell, and a half of Chester mills, to Caleb Pussey." Besides 
the foregoing, he was known to own the estate called Bristol 
mills, worth 3000£. — tlie island against Burlington of 350 acres 
— at Poqucssing creek. 15 miles from the city, he had 5000 acres — 
he owned about 380 acres at Sepviser plantation, a part of Fair- 
hill, where he died in 1714. 

Male descendants of his name, or of his brother Joshua, are not 
now known in our city ; but numbers of his race and name are 
said to be settled near Salem, in New Jersey. The Whartons, 
Merediths, Clymers, and Fishbournes, are his descendants in the 
female line. 

James Logan, in writing to the proprietaries respecting him, 
says, "He lost by the war of 1703, because the profitable trade he 
before carried on almost entirely failed, and his debts coming 
upon him, while his mills and other estate sunk in value, he could 
by no means clear himself, and from the wealthiest man in the 
province in 1701, he became much embarrassed.'* 

Isaac Norris in his letter of the 10th of 6 mo. 1705, to Jonathan 
Dickinson, says of him, to wit : '*Tliat honest and valuable man, 
wliose industry and improvements have been the stock whereon 
much of the labours and successes of this country have been graf- 
ted, is now weary of it all, and is resolved, 1 think prudently, to 
wind up and clear his incumbrances." 
He was of the Society of Friends — was one of Penn's commis- 



504 Persons and Characters. 

sioiiers of property — was the chief cause of inducing Penn to 
abandon the original beautiful design of keeping a Front street 
open view to tlie river. His name will appear in numerous places 
connected with other facts told in these pages. 

David Lloyd 

Was by profession a lawyer, who emigrated to Philadelphia at the 
time of the early settlement, from Wales. In 1690, while still in 
England, he was one of those included in Queen Mary's proclama- 
tion as a supposed conspirator at the time King William was in 
Ii'eland. Whether the imputation was just or not. he seemed prone, 
when here, to dabble in troubled waters, and was not, it's likely, 
made welcome to remain in his own country, as one suspected — 
^* d'etre suspect.*^ 

In the year 1700, James Logan speaks of David Lloyd as the 
then Attorney General, and as then defending the measures of 
Penn's administration against thefaction, headed by Colonel Quar- 
ry the Judge, and John Moore the advocate of the Admiralty — 
the two ringleaders. 

Proud, in his history, appears to have been afraid to touch upon 
his character, but says ''his political talents seem to have been 
rather to divide than to unite, — a policy that may suit the crafty 
politician, but must ever be disclaimed by the Christian statesman." 

Mrs. Logan in her MS. Selecticms has given the following facts 
concerning him, to wit : 

His opposition to William Penn appears to have commenced 
about the year 1701, and had its rise in resentment, which he con- 
tinued till Penn's death in 1718. He had the faculty of leading the 
members of the Assembly out of their depth, and causing them to 
drown all others with their clamour. Afterwards, when he exert- 
ed himself to thwart tlie ambitious designs of Sir William Keith, 
whom he wished to suj)plant as a troublesome political rival, he 
I'eadily succeeded. In this, such was his management and success, 
that although Sir William aimed for the Speaker's chair, and had 
his support out-doors in a cavalcade of 80 mounted horsemen, and 
the resounding of many guns fired, David Lloyd got every vote in 
tljc Assembly but three, calling himself at same time the avowed 
friend of Gov. Gordon, in opposition to the wishes of Sir William. 

David Lloyd was accounted an able lawyer, and always well able 



-to perplex and dark 



Maturest counsels, and to make the worst 
Appear the better reason." 

He was, however, believed to be an upright Judge, and in pri- 
vate life was acknowledged to have been a good husband, a kind 
neighbour, and steady friend. 

He married, after he came to Pennsylvania, Grace Growden, a 



Persons and Characters. 5X)5 

dignified woman, of supiM-ior understanding, and great worth of 
character. Tlu-y had hut onr child— a son— wh.) died at an early 
age. by a distressing ar( iiloiit. He lived for above twenty yt;\rs 
at Chester, in the same house since known as Commodore Porter's. 
His city house was on the site of the present Bank of Pennsylva- 
nia: holding, while he lived tliere, the oftice of Register and Re- 
corder for the county, and being, at the time of his death, in 1731, 
Chief Justice of Pennsylvania. The ashes of himself and wife re- 
pose in Friends' ground in Chester, each having a small headstone, 
with their names and ages attached, he dying at the age of 75, 
and she surviving him 29 years— to the year 1760, when she died, 
aged 80 vears. 

.James' Logan, in 1704, in writing to William Penn. says, ">Verc 
one man from amongst us we might perhaps be iiappy ; but he is 
truly a promoter of discord, with the deepest artifice under tlie 
smoothest language and pretences, yet cannot sometimes conceal 
his resentment of thy taking, as he calls it, Ids bread from him." 
This expression he has several times dropt, overlooking his poli- 
tics through the heat of his indignation. 

In 1705, William Penn accuses D. Lloyd of acting as Master of 
the Rolls without a commission— of his forgery of the Sessions' or- 
ders, and of the Assembly's remonstrance of 1704 ; as also, when 
Master of the Rolls, suffering encroachments on his lots in the city, 
and manors in the coutitry— having recorded them without one 
caveat entei-ed in favour of his master and patron 

James Logan, in 1707, writing of him, says lie is "aclosemem- 
her among Friends, a discordant in their meetings of business, so 
much so, he expects a separation and purging: the young push for 
rash measures — the old for Penn's interest." 

Logan's -Justification," addressed to tlie Assembly in 1709, 
contains much of D. Lloyd's portrait, drawn out before him, where- 
in he shows that much' of his hostility and perverseness was in- 
duced by his personal pique against Penn. 
Thomas Story 
Was a distinguislied preacher among Friends, who came out 
from England to Philadelphia in 1699. He there became Master 
of the Rolls, and keeper of the great seal. He married in 1>06, 
Anne, daughter of Edward Siiippen tlie eMer, and received, as a 
part of her portion, the large house in south Second street, after- 
wards sold to James Logan, which was pulled down to afford the 
site, in part, of the present Bank of Pennsylvania. After tlie death 
of his wife, which occurred in a few years, he returned to England, 
where he died in 1742. His Journal, containing notices of our 
country, and the yellow fever which he witnessed in Philadelphia 
in 1699, are among the published works of Friends. In 1706, he 
was chosen Mayor of the city, but refusing to accept, he was lined 
20£. by the Common Council. 

f\ U 



Persons and Characters. 
Edward Shippen 



Was chosen first Mayor under the city charter of iroi. Tra 
dition says he v as distinguished for three things :— the bieeest 
nian-the biggest house-and the biggest carriage. His house 

was the great and famous house and orchard outside the toAvn '* 
Situate on the site now -Wain's Row," in south Second street, 
below the present Custom House. 

He came early into the province from Boston, whitlier he had 
gone from England in 1675. There he was persecuted for his reli 
gion as a Friend, and actually received from the zealots in power, 
a public whipping ! He was xevy successful in business as a mer- 
chant in our infant city, and amassed a large fortune. He was 
grandfather to our late Chief Justice Shippen, and ancestor of the 
brst medical lecturer. Doctor Shippen. 

I have seen a letter of 1706 to young William Penn, wherein is 
given a humourous description of his then late marriage to Wilcox's 
daughtcr--then his second or third wife ; it was conllucted, out of 
Meeting, in a private way, as he had previously made a breach of 
discipline. He had certainly, about this time, laid aside his for- 
mer submissive spirit ; for in 1709, his name appeai-s on the 
minutes of the Common Council, as petitioning forV remission of 
'J'ilTi »^f«r^|";P««^d«" »m, as a line for an assault and battery 
on the body of Thomas Clark, Esq. They agreed, however tr. 
remit the half in consideration of his paving the other half ' 



James Logan. 

[with a POBTHAIT.] 



I once had the privilege to see an original MS. of four pages 
at Stenton, in the handwriting of James Logan, wherein he gave 

his parentage and early life." It appeared that his father, Patrick, 
was born in Scotland, and there educated as a clergyman For 
some time he served as a chaplain, but turning Quaker by con 
vincement, was obliged to go over to Ireland, and there to teadi a 
Latui school ; af er^^ards he taught at Bristol in England. While 
yet m Scotland, he married Isabel Hume ; her famil^ was rela ed 
to ^le Laird oi Dundas, and the Earl of Panmar. 

Jiesides those facts, related by James Logan, I have met with 
wtn/''^.^'/'^^^.;''^ "^^'^"^> ^"^ dis^nction of his fan^ib! 
L rn;v' '^ 'f r"* ^' *' ^"'^■"' ^ ^^••'^" "'^^"•^^ fr«>n the ScotsmaS 
Library, and from the memoirs of the Somervilles, to wit : 

hoy.. ? "^"'f ?, ^""S^" '^ ""^ *^^ *ho«<^ ^«'»-i^'ed from locality, and 
hence deemed the more honourable. It appears in Scotch hi tory 
a the early period of William the Lion' and throughout subse- 
Chief wr^ ''""'.'i'^ ''l'^' in^portant national transactions The 
vin.f f of Restalrig, and this house was connected by va- 

rious intermarriage, ^ith most of the noble families in the king- 




lAMIKS ILO^AiT.. 



Persons and Characters. 507 

liom, and even witli Royalty itself, one of them having nuuried a 
(laughter of Robert H. who granted him the lands of Griigar, by a 
eliarter addressed •• militi dilecto fratri suo." 

"There are several interesting particulars in tlie history of this 
unfortunate and redoubtable clan. In 1329. when that solemn em- 
bassy was undertaken, in compliance with the deathbed request of 
the gi'eat king Robert Bruce, that liis heart might be taken to the 
holy sepulclire. Sir Robert and Sir Walter Logan were the chief 
associates of the good Sir James Douglass, in that illustrious band 
whicli compi-ised the flower of Scots' chivalry. Tl»e fatal termi- 
nation of this mission under the walls of Grenada, wiiere an excess 
of heroism led tliem to battle with the Moors, finished in glory the 
career of most of the troop, and in attempting the rescue of tiieir 
friend, tlie Lord Sinclair, tiie Logans fell in tlic thickest of the 
fight. Some centuries since the Scots' navy was able to cope with 
that of England, and in 1400, Sir Robert Logan of Restalrig, Lord 
Admiral of Scotland, defeated an English fleet in tlie firth of Forth. 
On the return of King James L from his captivity in England he 
Knighted the Laird of Restali'ig, and made him Sheriff Princii)al 
of Edinburg. Another was invested Lord Provost of Edinburg in 
1520, an JKUiour which he well merited. In 1555, Mary of Lo- 
raine, intending to erect Leith into a royal borougii, purchased the 
superiority from Logan, but being detiironed, the Town Council of 
Edinburg, who were Jealous of its rising importance, took posses- 
sion of it by an armed force, and claim to this day the superiority. 

"The strange and illegal accusation of Restalrig, in 1608, eight 
years after his death, as a participater in the pretended conspiracy 
of the Earl of Gowrie, and the singular trial of his mouldering re- 
mains, are amongst the most mysterious transactions of King 
James' reign. The sentence of •* Guilty" threw his forfeited es- 
tates into the hands of the Earl of Dunbar, and extinguished a large 
debt which Balmerino owed to the family. The infamous Sprot, 
the only accusei*, was hanged for his perjury, and the last act of 
the tragedy was a proscription of the name. 

"The two sons of the unfortunate Baron went abroad, from 
whence the youngest afterwards took courage to i-eturn, but in the 
first alarm, many secluded themselves. Several went to America, 
and James Logan was one of the first settlers of Philadelpliia. The 
name is known in most kingdoms of Europe. Frederick Baron 
Logan was a celebrated German poet, wlio flourished about 1620 ; 
and on the continent several eminent men have appeared of this 
name."* 

Sir Robert Logan married Geilles, second daughter of Lord John 
Somerville, having "in portion with her the lands of Finningtoune, 
Becryhill, aiid Heathryhill, all lying within the Baronie of Cam- 

* Proud's history says that the grandfather of our James Logan was Robert Logan, who 
in the lime of James VL was cut oif from his estates by the affair of Earl Gowi*ie. Tlius con* 
firming tiie above facts. 



508 Persons and Characters. 

busnetiicn, and parisliioner thereof. " Many years after I find their 
lands '•resigned by the successor of the Laii'd of Restalrig in fa- 
vours of Sir John ot Quathquan, the first Laird of Cambusnethen. 
from the tynie that it became in a distinct familiefrom the house oif 
Cowthally, of whom he lield them." 

James Logan had several bi-others and sisters, but none of 
them lived long, save his brother William, who became a physician 
of eminence in Bristol. James Logan was born at Lurgan in 
Ireland, on the 20th October. 1674; he had learned Latin, 
Greek, and some Hebrew, even before he was tliirteen years of age. 
While in Bristol, he assisted his father as a teacher. In his six- 
teenth year he instructed himself in tlie mathematics, a science in 
which he afterwards showed much ability in our country, as a 
scientific correspondent. At nineteen years of age he had studied 
French, Italian, and Spanish. 

In the year 1699, then in his twenty -fifth year, he was solicited 
by William Penn to accompany him to Feimsylvania as his Secre- 
tary, &c. where, in time, he fell into the general charge of all his 
business; but from motives of tenderness to his harrassed princi- 
pal, he never charged but 100^6. a year for all his numerous servi- 
ces, for many years. This was itself a lively jjroof of his liberal- 
ity and disinterested zeal for a good man, and showed him at once 
a faithful and a generous friend. Steadfast as he was to his hon- 
oured principal, it is hardly possible to conceive how irksome and 
perplexing his duties, so moderately charged, always were. In ins 
MS. book of letters to the proprietaries is presei-ved a long detail of 
them, such as they were in general, drawn up by him about the 
year 1729, as reasons to show why he no earnestly prayed to be 
excused from further servitude, saying, it injured his health, and 
much trespassed upon the time due to his proper business as a 
mei'chant, &c. 

When James Logan first consented to come to this country with 
Penn, he came to it as a place to hide himself from the cares of life, 
and with no wish or expectation to advance his fortune among 
us ; but the reasons which he gives, in more advanced years, for 
changing his mind, are instructive, as they show that a religious 
man may moderately desire a measure of wealth with sincere 
purposes to make himself a better man, by attaining the proper 
means of becoming most useful. His words strike me as sutKci- 
ently sensible and very impressive, to wit : " When he was a young 
man. and Se .etary to Penn, he felt an indifference to money, and 
deemed thi ^ happy retirement for cultivating the Christian graces : 
but after he had some experience in life, finding how^ little respect 
and influence could be usefully exerted without such competency as 
could give man a ready access to good society, he thenceforward 
set himself seriously to endeavour, by engagements in commerce, 
(a new track to him) to attain that consequence and weight which 
property so readily confers.'' In the same connection, he adds. 



Persons and Characters. 501) 

*'he never had the wisli to leave any hirge possessions to his pos- 
teiity. ironi the belief that nitxk'rate fortunes were more beneficial 
legacies tiian large ones." It is probably fi'oin these views of 
moderate bequests to iieirs, that he was so liberal to bestow his 
large librai'y and other gifts to public purposes, rather tlian to his 
imuiediate heirs. 

In personal appearance James Logan was tall and well-pro])or- 
tioned, with a graceful yet gi-ave demeanour. He had a good com- 
plexion, and was quite florid, even in old age; nor did his hair, 
which was brown, turn grey in the decline of life, nor his eyes re- 
quire s])e( taclcs. According to the fashion of the times he wore a 
powdered wig. His whole manner was dignified, so as to abash 
imi)ertincnce : yet he was kind and strictly just in all the minor 
duties of acquaintance and society. The engraved portrait is taken 
from a family piece now in the Loganian Libi'ary. 

As a man of learning, lie stood j)i-e-eminent. His business never 
led him off from iiis affections to the muses. He maintained a cor- 
respondence with several of the literati in Euroj)e. and fostered 
science at iiome. His aid to Godfrey, the inventer of the quadrant, 
is in proof to this jmiiit; and his literary intercourse with Gover- 
nor Hunter Dr. Colden. Col. Morris, Dr. Johnstone, Dr. Jenny, 
Governor Biii'uet, and others, at New Yoi'k and elsewJicrc in our 
country, show how much his mind was turned to the love of sci- 
ence, and to its disciples wherever found. 

As he advanced in life, he much desired to give up the cares of 
business. He retired altogether to his country place at Stenton, 
hoping there to enjoy himself otium cum dignitate. Still, however, 
Penn's business and official employs were occasionally pressed 
upon him ; especially iji cases of Indian affairs : because, in them 
he had merited tlie peculiar affection and confidence of tiie Indian 
tribes, they often visiting his grounds and remaining there some 
time under his hospitality. As he grew in years, he met with the 
injury of a limb, which confined him long to his home. He there 
endeavoured to fortify his mind, like Cicero before him, in cultivating 
the best feelings of old age, by keeping his mind and attachments 
young and cheerful. To this cause he translated Cicero de Senec- 
tute into English, a work which when published was imputed er- 
roneously to Dr. Franklin, who was only the printer. I'his fact 
may be seen demonstrated at large in my MS. Annals in the His- 
torical Society of Pennsylvania, page 322. He was also the author 
of two other works, now in possession of Joshua Fisher, Esq. but 
not now found in any catalogues, to wit : 

*' Demonstrationes de Rudiorum Lucis in Superfices Sphcricas, 
— Auctore Jacobo Logan, Judice Supremo et Prseside Concilii 
Provincse Pennsylvaniensis in America." — Also. 

" Jacobi Logani Judicis Supremi et Concilii Praesid is Provincse 
Pennsylvaniensis, Epistola ad Virum Clarissimum, Joannem Al- 
bertum Fabricium, Experimenta et Meletemata de Plantarum," kc. 



510 Persons and Characters. 

He died in 1751, aged 77 years, and lies interred at Friends' 
Arch street ground. Several otiier facts concerning James Logart 
having heen already distrihuted through these pages, have been 
unnecessary to express in the present article. 

John S. Huttonf aged 109 years. 

[with a portrait bt c. w. peale.] 

John S. Hutton. silversmith, of Philadelphia, as he related the 
particulars of his life to the late C. W. Peale, was born in New 
York, in 1684. He was originally bound apprentice to a sea 
captain wiio put him to school to learn the art of navigation. At 
that time he became intimate with a boy who worked at the white- 
smith trade, with whom he amused liimself in acquiring the use of 
the hammer, by which means he obtained a facility in working at 
plate-work in the silversmith's business. He followed the seafaring 
life for thirty years and then commenced the silversmith's trade. 
He was long esteemed in Philadelpliia one of the best workmen at 
ht)llow work ; and tliere are still pieces of his work in much esteem. 
He made a tumbler in silver when he was 94 years of age. 

Through the course of a long and hazardous life in various 
climes, he was always plain and temperate in his eating and drink- 
ing, and particularly avoided spirituous liquors except in one 
instance, while he was serving as Lieutenant of a privateer in 
Queen Anne's war. That occasion gave him a lasting lesson of 
future restraint ; for having made a descent on the Spanish main 
and pillaged a village, while they had all given themselves to 
mirth a)id I'evelry, they were intercepted in their return to their 
boats, and all killed sa\c himself and one other, who were made 
prisoners and iield in long confinement. 

His first wife was Catharine Cheeseman, of New York, by whom 
he had eight cliildren, 25 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, 
and 3 great great grandchildren. 

At the age of 5 1 he married his second wife in Philadelphia, 
Ann Vanlear, of 19 years of age, by whom he had 17 children, 
41 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren — forming in all a 
grand total of 132 descendants, of whom 45 were then dead. 
Tliose who survive were generally dwelling in Philadelphia. His 
last wife died in 1788, at tlie age of 72. Mr. Hutton deemed him- 
self in the prime of his life when 60 years of age. He never had 
a headach. 

He was always fond of fishing and fowling, and till his 81st 
year used to carry a heavy English musket in his hunting excur- 
sions. He was ever a quiet, temperate, and hard-working man, 
and even in the year of his deatii was quite cheerful and good 
humoured. He could then see, hear, and walk about — had a good 
appetite, and no complaints whatever, except from the mere debility 
of old age. When shall " we behold his like again !" 




.J Q :k^ '^ o MIT T T cG) ^:t , 



Persons and Characters. 511 

In liis ourly life he was on two scouts against the Indians; lie 
used to tell, tliat in one of these excursions they went out in the 
night, that they took a squaw prisonei-, who led them to where the 
Indians lay, of whom they killed the most, hefore tliey con!;! get to 
their arms. TIjc circumstance induced the Indians to come in 
and make their peace. 

He knew^ the noted pirate, Teach, called Blackhcard : he saw 
him at Barbadoes after he had come in under the Act of Oblivion 
to him and other pirates. This was a shoi-t time before that pirate 
made his last cruise and was killed in Carolina. 

The father of Hutton was John Ihitloji, of Bermuda in Scotland, 
where many of the family reside. His grandfather, by his mother's 
side, was Arthur Strangeways, who died at Boston at the age of 
101 years, while sitting in his chair. 

J. S. Hutton died at Philadelphia, on the 20th of December, 1792, 
in the 109th year of his age. His long life, and numerous children, 
made him a patriarch indeed ! " In children's lives feels his resur- 
rection, and grows immortal in his children's childi-en !" He }vas 
deemed so rare an instance of lusty old age. that Mr. C. W. Peale 
w as induced to take his portrait as now seen in the Museum, as he 
appeared in the last year of his life. He was borne to his grave by 
his fellow craftsmen — all silversmiths. 

Thomas Godfrey, 

The inventer of the quadrant, was born in Bristol township, 
about one mile from Germantown, in the year 1704, on a farm ad- 
Joining to Lukens' mill, on the Church lane. His grandfather, 
Thomas Godfrey, a farmer and maltster, iiad ])urchased the place 
from Samuel Carpenter, mercliant, of Philadelphia, on the 24th of 
August, 1697. His father, Joseph, died in 1705, when he was but 
one year old. His mother afterwards married one Wood, of Phila- 
delphia, and put her son out to learn the business of a glazier and 
painter. His father's estate became his when he w as of age. He 
appears to have sold it to John Lukens on the 1st of Jan. 1735. 

While engaged at his business on the premises at Stenton — J. 
Logan's place — accidentally observing a piece of fallen glass, an 
idea presented to his reflecting mind, which caused him to quit his 
scaffold and to go into Mr. Logan's library, where he took down 
a volume of Newton. Mr. Logan entering at this time and see- 
ing the book in his hand, inquired into the motive of his search, 
when he was exceedingly pleased w it!i Godfrey's ingenuity, and 
from that time became his zealous friend. He procured for'him a 
skilful person to try his quadrant at sea ; and finding it fully 
answered every wish, he endeavoured to serve him by writing to 
his friends in England, esjjecially to Sir Hans Sloane, so as to get 
for him the reward offered by the Royal Society. This was in- 
tended to be a measure in opposition to the claim of Hadley, who 



51^ Fersons and Characters. 

it was supposed had obtained the description of the iiistniment from 
his nephew, who it was recollected had seen it in the West Indies. 
Such is tlie tradition of the matter in the Logan family as in-eserved 
by Mrs. Logan. James Logan asserts in a letter to one of his 
friends, that Godfrey's discovery was two years prior to Hadley's. 

"Joshua Fisher, of Lewistovvn, afterwards of PhUadelphia, 
merchant, first tried the quadrant in the hay of Delawai'e." Af- 
terwards Captain Wriglit carried it to Jamaica, wiiere. unsuspici- 
ous of tlie ])iracy, he shewed and explained it to several English- 
men, among whom was a nephew of Had ley's. 

Godfrey's aflfections for )nat!>cmatical science occurred at an 
early period, from a chance opportunity of reading a book on that 
Htudy. Finding the subject per{>iexed with Latin terms, lie ap- 
])lied himself to tliat language witli such diligence as to be able to 
read the occasional Latin he found. Optics and astronomy became 
his favourite studies, and the exercise of his thoughts led him on to 
conceive at lengtii the instrument which should enlarge his fame. 
Funther particulars, in print, on this subject may be found in the 
Philosophical Transactions. No. 435, and also in Bradford's Amer- 
ican Magazine for July 1758, and in my MS. Annals in the His- 
torical Society of Pennsylvaiiia, p. 566. 

The grave-stones of some of the family still remain upon the 
farm. I have seen two of them out in the field close to a partition 
fence. They arc of soap-stone, and the letters much effaced ; but 
Mr. Natlian Spencer, near there, - ho honoured the inventer, bad 
procured the inscriptions as they once stood, being told by Ann 
Nedrow to Spencer's fatiier, and from him to Nathan, my infor- 
mant, to wit : 

East side : — 

Here lyeth the body of Joseph son of Thomas 

and Frances Godfrey, as^ed thirty and two years, who dyed 

the 14th of 2d mo. in the year 1705. — 

As by grace comes election. 

So the end of our hope is resurrection. 

West side: — 

Death ends man's worke 

And labour here. 

The man is blest 

Whose labours just and pure. 

'Tis vain for man 

This life for to adore, 

For our dear son 

Is dead and gone before. Sec. 

On tbe soutb side of the above described stone is supposed to 
have been placed the bodies of bis father and mother, and on tbe 
nortb side, the bodies of bis son Thomas, tbe inventer, and bis 
wife. Mrs. Nedrow said sbe saw Thomas, the inventer, therr 



"'k'A, 






1 / 



:Li:Er^.l^^i>iLi:^ i-'i-i^v^XlLlM, 



Persons and Characters. 5 1 3 

hiiried hi December, 1749. There was never any separate stone 
placed for him. Thus he, who has benefited naval science and 
commerce witli millions, has not liad himself the requital of a stone 
itself to mark his memoi'y ! Like Washington's it inay live with- 
out it — without '* storied urn or monumental bust!" tlenius was 
in tlie family, for he left a son William, a watchmaker, who wi-ote 
good jwetry, became a Lieutenant in the ai-my. and died in 1763. 

Dr. Franklin. 



It is but little known, or set down to the commendation of 
Franklin, that when he was young in business, and stood in need 
of sundry articles in the line of his profession as a printer, that lie 
ha<l the ingenuity to make them for himself. In this way he founded 
letters of lead, engraveil various printing ornaments, cut wood- 
cuts, made printer's ink, engraved copperplate vignettes, and made 
his plate press. Sower, an ingenious German printer, did some- 
tiiing in the same way at Gcrmantown. 

Not long after Benjamin Franklin had commenced editor of a 
newspaper, he noticed with considerable freedom the public con- 
duct of one or two influential persons in Philadelphia. This cir- 
cumstance was regarded by some of his patrons with disapproba- 
tion, and induced one of them to convey to Franklin the opinion of 
his friends in regard to it. The Doctor listened with patience to 
the reproof, and begged the favour of his friend's company at sup- 
per on an evening which he named ; at the same time requesting 
that the other gentlemen who were dissatisfied with him should 
also attend. The invitation was accepted by Philip Syng. 11 ugh 
Roberts, and several others. The Doctor received them coi'dially, 
and his editorial conduct was canvassed, and some advice given. 
Supper was at last announced, and the guests invited to an adjoin- 
ing room. The Doctor begged the party to be seated, and urged 
them to help themselves ; but the table was only supplied witii two 
puddings and a stone jntcher filed with 7valer / Each guest had a 
plate, a spoon, and a penny porringer ; they were all helped ; 
but none but the Doctor could eat ; he partook freely of the pud- 
ding, and urged his friends to do the same: but it was out of tlie 
question — they tasted and tried in vain. Wlien their facetious host 
saw the difficulty was unconquerable, he rose and addressed them 
thus: ''My friends, any one who can subsist upon saw-dust pud- 
ding and water, as I can, needs no man's patronage I" 

The house No. 141, High street, on the north side, between Third 
and Fourth streets, (now the property of the heirs of Daniel 
Wister) was originally the residence of Dr. Franklin, and was 
the first house in Philadelphia which ever had a lightning rod af- 
fixed to it. This was put up by Dr. Franklin. The rod came into 
the bedchamber in the second story on the gable end, eastern side, 
3 X 



J 14 Persons and Characters. 

ami there being cut ofT from \ts communication with the rod de- 
scending to the ground, the intermediate space of about one yard 
was filled up with a range or chime of bells, which whenever an 
electric cloud j)assed over tlie place v.ere set to ringing and throw- 
ing out s])arks of electricity. These bells remained some time 
after Daniel Wister occupied the liouse, and were at last reluc- 
tantly taken down, to quiet the fears of his wife. Mr. C. J. Wis- 
ter. who told me of this, told me they even played and conducted 
electricity sometimes in the winter. 

In 1750, Benjamin Franklin owned and dwelt in the house af 
the south cast corner of Race and Second streets. The same house 
was afterwards made tlie Franklin Inn. 

I had the pleasure to see several original letters fi-om Dr. Frank- 
lin, when province agent in England, to Hugh Roberts in Phila- 
delphia. H? speaks in strong terms of affection for the members 
of the Junto — speaks of the club then existing 40 years. The let- 
ters from each of them express their mutual love of punning, and 
both give good examples of their skill therein. 

When I visited the house of Edward Duffield, in Byberry, the 
executor of Franklin's w ill, there I saw in the possession of his 
son, a portrait of Franklin's bust, done for him when apparently 
about 38 to 40 years of age. It was a present from Franklin, sup- 
posed to have been done by West, and would be quite a new face 
to the public* There was also there a miniature profile done by 
Wedgewood in white china, finely delineated, also one as a medal 
done in France. Edward Duffield, the s(m, told me that Franklin 
told his father, that when he was in France, and travelling, he 
sometimes made a temporary ^Eolian harp by stretching a silken 
cord across some crevice where air passed. On one such occasion 
in repassing such a house after an elapse of years, he found it de- 
serted because of their hearing strange but melodious sounds, which 
they deemed good evidence of its being haunted. On entering the 
house he found vestiges of the silk i-cmaining — the creator of all 
the mischief f 

Dr. Franklin's person, as seen at the period of the Revolution, 
was square built and fat ; he wore his own hair, thin and grey ; his 
head w as remarkably large in proportion to his figure, and his coun- 
tenance mild, firm and expressive — looked healthy and vigourous. 
He was friendly and agreeable in conversation, which he readily 
suited to his company — with a seeming wish to benefit his hearers ; 
and at the same time possessing a rare talent of himself profiting 
by the convei-sation of others, and turning their hints to such pur- 
poses as he desired. 

He once told Dr. Logan that the celebrated Adam Smith, when 
writing his " Wealth of Nations," was in the habit of bringing 

* 1 have since procured the present engraving from it. The leading features and gen^ 
cral aspect have so many agreements with his older portraits already known to the public, 
that this may be readily received as his true likeness in middle life. 



Persons and Characters.. 515 

chapter after cliaptcr as he composed it. to himself, Dr. Price and 
others of the literati ; then patiently hear their observations, and 
profit bv their discussions and criticism— even sometimes siib- 
mitting to write whole chapters anew, and even to reverse some of 
his propositions. , ^.. t •, t i 

On paffe 170 of my MS. Annals in the City Library, I have 
preserved a fragment of Dr. Franklin's black silk velvet coat with 
the pile uncut— such as was his dress coat. 

In 1764 Dr. Fi-anklin is sent to England to act as agent tor the 
province. He is sent in consc luence of the difference with Gover- 
nor John Penn concerning taxing the proprietary estates. 

In consequence of liis thus going abroad, his 'nt«'';^^\;" t'\*^ 
Pennsylvania Gazette ceases, and it continued by D. Hall hrst, 
and bv Hall and Sellers afterwards. 

Mv aged friend, Samuel Preston, tells some anecdotes ot Ur. 
Fraiiklin when he was at the Indian treaty at Kaston in 1756. 
Preston's father, tlien there, much admired Franklin's ready wit. 
Wlien the old Indians came in their file to speak to the Governor 
he wouhl ask their names; then the Governor would ask Ben, as 
he called him, what he >r.:'st think of to remember them by. He 
was always answered promptly. At last one Indian came whose 
name was Tocarededhogan. Such a name ! How shall it be re- 
membered ? Tlie answer was prompt :— Think of a wheelbarnjw 
—to carry a dead hog on. Note— One of the Indian names tor 
Governor of Maryland was much like the above long name, 
^'Tocarry-Hogan." Vide Douglass, 1749. 

" The Historical Review of Pennsylvania" of 1739, was gene- 
rally imputed to Dr. Franklin : but his grand-son Bache. declared m 
court, it was not so. Some extracts from a MS. of 20 pages, 
found among Governor Hamilton's papers, treats it as the produc- 
tion of Franklin, and says of him, ^' he certainly will not pretend 
to a disinterested or undesigning combat in this dispute, di.c. 
There is, however, much reason to believe, that he had much liand 
in its production. There is so much of his acumen in it, although 
it too often violates truth and candour, to present false glosses, &c. 
More may be seen in my MS. Annals, in the Historical Society ot 
Pennsylvania, page 110, at some length. 

O'l page 344 of the same Annals is an autograph letter ot Dr. 
Franklin to Charles Thomson, of the 13th of May, 1784, saying, 
" Yesterdav evening Mr. Hartley met with Mr. Jay and myselt, 
when the Ratification of the Definitive Treaty were exchanged. 
God be praised !^an event I hardly expected I should live to see, 
&c. &c. The advice which he pi-oceeds to give I have told m an- 

^ ThereTs^'some reason to believe that Dr. Franklin was not ori- 
ginally thorough-going for the Revolution; there ^^^e, /'^^^^".i 
Inough to keep him moderate : such as that he held vaUmble olhces 
for y?ars of the Crown, and enjoyed the confidence of its othcers at th<! 



51(3 Persons and Characters, 

iiuie of the Stamp Act, so much so, that lie readily procured the cora- 
iiiissions for ils oilices, is.c. in Philadelphia — procuring thus the otUce 
of Stamp Master for his friend Hughes, and having at the same 
time i.is natural son, William T. Franklin, in the office of Gover- 
nor of New Jersey. It was insinuated at the time, that he was too 
indifferent to the operation of the Stamp Act ; and the family of 
Hiiglies afterwards got offended at Ids after-measures, and preser- 
ved some cori'espondence on those points. Some hints of these 
things I saw also in the MS. of Charles Thomson, and a letter from 
Franklin's son, exculpating him. BMnally, after Franklin's return, 
and he in Congress, he was known to have been unsettled in his 
mind respecting tlic signing of the Declaration of Independence, 
so much so, as to have iiindered Mr. Willing from signing it, even 
as late as the day before Franklin concluded to sign it himself. 
Indeed it was a perplexing point, for so wary a man. 

Rev. George Whitefield. 

Great was the religious excitement in his day ; and the consequence 
was that some fanaticism prevailed — whr^re preachers and people 
"carried high sail," and spoke and acted "too often from fires of 
their own kindling," as some of those concerned afterwards made 
their confessions. I give the following facts as I found them, to wit : 
1739 — Mr. Whitelield preached to 15,000 people ''on Society 
Hill, near to the flag staff," somewhere near Front and South 
streets. The Gazette of the time says, that since his preaching 
among us, the dancing school, assembly and concert room have 
been shut up as incojisistent with the Gospel ; and although the 
gentlemen concerned broke open the doors, no company went the 
last assembly night. 

During the session of the Presbyterian Synod of one week, there 
were fourteen sermons preached on Society Hill, (meaning in the 
open air) to large audiences, by theTennants, Davenport, Rowland 
and Blair. The change to religion here (says the Gazette) is 
altogether surprising, through the influence of Whitefield. No 
books sell but religious, and such is the general conversation. 
Benjamin Franklin proposes to publish Whitefield's journal and 
sermons, by his permission. His paper, No. 606, contains a long 
letter from the Rev. Ebenezer Kinnersley, the Professor, against 
the violent and extravagant preachings of Rowland and others ; 
and the Rev. Mr. Cummings of the Episcopal church, publishes 
sermons against the manner of the awakenings and tumults. 

Whitefield publishes a letter to southern planters in favour of 
their blacks, and against slavery; and it is said he takes up 5000 
acres of land in the Forks of Delaware, (since Bethlehem, &c.) 
in order to erect a negro school, &c. Whitefield's letters, to prove 
that Tillotson was not a Christian believer, are given in the 
Gazettes at large. 



Persons and Characters. 5 1 7 

In December, 1739, Mr. Wliitefield loft the city, and was accom- 
panied to Chester by about 150 liorsemon, and jjreached there to 
about rooo people. At White-day crei-k lie preached to 8000 ; 
of whonj as many as 3000 were on lioj-sehack. Many complimen- 
tary effusions to him appear in tlie (ia/ettes. 

The very tones of his voice had witchery in it; it was both powerful 
and sweet. Colonel Morris, now 90 years of age, told me he 
was distinctly heard by pei'sons at Gloucester Point, when he was 
preaching on Society Ilill, making a distance, by water, of 2 miles ; 
and old Mr. Dupuy told me. tliat when he preached from the l)al- 
cony of the court house on Second street by the market, he couhl 
be readily heard by people in boats on the river — not perhaps to 
make out t!ic sense, but to hear the sound. However, the words 
*'lie taught them saying" were said to have been heard even at 
Gloucester Point ! 

A letter from James Pemberton, a Friend, of the 11th of 9 mo. 
1739, which I have seen, speaks thus of him, saying, " He ])reaches 
here every day to numej'ous people. Some of our curious IF youtiis 
of rash judgment, who look at words more than substance, are very 
constant in attending, and are much pleased. He preached three 
nights successively upon our court house steps, (in Second street) 
where he exceedingly takes with the people. He aims much at])riest- 
craft,* and speaks very satirically of the Papists, whom he incenses 
much. Last night he had the greatest multitude I ever see, and 
some accident happened which greatly frighted many. Some 
thought it was an earthquake, others that it was fire, others that 
the Spaniards were come, kc. Many wei-c mucJi hurt by iallini; 
and being trod upon ; many lost their hats, cloaks, kc. The preach 
er had to leave off speaking till they recovered their senses. 
which some did and others did not. His intentions are good ; bu) 
he has not arrived at such perfection as to see so far as he yet may. 
In his conversation he is very agreeable, and has not much of tho 
priest ; he frequents no set company." 

This sober judgment of Friend Pemberton, given to his friend 
Jolin Smith of Burlington, came to have a singular verification 
in Wiutefield's own confession, later in life. His friendly biogra- 
pher has published of him, that as he grew older he thought and 
acted differently: and of himself he said, ''I have carried high 
sail whilst running through a torrent of popularity and contempt. 
I may have mistaken nature for grace, imagination for revela- 
tion, and the fire of my own temper for the flame of holy zeal ; 
and I find I have frequently written and spoken in my own spirit, 
Avhen I thought I was assisted entirely by God." 

Here was at least a redeeming penitence and candour ; he did 
not "see so far as he may" in several of his most sanguine projects ; 

* There is ambiguity in tiiis sentence ; but which I understand to mean, that he attacks 
such craft, — for he says of him further on, " He has not much of the priest in his conver- 
sation," &CC. 



518 Fersons and Characters. 

indeed, generally, tlioy failed. He built the old academy oveiv 
laige, and for itinerants forever, — and behold how soon it passed 
for other purposes : He took up lands for freed negroes at Bethle- 
hem, and it wont to the Moravians : Jiis orphan house and scheme 
in Georgia was quite a failure. 

1742 — The Gazettes contain much controversy on religious 
topics, excited by the success of Whitefield, and his friends Row- 
land, Davenport, Dickinson, and the two Tennants. There are 
letters to and from G. Tennant, from Evans, from Samuel Finley, 
and the Querists. Mr. Cummijigs and others publish pamphlets 
against the religious excitement. Dr. KinJiersley's letter in the 
Gazette against them, goes upon sensible ground. 

James Logan in a letter he wrote in 1742, calls Whitefield a 
whimsical enthusiast, "who, through his companion Seward, 
bought the 5000 acres (at Bethlehem) to form a school for negroes ; 
but the purchaser dying soon after, his wiser executors turned it 
into money again by a sale, by which it is now the property of 
Zinzendorf for his Moravians. 

" None can be long a stranger to George Whitefield ; his journals 
letters, &c. are so industriously printed here. His life, wrote by 
himself, and first printed here, is scandalously plain. All I have 
to say of him is, that by good language, a better utterance, and 
an engaging manner, and powerful voice, he gained much at first, 
on most sorts of people ; but on his falling foul of Bishop Tillotson, 
and the most unexceptionable author of the Whole Duty of Man, &c. 
the more judicious fell from him : yet he still gained on the multi- 
tude, in so much, that they have begun for him a great brick buil- 
ding, (the present old academy) in wliich, though not yet covered, 
lie a great many times preached wjien last here. It must be con- 
fessed his preaching has a good effect in reclaiming many dissolute 
people: but from his countenancing so very much the most hot 
headed predestinariaas, and those of them principally who had 
been accounted by the more sober as little bettei- than madmen, 
he and they have actually driven divers into dispair, and some 
into perfect madness ! In short, it is apprehended by the more ju- 
dicious, that the whole will end in confusion, to the great prejudice 
of the cause of virtue and solid religion— his doctrine wholly 
turning on the danger of good works, without such a degree of 
sanctitying faith as comes up to his gage." 

A MS. Journal of John Smith, Esq. which I have seen, writes 
under date of the 21st of 2 mo. 1746, saying, '* George Whitefield 
came to town last Seventh-day and preaches daily ; but people's 
curiosity about him now seems so well satisfied that there is very 
little talk of him." 

In 1750, the foundation of the Rev. Gilbert Tennant's ** New 
Meeting-house" was laid at the north west corner of Third and 
Arch streets ; at the same time, tiie former used church of White- 
field, in Fourth street, is in its new hands partitioned across for 



Persons and Characters. 61i» 

«* the academy." This churcli was loniicd of tlic Preshylcriaiis 
who went off from the first church in High street as seceders— re- 
ceiving tiie name of •' New Lights," and their minister "Urll-fire 
Tennant," in the common parlance of the day. Mr. Tcnnant was 
eccentric. He affected to wear a kind of g!*cat coat drawn round 
him hy a girdle, and to wear no wig — a great oddity then for a 
preacher. He at length came to see he had gone heyond soher 
Christianity, and ma<le his confession in a letter printed in the 
Gazettes— Vide Peinisylvaiiia Gazette, No. 713,---year 1741-2; 
saying '' My soul is grieved with such enthusiastic fooleries and 
l>ei'ilous ignis-fatnns, ^c. 

In these cases of o\er-zeal in Teunant and Whitefield, Sec. we 
see the usual retractions which maturer age and ohservation are 
usually (h'stined to effect in hoiiest hearts — such as occurs with 
like natures wliere other tliemes engross the minds of ardent Spi- 
rits — as Dr. Johnson says of Lyttlettm and otiiers in their head- 
strong ardour for liherty: — "• It is what a man of ardour always 
catches when he enters ujion his career, and always suffers to cool 
as he passes forward." It is tlie common fate of enthusiasm, when 
most excited, to ascend and flame like a rocket, hut to go out and 
fall like its stick. 

On page 300 of my MS. Annals in tlie Historical Society of 
Pennsylvania, there is for the inspection of the curious an auto- 
graph letter of G. Wliitefield, of tlie year 1754, written from Bos- 
ton to Dr. William Shippen, the elder, saying he intends to liasteii 
hack to Philadelpliia soon after. This hranch of t!ie Shij)pcn family 
hecame his ardent admirers. I have seen a letter of Octoher, 1774, 
from Edward Shippen, Esq. to this William, liis hrother, wherein 
he speaks of an intended Doctorate for Mr. Whitelield, saying, "I 
tl)ank you for Wesley's funeral sermon upon our deceased, heavenly, 
mutual friend, G. W. I am sorry you had not an opportunity of 
presenting him with the proposed Doctorate from our Nassau Hall. 
Such a thing would have heen a great honour to him. 

CmiJit Zinzendorf. 

This founder of the Moravians showed himself an eccentric and 
strange person in his dej)ortment in this country. I give the facts 
in his case as I find them — '^ nothing extenuate nor auglit set down 
in malice," to wit : 

In 1752, came to Philadelphia Count Zinzendorf and daugliter, 
and Peter Bohler — names often noticed in ecclesiastical history. 
The Count while in Germantown staid at John Wistcr's house ; 
and in the same house at this day are two great chairs and a tea- 
table, left there a present from the Count. They sometimes in 
those days of religious excitement put their theology into tijc 
Gazettes. In the Pennsylvania Gazette, No. 755, may be seen an 
article of the Count's, and a rejoinder in Nos. 759 and 760, by the 
Rev. Gilbert Tennant. 



5£0 Persons and Characters. 

On page 244^ of my MS. x\nnals in the City Library are two 
autograph lettci-s of the Count and of his daughter Benigna, of the 
year 1742-3 — written in German on religious subject •.. The 
Count's letter is one of reproof and pardon to a dear spiritual sis- 
ter who had been slandered by Bcckey. He tliinks the sister inis 
talked unadvisedly before Beckey, and he cautions her to set a fu- 
ture watch on her words: he signs himself Nicholas Ludewig. 
His daughter writes from Bethlehem to her spiritual sister, Mag- 
dalene Fende, in Germantown, to whom she commends the blood 
of Christ in strange metaphysical e{)ithets. 

I have seen in the hands of the present Benjamin Lehman of 
Germantown, a curious autograph letter of Count Zinzendorf to 
Frederick Fende, (i. e. Vende) being the same wliich was also 
published in Bradford's Mercury, No. 1214. on the l4thof August, 
1743, together with one to Mr. NeumfUJ. These letters of 1741-2, 
are addressed to parents who compia^ncd to the Count of his taking 
off tiieir young and maiden daughters to Germany as members of 
his congregation. The MS. letter winch I have mentioned above 
is dated Philadelphia, December 26th, 1742, and reads in extract 
translation thus: ''To the cooper, F. Vende, in Germantown — 
I take you both — man and wife — to be notorious children of the 
devil,* and you, the woman, to be a twofold child of hell. Yet I 
would have your damnation as tolerable as possible. The laws 
provide against such unreasonable parents, and w ill not suffer you 
to keep your daughter against her consent. Yet you may vex her 
soul. If that sevenfold devil which possesseth you will permit — 
then consider and leave your daughter peaceably with the congre; 
gation," kc. To Neuman, he wrote, " In case you die without 
forcing your daughter away, your former sin shall be forgiven you, 
but if you resume your murdering spirit against her soul, by her 
consent or not, I recall my peace, and you, I leave to the devil, 
and the curse of your child, thereby lost, shall rest on you till she 
is redeemed— ,57Jie?i.'" Tiiis is really very curious supremacy as 
well as theology. Miss Lehman and Miss Vende, much against 
the will of their families, went off to Germany. 

Kalm, the Swedish ti-aveller, here in 1748, says, " his uncom- 
mon behaviour \\eve persuaded many Englishmen of rank that he 
was disordered in his head." 

A MS. letter of James Logan of tlie year 1742, written in con- 
fidential frankness to a friend, speaks of the Count as follows, to wit: 
"I Iravehad frequent intercourse with him, and heartily wish I 
could say any thing concerning him to satisfaction; but his con- 
duct has lost him all credit here, being now only regarded by his 
own few Moravians. He sent to the Friends' Meeting a letter 
signed ^nne the Elder, written in an odd French style, which it 
was difficult to put into any consistent meaning or sense. About 

*They bore excellent moral characters; and he used to preach in their house, wheif 
now J. Bowman's house is. 



Fersons and Characters. 521 

the same time lie framed a» instrument of resignation of all his 
honours and dignities to some relatives. This was done in Latin, 
but still more odd than his French — in some parts carrying a show 
of elegance, but in other parts mere nonsense ; in other placets plain 
enough, and in others perfectly unintelligiltle. — This he desired of 
me to put into English. As 1 could not, he had it printed as it 
was, and invited the Governor and all who understood Latin to 
meet him. Several met, when ho read off his instrument, giving 
each of them a printed ropy ; hui after all this ])aradc, he with- 
drew his papers and himself too, saying, on reflection, he must 
first advise with some of his friends in Gernjany. This conduct 
much astonished the company, who genei-ally concluded him in- 
sane. He has lately been visiting the Iroquois. In short, he ap- 
pears r. mere knight-eri'a»t in religion, scarce less than Don 
Quixote was in chivalry !" Other facts of his singular behaviour 
are mentioned by Logan. I have preserved some other facts 
respecting his strange conduct in Gcrmantown. Very wild no- 
tions are imputed to liim too, and told in detail by lliinius. of 
Prussia, who printed a book of it in London, in 1753. The decree 
of George III. as Elector of Hanover against them, and which in- 
duced them to come to Pennsylvania, see in Pennsylvania Journal 
of the 20th of December, 1750. 

Bethlehem, where the Count settled his sect, was said to have 
received its name from his purpose of adding all the other names 
of the Holy Land. Secretary Peters' MS. letter to the Penn family 
says "The Count desired to name his villages after all the )iames 
in the Holy Land, and to settle there 10,000 people on 16 miles 
square of land." 

Bradford Family. 

William Bradford was the first printer who settled in tliis col- 
ony — (Pa.) He was the son of William and Anne Bradford, of 
Leicester, England, at which place he was born. He served his 
apprenticeship in London with Andrew Sowles, printer, in Grace 
Cliurch street, and married his daughter Elizabeth. Sowles was 
intimately acquainted with George Fox, the founder of the English 
sect of Quakers. Sowles was one of this sect, and printed for the 
society. Bradford adopted the principles of the Quakers, and was 
among the first emigrants from England to Pennsylvania in 1682, 
and landed at the sj)ot w here Philadelphia was soon after laid out, 
before a house was built. The next year his wife arrived. 

At what place he first settled is rather uncertain ; but, it was, as he 
expresses it, " near Philadelphia." As the general assembly was hoUlen 
at Chester, and this borough became, for a time, a place of consequence, 
it is probable tliat Bradford resided there until Philadelphia assumed the 
appearance of a city ; he might, however, have set up his press at Burling- 
ton, which is but eighteen miles distant from Philadelphia, and was then 
tlie capital of New Jersey, or even at Kensington, then a small village. 

3 y 



5'-22 Persons and Cfiaraders. 

The first work pi'inted by Bradford, which has reached us with a date, is, 
" An Almanac for the year of the Christian account 1687, Particularly 
respecting the Meridian and Latitude of Burlington, but may indifferently 
serve all places adjacent. By Daniel Leeds, Student in Agriculturco 
Printed and Sold by William Bradford, near Philadelfihia in Pennsil- 
vania pro Anno 1687." 

In 1689, Bradford lived in the city. A quarto pamphlet by George 
Keith, respecting the New England churches, printed by Bradford in 
Philadelphia in that year, is the oldest book I have seen, printed in the 
city. 

in the year 1692, much contention prevailed among the Quakers iii 
Philadelphia, and Bradford took an active part in the quarrel. George 
Keith, by birth a Scotchman, a man of good abilities and well educated, 
was Surveyor General in New Jersey ; and the Society of Friends in this 
city employed him in 1689, as the superintendent of their schools. Keith, 
having attended this duty nearly two years, became a public speaker in 
their religious assemblies ; but being, as the Quakers asserted, of a 
turbulent and overbearing spirit, he gave them much trouble ; they for- 
bade him speaking as a teacher or minister in their meetings ; this, and 
some other irritating circumstances, caused a division among the 
Friends, and the parties were violently hostile to each other. Bradford 
was of the party which was attached to Keith, and supported him ; their 
opponents were the majority. Among them were the Lieutenant Gover- 
nor Lloyd, and most of the Quaker magistrates. Keith and Thomas 
Budd Avrotc against the majority, and Bradford published their writings. 

Keith was condemned in the city meetings, but he appealed to the 
general meeting of the Friends ; and, in order that his case might be 
generally known and understood, he wrote an address to the Quakers, 
which he caused to be printed, and copies of it to be dispersed among 
the Friends, previous to their general meeting. This conduct was highly 
resented by his opponents ; the address was denominated seditious, and 
Bradford was arrested and imprisoned for printing it. The Sheriff seized 
a form containing four quarto pages of the types of the address; he also 
took into his custody a quantity of paper, and a number of books, which 
were in Bradford's shop, with all the copies of the address which he 
could find. The civil authority took up the business ; and, as Keith and 
Bradford state the facts, they who persecuted them in the religious as- 
semblies, condenmed and imprisoned them by civil process — the judges 
of the courts being the leading characters in the meetings. Several of 
Keith's party were apprehended and imprisoned with Bradford; and, 
among them, Thomas Budd and John Macomb. The offence of the 
latter consisted in his having two copies of the address, which he gave 
to two friends in compliance with their request. 

The following was the warrant for committing Bradford and Macomb; 
" Whereas William Bradford, printer, and John Macomb, taylor, be- 
ing brought before us upon an information of Publishing, Uttering and 
Spreading a Malicious and Seditious paper, intituled. An Appeal from 
the twenty-eight Judges* to the Spirit of Truth, 8cc. Tending to the 
disturbance of the Peace and the Subversion of the present government, 



Persons and Characters. 52,3 

and the said Persons being required to give Securitie to answer it at the 
next court, but they refused so to do. These are therefore by the King 
and Queens Authoritie and in our Proprietary's Name, to require you tg 
take into your Custody the Bodies of William Bradford and John Ma- 
comb, and them safely keep till they shall be discharged by due Course 
of Lavv^. Whereof fail not at your Peril; and for your so Doing, this 
shall be your sufficient Warrant. Given under our Hands and Sealcs 
this 24th of August, 1692. 

" These to John White, Sheriff of Philadelphia, or his Deputies." 
Signed by Arthur Cook and four others. 

The day after the imprisonment of Bradford and his friends, a " Pri- 
vate Sessions," as it was called, of the county court was holden by six 
Justices, all Quakers, who, to put a just complexion on their proceed- 
ings, requested the attendance of two magistrates who were not Quakers. 

This court assembled, it seems, for the purpose of convicting Keith, 
Budd, and their connexions, of seditious conduct ; but the two magistrates 
who were not Quakers, if we credit Keith and Bradford, reprobated the 
measure, and refused to have any concern in it, declaring, that the whole 
transaction was a mere dispute among the Quakers respecting Uieir re- 
ligion, in which the government had no concern. They, however, ad- 
vised that Keith and others accused should be sent for, and allowed to 
defend themselves, and affirmed that if any thing like sedition appeared 
in their practice, they w^ould join heart and hand in their prosecution. 
To this the Quaker magistrates would not consent, and the others in 
consequence left the court. The court then, as is stated in a pamphlet,* 
" proceeded in their work, and as they judged George Keith in their 
spiritual court without all hearing or trial, so in like manner they prose- 
cuted him in their temporal court without all hearing." The pamphlet 
further states that " one of the judges declared that the court could judge 
of matter of fact without evidence, and tlierefore, without more to do, 
proclaimed George Keith by the common cryer, in the market place, to 
be a seditious person, and an enemy to the King and Queen's govern- 
ment." 

Bradford and Macomb, who had been imprisoned, appeared at this 
court, and requested that they might be brought to trial; pleading that 
it was very injurious to them and their families to remain in confine- 
ment. They claimed, as free born English subjects, the rights secured 
by Magna Charta, among which was the prompt administration of jus- 
tice ; and Bradford, in particular, desired that his trial might then take 
place, " because, not only his person was restrained, but his working 
tools, and the paper and books from his shop were taken from him, and 
■without these he could not work and maintain his family." 

Soon after this session of the court, Bradford was, by some indulgence, 
released from his confinement. It is said, that in the examination of the 
• frame,' the jury not being acquainted with reading backwards, attempted 
to raise it from the plank on which it was placed, and to put it in a more 
favourable situation for inspection ; and that one of them assisting with 

* This pamphlet is entitled, " New England Spirit of Persecution, transmitted to Penn- 
sylvania, and the Pretended Quaker found Persecuting the True Christian Quaker in the 
Tryal of Peter Boss, George Keith, Thomas Budd and William Bradford, at the Sessyons 
held at Philadelphia the Ninth, Tenth, and Twelfth days of Decerabei-, I69'i. Giving an 
account of the most Arbitrary Proceedings of that Court." 



524 Persons and Characters. 

liis cane, pushed against the bottom of the types as the form was placed 
perpendicularly, when, like magic, this evidence against Bradford in- 
stantly vanished, the types fell from the frame, or chase as it is termed 
by printers, formed a confused heap, and prevented further investi- 
gation. 

Bradford having incurred the displeasure of the dominant party in 
Pennsylvania, and receiving encouragement to settle in New York, he, 
in 1693, removed to that city ; but it is supposed he had a concern in 
the press which was continued in Philadelphia, 

Bradford continued to print for the government of New York, and 
during thirty years, was the only printer in the province. 

On the 16th of October, 1725, he began the publication of the first 
newspaper printed in that colony. 

He continued his residence in that city, and enjoyed a long life, Avith- 
out experiencing sickness or the usual infirmities of age. Several years 
before his death he retired from business, and lived with his son Williarn, 
in Hanover Square. 

On the morning of the day which closed his life, he walked over a 
great p»rt of the city. He died May 23d, 1752, aged ninety-four. The 
New York Gazette, which announced his death on the Monday following, 
mentions, " that he came to America seventy years ago ; was printer to 
the government upwards of fifty years ; and was a man of great sobriety 
and industry ; a real friend to the poor and needy, and kind and affable 
to all : — His temperance was exceedingly conspicuous ; and he was al- 
most a stranger to sickness all his life. He had left off business several 
years past, and being quite worn out with old age and labour, his lamp 
of life went out for want of oil." 

When William Bradford had liad liis trial before Justice Cook 
and others, for the part he had taken in publishing for George 
Keith's j)ai-ty against the orthodox Friends, he went to New York ; 
and it appears that Reinier Janson (now called Rhiner Johnson) 
conducted his press in Philadelphia from the year 1690, until his 
son Andrew took charge of it in 1712. 

The whole of the curious trial he encountered at Philadelphia in 
1692, before the court of justice, (all Friends like himself,) may be 
seen in Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania, vol. 2, page 55. 

In 1702, William Bradford is spoken of in Samuel Bonas' Jour- 
nal, as having combined with George Keith to have said Bonas 
prosecuted and imprisoned on Long Island. Bonas says he was 
dispossessed of his place as printer for Friends, and was disowned 
because of his contentions among them at Philadelphia. 

Andrew Bradford, his son, began ''the Weekly Mercury,'* 
the first city gazette, in 1719, in conjunction with John Copson. 
In 1725, he was arraigned before the Cwmcil, concerning a late 
pamphlet, entitled " Some Remedies proposed for restoring the sunk 
credit of the province ;" and also for printing a certain paragraph 
in his Mercury of the second of January : The Governor informed 
him he must not thereafter publish any thing relating to affairs of 
this government without permission from him or his Secretary; to 



Persons and Characters. 525 

wWich lie promising submission thf subject was dismissed. About 
Uiis time lie held the place of Postmaster. The father (William) 
and the son (Andrew) are thus spoken of in Keimer's poetic effusion 
of the year 1734, saying— 

" In Penn's wooden country Type feels no disaster, 
The Printers grow rich ; one is made their Post Master ; 
His Father, a Printer, is paid for his work, 
And wallows in plenty, just now at New York, 
Tho' quite past his labour, and old as my Grannum, 
The Government pays him. Pounds sixty per annum." 

Andrew Bradford died 23d November, 1742. 

About the year 1754, ^yilliam Bradford, probably the son of 
Andrew, with whom he was once a partner in the Mercury, opened 
'* the London Coftee House," for the first time, at the south west cor- 
ner of High and Fi-ont streets. Tlie peculiar terms under which 
lie engaged to manage it as a place for the refreshing beverage of 
coffee, served up daily from a "hissing urn," and the after terms of 
1780, by his successor Gifford Dally, to keep it without games, 
or sales on the Sabbath, kc. may be seen under the article '' Old 
London Coffee House." The same William had, however, then a 
Gazette under publication, called the "Pennsylvania Journal," be- 
gan directly after the death of his father Andrew in 1 742. In 1766, 
he united to his imprint the name of his son Thomas Bradford, 
now alive at the age of 84. William Bradford lived till the year 
1791, leaving his paper in the hands of his son Thomas, who 
finally merged it into the <'True American," a daily paper of 
modern times. 

In the yeai* 1757, an '^ American Magazine" was started -by 
William Bradford, to continue monthly, but it was soon discontin- 
ued, probably for want of sufficient support. 

The sons of Thomas Bradford also became printers and pub- 
lishers, — thus continuing this ancient family in the line of printers 
and publishers, even to the present day. 

The Hudson Family. 

Mrs. Deborah Logan told me that she was informed by one of 
the daughters of the Hudson family of Philadelphia, which came 
here from Jamaica at the time of the first settlement, that they 
were the kinsfolk of the celebrated Captain Henry Hudson, the dis- 
covei'er of our country. That lady was respectable and intelligent, 
and if now alive would be past 100 years of age. Her brother. 
Samuel Hudson, was the last male of the family, the decendants 
by the female line are now respectable members of society. A ta- 
ble of family descent is now in possession of William Howell, a de- 
scendant. The original William Hudson, who first came here, had 
been an Episcopal clergyman, and became a Friend by convince- 



526 Fersons and Characters, 

incnt ; while he lived, he was honoured with several offices. The 
house which he huilt and dwelt in, in Philadelphia, was of very 
respectable and venerable appearance, having a brick portico be- 
fore tlic door, and a court yard on Third street, and another as an 
outlet in Chesnut street— thus placing his house on the premi- 
ses now of Charles C. Watson, near the corner of Third and Ches- 
nut streets ; he had property also on the line of Hudson's alley, 
which gave rise to that name. 

John Bartram. 

John Bartram was a most accurate obsener of nature, and one 
of the first botanists this country ever produced, a self-taught 
genius whom Linneeus called "the greatest natural botanist in 
the world." He seated himself on the bank of the Schuylkill, 
below Gray's ferry, where lie built a comfortable stone iiouse and 
formed his botanic garden, in which there still remains some of 
the most rare and curious specimens of our plants and trees, col- 
lected by him in Florida, Canada, &c. The garden is still kept 
up with much skill by Colonel Carr, who married his grand- 
daughter, and is always wortiiy of a visit. He enjoyed for many 
years preceding the Revolution, a salary as botanist to the royal 
family of England. 

In the year 1741, a subscription was made, to enable him to tra- 
vel througli Mainland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, 
to observe and collect plants and fossils. 

In 1729, James Logan in a letter to his friend in England, thus 
writes respecting him, saying, *' Please to procure me Parkin- 
son's Herbal ; I shall make it a present to a worthy person, worthy 
of a heavier purse than fortune has yet allowed him. John Bartram 
has a genius perfectly well turned for botany ; no man in these 
parts is so capable of serving you, but none can worse bear the loss 
of his time without a due consideration." 

Hector St. John of Carlisle, has left a picturesque description 
of things seen and observed of John Bartram and his garden, &c. 
as they appeared on a visit made to him before the Revolution. 
There Mr. Bartram with his visiter, his family and slaves, all set 
down to one large table, well stored with wholesome fare. The 
blacks were placed at the foot — the guest near the host; there was 
kindness from the master to them, and in return, they gave him 
affection and fidelity. The whole groupe and manner reminds one 
of the Patriarchal manner of the Old Testament. Some whom 
he freed still chose to remain with him until their death. Bartram 
described his low grounds as at first a putrid swampy soil, which 
lie succeeded to reclaim by draining and ditching.* Although he 

* This was then deemed a novel experiment, the first then made in our country. He also led 
waters from higher grounds tlirough his higher lands which were before worthless ; and 
=n both cases succeeded to form artificial grass pastures, by means now common enough. 



Persons and Characters. 527 

was a Friend he had a picture of family arms, which he preserved 
as a memorial of his father's having heen a B'rcnchman, and the 
first of the family wlio came to Pennsylvania. In this visit he 
particularly speaks of noticing the abundance of red clover sowed 
in his upland fields— an improvement in agriculture, since thought 
to have not been so early cultivated among us. lie spoke of his 
first passion for the study of botany, as excited by his contempla- 
ting a simple daisy, as he rested from his ploughing, under a tree ; 
then it was he first thought it much his sliame to have been so long 
the means of destroying many flowers and plants, witliout even 
before stopping to consider their nature and uses. This t]»ought, 
thus originated, often revived, until at last it inspired real efforts 
to study their character, &c. both from observation and reading. 

John Barlram was born in the year 1 70 1 , in Chester county, in Penn- 
sylvania, being of the second line of descent from his grandfather John 
Bartram, who, with his family, came from Darby-Shire, England, with 
the adherents of the justly famed William Penn, proprietor, when he 
established the colony, and founded the city of Philadelphia, Anno 
Domini 1682. 

Thus being born in a newly settled country, at so vast a distance from 
the old world, the seat of arts and sciences, it cannot be supposed that 
he could have acquired great advantage from the aids of literature ; hav- 
ing acquired, however, the best instruction that country schools at that 
early time could afford, and at every possible opportunity, by associating 
with the most learned and respectable characters, with difficulty obtained 
the rudiments of the learned languages which he studied with extraordi- 
nary application and success. He had a very early inclination and relish 
for the study of the Materia Medica and Surgery, and acquired so much 
knowledge in these sciences as to administer great relief to the indigent 
and distressed. And as the vegetable kingdom afforded him most of his 
medicines, it seems extremely probable this might have excited a desire 
and pointed out to him the necessity of the study of botany. Although 
bred a husbandman and cultivator as the principal means of providing 
subsistence for supporting a large family, yet he pursued his studies as 
a philosopher, being attentive to the economy of nature and observant of 
her most minute operations. When ploughing and sowing his fields, or 
mowing the meadows, his inquisitive mind was exercised in contempla- 
ting the vegetable system, and of animated nature. 

He was perhaps the first Anglo-American who imagined the design, 
or at least carried into operation a botanic garden for the reception of 
American vegetables as well as exotics, and for travelling for the dis- 
covery and acquisition of them. He purchased a convenient place on the 
banks of the Schuylkill near Philadelphia, where, after building a house of 
hewn stone with his own hands, laid out a large garden, containing six or 
seven acres of ground, that comprehended a variety of soils and situations, 
and soon replenished it with a variety of curious and beautiful vegetables, 
the fruits of his distant excursions ; but though highly gratified and de- 
lighted with beholding the success of his labours, yet his benevolent 
mind contemplated more extensive plans, which was to communicate his 
discoveries and collections to Europe and other parts of the eai'th, that 



528 Persons and Characters. 

the whole world might participate in his enjoyments. Fortunate in the 
society and friendbhip of many literary and eminent characters of Amer- 
ica, namely, Dr. B. Franklin, Dr. Golden, J. Loi^an, Esq. and several 
others, who, observing his genius and industry, liberally assisted him in 
establishing a correspondence with the great men of science in England, 
particularly P. CoUinson, whose intimate friendship and correspondence 
continued unabated nearly 50 years, and terminated only with life, through 
whose patronage and philanthropy his collections, relating to Natural 
History, Physiological and Philosophical investigations, were communi- 
cated to men of science in Europe, and annually laid before their Socie- 
ties, of which he was in fellowship. 

He employed much of his time in travelling abroad through the pro- 
vinces then subject to England, during the autumn, when his agricultural 
avocations least required his presence at home ; the object of the pere- 
grination wjs collecting curious and nondescript vegetables, fossils, and 
the investigation and economy of nature ; his ardour in these pursuits 
was so vigorous and lively that few obstacles opposed or confined his 
progress. The summits of our highest mountains are monuments of his 
indefatigable labours and inquisitive mind. The shores of Lake Ontario 
and Cayuga contributed through his hands to embellish the gardens and 
enrich the forests of Europe with elegant flowering shrubs, plants and 
useful ornamental trees. The banks and sources of the rivers Delaware, 
Susquehanna, Alleghany and Schuylkill, received his visits at a very- 
early date, when it was difficult and truly perilous travelling in the terri- 
tories of the aborigines. He travelled many thousand miles into Vir- 
ginia, Carolina, East and West Florida, in search of materials for Natural 
History and to enrich the funds of human economy. At the advanced 
age of near 70 years he performed an arduous and dangerous task; a 
tour into East Florida. Arriving at St. Augustine, he embarked on 
board of a boat at Picolota, on the River St. Juan, navigated with three 
oars and a sail, with a hunter to provide flesh meats. From Picolota he 
proceeded up the east bank to its source — originating from immense 
inundated marsh meadows, the great nursery of the nations of fish and 
reptiles, the winter asylum of the northern fowl, ducks and the Anser 
tribes in their annual festive visits to their southern friends, but held in 
awe by the thunder of the devouring alligator ; and returning down the 
west bank to the capes, noting the width, depth and courses of its wind- 
ing flood, the vast dilatations of the river with its tributary streams, at the 
same time remarking the soil and situation of the country and natural 
productions. 

His statui-e was rather above the middle size, erect and slender, visage 
long, his countenance cheerful and gay, regulated with a due degree of 
solemnity. His manners modest and gentle, yet his disposition active 
and of the greatest good nature. A lover and practiser of justice and 
equity. Such a lover of philanthropy, charity and social order, that he 
was never known to enter into litigious contest with his neighbours, or 
any one, but rather relinquish his rights than distress his neighbours. He 
was through life a rare example of temperance, particularly in the use 
t)f vinous and spirituous liquors, as well as other gratifications ; not from 
a passion of parsimony but in respect to morality ; nevertheless he always 
maintained a geperous and plentiful table — annually on a New Year's 



Persons and Chcwaders. 53,9 

day he made liberal entertainment at his own house consecrated to 
friendship and philosophy. 

He was industrious and active, indulging repose only when nature re- 
quired it, observing that he could never find more time than he could 
with pleasure employ, either intellectually or in some useful manual ex- 
ercise, and was astonished when people complained that they were tired 
of time, not knowing how to employ it, or what they should do. 

In observing the characters of illustrious men, it is generally an object 
of inquiry of what religion they were. He was born and educated in the 
Society of Friends, (called Quakers,) devoutly worshipped the Supreme 
Deity, the Creator and Soul of all existence, all goodness and perfection. 
His religious creed may be seen by any one, sculptured by himselt in 
large characters on a stone in the wall over the front window of his apart- 
ment where he usually slept, and which was dedicated to study and 
philosophical retirement. This pious distich runs thus : — 

'Tis God alone, the Almighty Lord, 
The Holy One by rae ador'd. 

JOHN DARTRAM— 1770. 

He was an early and firm advocate for maintaining the natural and 
equal rights of man, particularly for the abolition of negro slavery, and 
confirmed his zeal in these great virtues by giving freedom to a very ex- 
cellent young man of the African race at the age of between 20 and 30, 
who he had reared in his house from a young child ; and this man after- 
wards manifested in return the highest gratitude and affection, for he 
continued constantly in the family to the end of his life, receiving full 
wages as long as he was able to perform a day's work. 

WilHain Bartram, his son, another distinguished florist and bota- 
nist, who succeeded in the same place, died in July, 1723, at 
his garden, at the advanced age of 85 years. His travels, in search 
of botanical subjects, in the Floridas, &c. were published in 1791 ; 
— he preceded Wilson as an ornithologist, and gave his assistance 
to that gentleman in his celebrated work. 

Eccentric Persons. 

1736 — Michael Welfare, one of the Christian philosophers of 
Conestogoe, appeared in full market in the habit of a pilgrim, — 
his hat of linen, — his beard full, and a long staff in his hand. He 
declared himself sent of God to denounce vengeance against the 
citizens of the province without speedy repentance. The earnest- 
ness of the man, and his vehemence of action commanded much 
attention. This "Warning" was afterwards announced for sale 
at four pence. 

Directly afterwards appeared one Abel Noble, preaching on a 
Monday from the court liouse stairs (in Second street,) to a large 
congregation standing in Market street, on the subject of keeping 
the Sabbatli. 

1742— Benjamin Lay, <'the singulai' pythagorian, cynical, 
3 X 



5S0 Persons and Characters. 

christian philosopher." in the time of tlie Friends' general mevting 
(where he usually worsliipped,) stood in the market phire. witli a 
large hox of cliina of his deceased wife's, to heaj- his testimony 
against the use of tea ! There with a hammer he began to break 
his ware piece by piece ; but tlie nonuUire unwilling to lose what 

1744 — "A young man from old England" appoints a day to hold 
might profit them, overset him, and scrambled for the china, and 
bore them off whole ! 

a meeting in the market house ; but the Mayor and Council deter- 
mine it is imi>ropcr, and require him to desist. 

In the year 1770, a number of white men. confederated under 
the name of black boys, to rob, plunder and destroy, were to be 
always secretly armed, and to rescue prisoners, &c. Tliey were 
to have their faces blacked when acting. They did considerable 
mischief; and actually assaulted a neighbouring goal, and rescued 
the prisoners. An act of Assembly was made respecting them, 
and to punish them, when taken, with death. 

Rare Persons. 

In the year 1739 Shiek Sidi, the Eastern Prince, arrived here 
(the same probably spoken of in Smith's History of New Jersey) 
with his attendants, and is treated with great respect. 'Tis said 
he is recommended by his Majesty to the charity of all good 
Christians. 

Shcick Shedid Allhazar, Emir (or Prince) of Syria, was intro- 
duced to James Logan's notice by a letter from Governor Clarke 
of New York, who says *' he appeared to us here to be a gentleman, 
whatever else he might be besides. As he spoke nothing but Ara- 
bic and a little Syriac he ])ut me on scouring up what I had for- 
merly got and forgot of these, and we exchanged some little in wri- 
ting. He was well treated, and accepted the bounty of the charita- 
ble, having received from the Meeting of Friends one hundred pis- 
toles, but not quite so much from all others." He went from us to 
Barbadoes, and John Fothergili speaks of meeting him there, with 
approbation — Vide his Journal. On the whole, it was certainly 
a very strange expedition for such a personage, and inclines one 
to fear he may have l)een some Chevalier d' Industrie, after all ! 

In the year 1746, the "Infamous Tom Bell" is advertised in 
Philadelphia as having went on board Captain Charles Dingee's 
vessel at New Castle as a merchant, and while thei-e made out to 
steal sundry clothing, and among others the Captain's red breech- 
es. He says he is well known for frauds in many of the provinces, 
and at different times pretends to be a parson, doctor, lawyer, mer- 
chant, seaman, *lc. I see him in another place advertised as being 
part of a gang of counterfeiters of province-bills, at their log house 
in New Jersey. I refer to this Tom Bell thus, because he once 
made such a strange figure in once personating the Rev. Mr. Row- 



Persons and Characters. 531 

land, and stealing a liorsc from the house wlierc lie had lodged in 
the name of said Rowland, and alfecting to he going to Meeting, 
with the horse, to preach tliere — See tlie facts in SVilliam Ten- 
nant's Life. 

In 1757 (March) Lord Loudon, as General in Chief of all his 
Majesty's troops in America, heing in Philadelphia, is feasted by 
the Corporation at the State-house, together with the officers of the 
Royal Americans, sundry gentlemen strangers, &c. General 
Forbes is also present as commander at Philadelphia and South- 
ward. At or about the same time Colonel Montgomery arrives 
w ith the Highlanders, and are provided for at the new barracks in 
the Northern Liberties. 

Among the truly strange people which visited our city was 
"Jemima Wilkinson," a female-twinning the regard and deeply 
imposing on the credulity of sundry Religionists Habited par- 
tially as a man, she came preaching what she called the Last 
Gospel which would be preached to mankind. By her own tes- 
timony, as recorded in Buck's Theological Dictionary, she had 
died, and her soul had gone to Heaven, where it then remained ; 
but that "The Clirist" had re-animated her dead bcdy, whereby 
he had come again, for the last time, in the flesh. 

As it hath invariably happened, to the many bubbles of "Lo 
Here and Lo There," which, from the beginning of Church Histo- 
ry, have arisen upon its surface, 

" The earth hath bubbles as the water has, 
And these are of them ." 

She also had her votaries, her followers ; some of whom separa- 
ted themselves from the closest ties nearest the heart, and went out 
after her into "The Desert" of Goshen, State of New York, where, 
after a term of delusion, (in the mouths of every one) and in con- 
sequence of an unexpected discovery, accidentally made by one 
of her most ardent votaries, the whole concern of fanaticism 
exploded and collapsed at once, like the balloon from whence the 
gas had escaped, suddenly precipitating itself to the earth. Laugh- 
ter succeeded the consequent amazement, and the disconcerted fol- 
lowers separated immediately from her, every one their own way 
through "by-roads" home. 

Lang Syne who had seen her in Philadelphia, describes her thus, 
to wit : — One Saturday of the time she held forth in this city, seeing 
a crowd at the door of the meeting house, at the south west corner of 
Fifth and Arch streets, a few of us, who had been just liberated 
from a neighbouring school, animated by the curiosity of extreme 
youth, and the want of deference to the opinions of others, usual at 
that period of life, insinuated our way into the throng, until we 
stood in the full view of Jemima Wilkinson, as we learned after- 
wards, standing up and speaking from the south end of the gallery 
to a staring audience. What she said, or of the subject matter. 



■532 Fersons and Characters. 

nothing is rcinciubcrcd ; but her person, dress and manner is as 
palpable "to the mind's eye," as though she thus looked and spake 
but yesterday. 

As she stood there, she appeared beautifully erect, and tall for 
a won»an, altliough at the same time the masculine appearance 
predominated : w liich, together witli her strange habit, caused ev- 
ery e} e to be ri vetted upon her. Her glossy black hair was part- 
ed evenly on her pale round forehead, and smoothed back beyond 
the ears, from whence it fell in profusion about her neck and shoul- 
ders, seemingly without art or contrivance — arched black eyebrows 
and fierce looking black eyes, darting here and there with penetra- 
ting glances, throughout the assembly, as though she read the 
t))o;ights of people — beautiful aquiline nose, handsome mouth and 
chin, all supported by a neck conformable to the line of beauty and 
proportion ; that is to say, the portion of it visible at the time, be- 
ing partly jiiddcn by her plain habit of coloured stuff, drawn close- 
ly I'ound above the shoulders, by a drawing string knotted in front, 
without handkerchief or female ornament of any kind. Although, 
in her pei'sonal appearance she exhibited notiiing which could real- 
ize the idea of 

" A sybil that had numbered in the world, 

Of the sun's courses, two Aunrfrerf compasses." 

And although she spoke deliberately, not " startingly and rash," 
but lesting with one hand on the bannister before her, and using 
but occasional action with the other, nevertheless she seemed as one 
moved by tliat "prophetic fury" which "sewed the web" while 
she stood uttering words of wonderous import, with a masculine 
ieminine tone of voice, or kind of croak, unearthly and sepulchral. 

A few days afterwards, a carriage having stopped at the next 
dooi-, south of the Golden Swan, in north Third street, she was 
seen slowly to descend fi-om it, and remain a short time stationary 
on the pavement, waiting, it seems, the descent of her followers, 
which gave to the quick assembled crowd one more opportunity to 
behold the person and strange habiliments of this, at the time, very 
exti-aordi nary character. 

She was clothed as before ; her worsted robe, or mantle, having 
the appearance of one whole piece, descending from her neck to the 
ground, covering her feet. Her head was surmounted by a shining 
black beaver hat, with abroad brim, and low flattened crown, such 
as worn at the time by young men, of no particular age or fashion, 
and (seemingly in accordance with the display of her superb hair,) 
was placed npon her head, erect and square, showing to the best 
advantage the profusion of nature's ringlets, bountifully bestowed 
upon her, and floating elegantly about her neck and shoulders, and 
the more remarkable, as the fashion of the day for ladies' head 
dress consisted in frizzled hair, long wire pins, powder and poma- 
tiim. Nowadays, her beautiful Absalom curls, as then exhibjtec^, 



Persons and Characters. 533 

would l)c considered as being from the manufactory of Daix, (rue 
de Chestnut,) from Paris, 

" The Nculi thai bred them in the sepulchre." 

She waited with composure and in silence the descent of her fol- 
lowers, with whom, when they had formed, in solemn order, in the 
rear, she entei'ed the house; when, to keep out the pressing crowd, 
the door was suddenly clapped to, by the person who lodged them, 
causing the curious ones, who stood gazing after the preacher, first 
to look foolishly, tlien laughingly and sillily at one another, a few 
moments on tiie outside. 

In the year 1828 there came to Philadelphia a native Prince of 
Timbuctoo. It being a rare cii'cumstance to find in this country 
a Chieftain of so mysterious a city and country, so long the terra 
incognita of modern travellers, I have been curious to preserve 
some token of his visit in an autograph of his pen. — Vide page 130 
of my MS. Annals in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It 
was done by him in Arabic, atthe writing table of our late May- 
or, Joseph Watson, Esq. It reads — "Abduhl Rahaman, Prince 
of Timboo." — was written with ready facility, in the Arabic 
manner, from right to left ; which was the more remarkable as he 
had been for forty years out of practice, toiling with his hands as a 
slave at field labour at Natchez. 

Saimiel Keimer, 

The printer whose name so often occurs in the early history of 
Benjamin Franklin, appears to have heen of a singular turn of 
mind. In 1728 he started the Pennsylvania Gazette in opposition 
to Bradford's Weekly Mercury. It was announced in strange 
braggart style, and in one year failed of its object — success, and 
thence tiell into the hands of Franklin, who conducted it to advan- 
tage many years, — poor Keimer in the mean time getting into ;i 
prison. 

In the year 1723 I saw a paper from the Friends' Monthly Meet 
ing, setting forth that Samuel Keimer, who had then lately arri- 
ved, had printed divers papers, particularly one styled "The Para- 
ble," wherein he assumes the style and language of Friends: 
wherefore they certify that he is not of their Society, nor counte- 
nanced by them. This was rather an awkward introduction for 
one so sedulous to make his debut to his personal advantage. 

In the year 1734 he appears to have secured his establishment 
as a publisher and pi'inter at Barbadoes. In his poetic appeal to 
his patrons he gives some facts respecting the then compensation 
of American colonial printers, which may elucidate the reward of 
type setters then — to wit : 

" What a pity it is that some modern Bravadoes, 
Who daub themselves Gentlemen, here in Barbadoes, 
Should time after time run in debt to their Printer, 



534 rerso7is and Characters. 

And care not to pay him in summer or winter ! 

In Penn's wooden country Type feels no disaster — 

The Printers grow rich — one is made their Postmaster," &c. 

In further pursuing the subject he shows that old William Brad- 
ford of New York has 60£. a year from the King. In Maryland 
and Virginia each province allows 200£. a year ; for, he adds, " by- 
law he's paid 50,000 weight country produce" — meaning tobacco. 

" But, alas ! your poor Type prints no Figure like nutto ; 
Curs'd, cheated, abused by each pitiful fellow — 
Tho' working like slave, with zeal and true courage, 
He can scarce get as yet ev'n Salt to his Porridge I" 

His paper, however, continued, and must have produced some 
good articles, as I remember to have seen in the Stenton Library 
a London edition, 8to in 2 vols, of Extracts, from it. 

Virgil and Wife. 

These were black people, whose surname was Warder. They 
had been house servants of William Penn, and because of their great 
age were provided for by the Penn family, living in the kitchen 
part of the house at Springetsbury. Virgil was probably upwards 
of 100 years of age when he died. His wife died in 1782 ; and 
tliere is something conceining both of them to he seen published in 
Bradford's Gazette of that time. The aged Timothy Matlacktold 
me he remembered talking with Virgil often about the year 1745, 
and tiiat he was then quite grey headed, but very active. When 
JSIatlack saw him there he was under charge of James Alexander, 
the gardenei*. Near there he remembered a spring which on one 
occasion was made into grog to please the whim of some sailors. 

\ The Claypole Family. 

Miss Cliiypole, now about 75 years of age, whom I saw at T. 
Matlack's, Esq. told me she was a direct descendant of Oliver 
Cromwell's daughter, who married Lord General Claypole. Her 
ancestor in this country came out with Penn, and is often men- 
tioned among the earliest officers in the government. His name 
was James Claypole — was a merchant, a partner in the Free Tra- 
ders Company, and a public character in Friends Meeting. He 
passed his first winter in a cave in the bank of Front street with 
his family and servants. In the spring following, he built his 
house, the same afterwards known as the Rattle Snake Inn, No. 37, 
Walnut street, north side, a few doors east of Second street. It 
was a double two story brick house, had four leaden framed win- 
dows in front, and the same in the rear. The present Miss Clay- 
pole was born in that house, and her grandmother, Deborah Clay- 



Persons and Characters. 535 

pole, told her that when tliat liousc was built, their dogs used to 
go up to the woods at and about the Second street court house, 
(built in 1707) and there catch rabbits and bring them home. 
Their house long had a beautiful soutli exposure, down a descen- 
ding green bank into the pleasant Dock creek. 

The present Mrs. Logan possesses a lively recollection of this 
Deborah Claypole ; she was the wife of George Claypole, and 
daughter of Abraham Hfirdiman. She lived to be upwards of 
90 years of age. liad told Mrs. L. of the original arborescent 
state of Market street, kc. Her history was remarkable for ha- 
ving buried lier husband and five children in the course of a few 
weeks, of the very mortal smallpox of the year 1730. Mi's. Lo- 
gan said it was well understood that her husband, George Claypole, 
was descended from the protector Oliver Cromwell. Dr. Frank- 
lin too, has said something ; he has said she had one child wliicli 
survived the mortality, but as that also died, she was long left a 
widow. There is, however, another branch of the family name 
still among us in Philadelphia. 

I perceive by William Penn's letter of 1684. to his steward J. H. 
that he thus speaks of James Claypole, whom he had made Register, 
to wit : " Tell me how he does; watch over him. his wife and fami- 
ly," &c. Penn also speaks of sending to his lot near the creek 
for red gravel, to form his garden-walks at Pennsbury, if they 
found none nearer. 

Hannah Griffeths, 

A maiden lady of the Society of Friends, died in 1817, at the 
advanced age of 91 years — born and bred in Philadelphia — was a 
very fine poetess. She wrote only fugitive pieces. I have seen 
several in MS. in the possession of her cousin Mi's. Deborah 
Logan. Her satires were very keen and spirited ; she was a very 
humane and pious woman. Had she wrote for fame, and made 
her productions public, she might have been allured to write more. 
She wrote a keen satire on the celebrated Mescliianza ; " she was 
a grand-daughter of Isaac Norris, and a great grand-daughter of 
Thomas Lloyd. The goodness of her heart was \try great, her 
wit lively and ever ready ; and her talents of a high order, but 
her modesty and aversion to display always caused her to seek 
the shade." 

The French J^Tentrals, 

Were numerous French families transported from Arcadia, in 
Nova Scotia, and distributed in the colonies, as a measure of State 
policy, the readier to make the new population there of English 
character and loyalty. The American General, who had orders to 
execute it, deemed it an unfeeling and rigorous command. Thesv 



556 Persons and Characters. 

poor people became completely dispirited : they used to \v( ep over 
the story of their wrongs, and described the comfortable sclllements 
and farms, from whence tliey had been dragged, with vciy bitter 
regret. The humane and pious Anthony Benezet was their kind 
friend, and did whatever he could to ameliorate their situation. 
He educated many of their daughters. His ciiarities to them was 
constant and unremitting. 

For further particulars of this cruel business of the removal of 
these poor inoffensive people, see Walsh's Appeal, Part I. p. 88. 

The part which came to Philadelphia were provided with quar- 
ters in a long range of one story wooden houses built on the north 
side of Pine sti-ect, and extending from Fifth to Sixth streets. Mr. 
Samuel Powell, the owijer, who originally bought the whole square 
for 50£. permitted the houses to be tenanted rent free, after the 
neutrals left tliem. As he never made any repairs they fell into 
ruins about 50 years ago. Those neutrals remained there several 
years, showing very little disposition to amalgamate and settle with 
our Society, or attempting any good for themselves. They made 
a Frenchtown in the midst of our society, ami were content to live 
spiritless and poor. Finally they made themselves burdensome ; 
so that the authorities, to awaken them to more sensibility, deter- 
mined in the year 1757, to iiave their children bound out by the 
overseers of tlie poor, alleging as their reason, that the parents had 
lived long enough at the public expense. It soon after occurred 
that they all went off in a body, to the banks of the Mississippi, 
near New Orleans, where their descendants may be still found un- 
der the genci'al name of Arcadians, an easy, gentle, happy, but 
lowly people. 

Lieutenant Bruluman, 

Of the British American army, a Philadelpliian by birth, was 
executed at Philadelphia in the year 1760, for the murder of Mr. 
Scull. The case was a strange one, and excited great interest at 
the time. The Lieutenant had got a wish to die, and instead of 
helping himself " with a bare bodkin," he coveted to have it done 
by another, and therefore hit upon the expedient of killing some 
one. He sallied fortli with his gun, to take the first good subject 
he should fancy; he met Doctor Cadwallader, (grandfather of the 
present General C.) and intended him as his victim ; but the Doc- 
tor w ho had remarkably courteous manners, saluted him so gently 
and kindly as he drew near, that his will was subdued, and he, pur- 
suing his way out High street, came to the bowling green at the 
Centre Square, — there he saw Scull playing ; and as he and his 
company were about to retire into the Inn to play billiards, he 
deliberately took liis aim and killed him ; he then calmly gave him- 
self up, with the explanation above expressed. Some persons have 
since thought he might have been acquitted in the present day as 
a case of mona insanity. 



Persons and Characters. .^37 

Colonel Frank Richardson 

>ya9 a person of great personal beauty and address, born of 
Quaker parentage at Chester. As lie grew up, and mixed Willi uie 
Britisli oilicers in Philadelphia, he acquired a passion for their 
profession, — went to London, got a commission, and becam'.' at 
length a Colonel of the King's life guards. This was about the 
year 1770. 

Susanna Wright 

Was usually called a ''celebrated" or an *' extraordinary" wo- 
man in her " day and generation." She was a woman of r«re 
endowment of mind — had a fine genius, and a virtuous and excel- 
lent heart. She made herself honoured and beloved wherever she 
went, or licr commujiications were known. She came with her 
parents from England when she was about 17 years of age; they 
settled some time at Chester, much beloved, and tlien removed up 
to Wright's Ferry, now Columbia, on the Sus(n«ehanna, in the 
year 1726. At that time tlie country was all a forest, and the In- 
dians all around them as neighbours ; so that the family were all 
there in the midst of the alarm of the Indian massacre by the 
Paxtang boys. 

She wrote poetry with a ready facility ; her epistolary corres- 
pondence was very superior. She was indeed the most literary 
lady of the province without sacrificing a single domestic duty to 
its pursuit. Her nursery of silkworms surpassed all otijers, and 
at one time she had 60 yards of silk mantua of her own production. 

David I. Dove 

Came to this country in 1758-9. He became a teacher of the 
languages in the academy. He was made chiefly conspicuous for 
the part he took in the politics of the day, and by the caustic and 
satirical poetry he wrote to traduce his political enemies. Although 
he never obtained and perhaps never sought any office himself, yet 
he seemed only in his best element when active in the commotions 
around him ; he promoted the caricatures, and w rote some of the 
poetry for them, whicli were published in his time, and was liimself 
caricatured in turn. 

The late Judge R. Peters, who had been his Latin pupil, said of 
him, "he was a sarcastical and ill-tempered doggereliser, and 
was called Dove ironically — for his temper was that of a hawk, 
and his pen was the beak of a falcon pouncing on innocent prey." 

At one time he opened a private academy in Germantown — in 
the hoiy»e now Chancellor's, and there used a rare manner in send- 
ing ^r truant boys, by a committee who carried a lighted lantern 
— a sad exposure for a Juvenile culprit ? 
4 A 



538 Persons and Characters. 

Joseph Galloway 

AVas a lawyer of talents and wealth, of Philadelphia, a sj)eaker 
of the Assembly, \\\\o took the royal side in the Revolution — ^^joiiied 
the British wlien in Philadelphia, and became tlie geneial super- 
intendent of the city under their sanction. He was at first faN oiir- 
able to some show of resistance, but never to independence or 
arms. His estates became confiscate : he joined the British at New 
York, became Secretary to the Commander in Chief, and finally 
settled in London. There he wrote and published against his 
patron. Sir William Howe, as having lost the conquest of our 
country by his love of entertainment and pleasure, rather than the 
sturdy self-denial of arms. Galloway oMiied and dwelt in the 
house now the Schuylkill Bank, at the south east corner of High 
and Sixth streets. He had an only daughter, whom he found about 
to elope with a gentleman, afterwards Judge GrifHn, whom, for 
that reason, he shot at in liis own house. 

The Eev. Morgan Edwards, 

Minister to the First Baptist church, arrived in this country in 
the year 1758. In 1770, he published a history of the Baptists in 
Pennsylvania — a work which is made curiously instructive as his- 
tory, because it is cliiefly limited to their proper civil history, their 
first settlements in various parts of the country. On these points 
it contains facts to be found nowhere else. His book embraces 
notices of all those Germans, &c. who used adult baptism as essen- 
tial parts of their system. He thus gives the history of George 
Keith's schism — an account of the Tunkeis and Mennonists, &c. 

The same gentleman became himself a curiosity of our city. 
President Smitli of Princeton College, has noticed the aberrations 
of his mind in his Nassau lectures. Edwards was persuaded he 
was foretold the precise time of his death. He announced it from 
his pulpit, and took a solemn leave of all his })eople. His general 
sanity and correct mental deportment created a great confidence 
in very many people. At the time his house was crowded — all on 
tiptoe of expectation ; every moment was watched. He himself 
breathed with great concern and anxiety, thinking each action of 
his lungs his last; but a good constitution surmounted the power 
of his imagination, and he could not die! Could a better subject 
be devised for the exercise of the painter's skill, as a work, show- 
ing the strongest workings of the human mind, both in the sufferer 
and in the beholders — properly forming two pictures : — the first 
that of anxious credulity in all ; and the latter, their disappoint- 
ment and mortification ! He lived twenty years afterwards ; and 
the delusion made him so unpopular that he withdrew into the 
country. A good lesson to those who lean to divine imjj.^ssions 
without the balance of right reason, and the written testimo/iy of 
revelation. 



Persons and Characters. 539 

Dusimitierc 

AVas a collector of the scraps and Iragmeiits of our history. 
He was a French gentleman, wiio wrote and spoke our language 
readily, and being without family, and iiis mind turned to the 
curiosities of literature and the facts of natural hist(n'y, he spent 
inucli time in foi'miug collections. He has left five volumes quarto 
in tiie City Library of his curious MSS. and rare fugitive printed 
papers. To be properly e>:plored and usefully improved would 
require a mind as peculiar as his own. As he advanced in life he 
became more needy, and occupied lumsclf, when he could, in draw- 
ing portraits and pictures in watercolours. He lived in Philadel- 
phia before and about the time of the Revolution; atid before that 
ill New York and the AVest Indies. I have preserved an autograph 
letter of his in my MS. Annals in the Historical Society of Pcjin- 
sylvania. p. 306, of the year 1766. 

There is ijot much in his books respecting Pennsylvania, being 
only about half of one of his volumes. He has about 50 pages con- 
ceriiing tlie revolt of t!ie Pennsylvania Line, and most of the pa- 
pers are original. Bound up in his book are autographs of dis- 
tinguished personages — such as Hume, Smollet, Gray. &c. His 
first volume is about the West India islands, with drawings neatly 
executed ; sometimes he gives caricatures. He gives letters respect- 
ing the change of the Post Oliice from British to colonial, and how 
Mr. God<lar(l travelled as agent to collect subscriptions. — [An ac- 
count of the original Post Oliice may be gathered from Douglass.] 
There is also a strange account called •' Life and Charactei- of a 
strange he-monster lately arrived in London from America,"^in- 
tended probably to satirize one of our public functionaries. There 
are also minutes of the Congress convention — some intercepted let- 
ters — a brief account of Pennsylvania, by Lewis Evans — a deed from 
under the Duke of York to the Swensons for Philadelphia. His 
wiiolc collections, on the whole, may be deemed the curious glean- 
ings of a curious mind, and among some rubbish may be f()und, 
some day, some useful and unexpected elucidations of <lidicult points 
in our history. 

Robert Proud. 

I ought to feel and express respect for a fellow-annalist who 
has preceded me. I felt a natural desire to become acquainted 
with the personal history of a gentleman aiul scholar, who gave 
so much of his time to seeking out tlic early history of our State. 
Without his diligence and procurement, much that we now know- 
must have been lost. 

He was born in Yorkshire, England, the 10th of May, 1728. 
His father was a farmer, who rented an old mansion house aiul a 



540 Persons and Characters. 

lavge farm, called Wood End. tVoni tlie Talbot family. He received 
Jiis education under a Mr. David Hall, a man well versed in 
the languages, and with whom he maintained for many years *' a 
friendly and agreeable correspondence." 

"■In his young days (he says.) he had a strong inclination for 
learning, viitue and true wisdom, before or in preference to all 
mere worldly considerations." Thus expressing, as I understand 
hiiH, a lively religious sense, at his early age^ of what "the true 
riches" consisted. WJierefore, says he, "I afterwards rejected 
on that account those things, v» hen I had it in my power to have 
appeared in a mucli superior character and station in the world, than 
1 am since known to be in." 

About the year 1750 he went to London, and became an inmate 
and preceptor in the families o.f Sylvanus and Timothy Bevan — 
g* atlemen, of the Society of Friends, of fortune, and the former 
distinguished for his skill in carving (as a skilful amateur,) the 
only likeness fi-om whicii we have the busts of Penn the founder. 
While vk^ith this family, and from his intimacy with Doctor Foth- 
ergill, (his kinsman,) he turned his leisure time to the study of 
medicine, in wlrich he made much proficiency ; but to which, as he 
said, he took afterwards strong disgust, from its opening to him 
''a very glaring view of the chief causes of those diseases, (not to 
say vices,) which occasioned the greatest emolument to the pro- 
fession of medicine." There was something in his mind of moody 
melancholy against the world, for he did not like "the hurry of 
much emjiloyment, or crowds or large cities;" and as to money, so 
useful to all. he deemed the aim at riches *' as the most despicable 
of worldly objects." He was therefore soon ripe to put in practice 
his project of seeking fewer friends, and more retirement in the 
Amei'ican wilds. He therefore came, in 1759, among us, and lived 
long enough and needy enough to see, that a better provision for 
his comforts would not have diminished any of his religious enjoy- 
ments. Samuel Preston, Esq. an aged gentleman now alive, says 
disappointed love was the moving cause of R. Proud's demurs to the 
commonly received affections to life, that he had told him as much 
as that '*the wind had always blown in his face, that he was mor- 
tified in love in England, and frustrated in some projects of busi- 
ne ^ hei-e," — ills enough, with the lasting loss of a desired mate, 
to make "earth's bright hopes" look dreary to him. 

In 1761, he became teacher of the Greek and Latin languages 
in the Frienri's academy. — There he continued till the time of our 
Revolution, when he entered into an unfortunate concern with his 
brother, losing, as he said, " by the confusion and the iniquities of 
the times." The non-success was imputable to his high tory feel- 
ings, not permitting him to deal in any way to avail himself of the 
chances of the times. At the time of the peace he again resumed 
his school. Besides the Latin and Greek which he taught, he had 



Persons and Characters. ^''U 

r.»!isi(loi-;iblc acquaintance with the French and the Hebrew. IIo 
relinquished his duties as a teacher in 1790 or '91, and living very 
retired in the family of Samuel Clarke, till the year 1813, when 
he died at the age of 8G years. 

He had turned his mind to the collection of some facts of our his- 
tory before o\ir Revolution, but it was only on his resignation of 
his school, in 1790-1, that lie fully devoted his mind, at tlie request 
of some Friends, to the accomplisliment of his task, which he ush- 
ered into the world, in 1797-8, deeming it, as he said, *' a laborious 
and important work." In a pecuniary point of view, this, like his 
other projects, was also a failure. — It realized no profits. 

I quote from his biograplier (C. W. Thomson) tluis. to wit : Of 
his history — '' as a succint collection of historical facts, it undoubt- 
edly deserves the most respectful attention ; but its style is too dry, 
and its diction too inelegant ever to render it a classical work. 
It is exactly that stately oldfashioned article, that its autlior him- 
self was." Feelingly I can appreciate his further remark, when 
he adds, "He who has never undertaken so arduous a task, knows 
little of the persevering patience it requires to thus go before and 
gather up the segregated materials, or to sort, select and arrange 
the scattered fragments of broken facts, the body and essence of 
such a composition." 

-' He was in person tall— his nose of the Roman order, and over- 
hung with most impending brows— his liead covered with a curled 
grey wig, and surmounted with tlie half cock'd patriarchal hat, and 
long ivory headed cane. He possessed gentleness and kindness of 
manner in society, and in his school he was mild, commanding and 
affectionate." 

I am indebted to J. P. Norris, Esq. one of his Executors, and 
once one of his pupils, for access to several of his private papers, 
w liich will help to a better illustration of his character. 

lle^says in his written memoranda — " Beiorc and after this tiiue (1790) 
I was' frequently in a very infirm state of health, notwithstanding which 
I revised and published my History of Pennsylvania, though imperfect 
and deficient ; the necessary and authentic materials being very defec- 
tive, and my declining health not permitting me to finish it entirely to 
my mind, and I had reason to apprehend, if it was not then published, 
nothing of the kind so complete, even with all its defects, would be likely 
to be published at all ; and which publication, though the best extant of 
the kind, as a true and faithful record, was not patronised as I expected, 
not even by the offspring and lineal successors of the first and early set- 
tlers, and for whose sake it was particularly undertaken by me — to my 
great loss and disappointment. A performance intended both for public 
and private information and benefit, and to prevent future publishing and 
further spreading false accounts or misrepresentations. My former 
friends and acquaintance, (except some of my quondam pupils,) being 
nearly gone, removed, or deceased, and their successors become more 
and more strangers, unacquainted with and alien to me, render my final 



54^2 Persons and Characters. 

renioval or departure iioni my present state of existence so much tlie 
more welcome and desirable — 

Taught half by reason, half by mere decay, 
To welcome death, and calmly pass away. 

" For which I am now waiting, and thus according to the words of the 
aged person, I may say " Few and evil have been the years of my life," 
yet in part according to my desire, I seem not to have so much anxiety 
and concern about the conclusion and consequence thereof, as I have had 
at times, for the propriety of my future conduct, and advancement in 
the way of tnith and righteousness in said state, so as to insure the con- 
tinued favour of a sensible enjoyment of the divine presence and pre- 
servation while here, in order for a happy futurity and eternal life." 

In publishing his History of Pennsylvania, he was aided by several of 
his former pupils, who, under the name of a loan, advanced a sum suffi- 
cient for the purpose. He left a number of MSS. principally poetry, of 
which he was fond ; and being what was called a tory, allusions are often 
made in many of them, to the conduct of the colonists, which are pretty 
severe. I add one or two as a specimen, though his translation of 
Makin's Latin poems, may give a pretty good idea of what was his ta- 
lent. Well versed in the Latin and Greek languages, and with the 
authors who wrote in them, reading and translating parts of them was his 
solace and comfort in the evening of life. 

He suffered much in his circumstances by the paper money, especially 
by fhat issued by the provincial government prior to the Revolution, and 
as he had no doubt of the issue of the contest, he thought Great Britain 
would make it all good, and therefore retained it in his hands, till it be- 
came worse than nothing. In fact he was never calculated for the storms 
and turmoil of life, but rather for the retirement of the academic grove 
in converse with Plato, Seneca, Socrates, and other ancient worthies. 

He died in 1813, in the 86th year of his age. He left nine of his 
former pupils his Executors, viz. O. Jones, Mier Fisher, Dr. Parke, 
J. P. Norris, B. R. Morgan, Dr. James, Joshua Ash, Joseph Sansom, 
and J. E. Cresson ; all of whom renounced but B. R. Morgan, Esq. 
and J. P. Norris, who at the request of the others undertook the office. 

I subjoin a list of some of his former scholars ; the greater part of 
them, however, are gone with himself to another world. 

Pupils of the first jieriod — ■Owen Jones, S. K. Fisher, Mier Fisher,* 
P. Z. Lloyd,* James Smith, Mordecai Lewis,* Samuel Coates, Joseph 
Bullock,* Ennion Williams, William Lewis,* George Logan,* John 
Clifford,* Thomas Morris,* J. Wharton,* William Morris,* James C. 
Fisher, William Chancellor,* Nathan Jones, Daniel Humphreys, Thomas 
Parke, Henry Drinker,* James Moyer, Jacob Spicer,* Josiah Harmar,* 
Joseph Bacon, Benjamin Say,* John Foulke,* John Palmer, Jonathan 
Evans, Joseph Fox,* Ely Comley,* Benjamin Fishbourne,* Richard H. 
Morris, Isaac Norris,* Joseph P. Norris. 

Pupils of the second period — G, H. Wells, William Wells, David 
Lewis, Joshua Gilpin, Franklin Wharton,* P. S. Physick, John Hal- 
lowell, Samuel Emlen, Thomas C. James, Charles Brown,* William 

Those marked thus * were all dead in the year 1823. 



Persons and Characters. 543 

Graham,* Joshua Ash, Joseph Sansom, Isaac Harvey, William Todd, 
Isaac Briggs, Walter Franklin, A. Garrigues, P. HoUingsworth, Samuel 
Cooper,* Charles Penrose, Joseph Lewis, John Winter, John Bacon, 
Joseph Johnson, William Wain, Joshua Lippcncott. 

None of Proud's name or family remain among ns. He died £V 
bachelor, and, as he called himself, " a decayed gentleman." He 
was full six feet high — rather slender. In winter he wore a drab 
cloak, which gave to his personal appearance the similitude of one 
in West's Indian treaty picture. His brother, who was once here, 
a single man, went back to England. 

1 here add two specimens of his poetry, which also show his tory 
feelings, vexed with the ardour of the times, to wit : 

FORBIDDEN FRUIT, 

The source of human misery. — d rejlection. Philmlelphia, 1775. 
Forbidden fruit's in ev'ry state 

The source of human wo ; 
Forbidden fruit our fathers ate 

And sadly found it so. 
Forbidden fruit's rebellion's cause, 

In ev'ry sense and time ; 
Forbidden fruit's the fatal growth 

Of ev'ry age, and clime. 
Forbidden fruit's New England's choice ; 

She claims it as her due ; 
Forbidden fruit, with heart and voice. 

The colonies pursue, 
Forbidden fruit our parents chose 

Instead of life and peace; 
Forbidden fruit to be the choice 

Of men, will never cease. 

THE CONTRAST. 

'' Refused a place in the newspaper, Philadelphia, 1775 — theprinter 
iiot daring to insert it at that time of much boasted liberty.*') 

No greater bliss doth God on man bestow, 
Than sacred peace ; from which all blessings flow : 
In peace the city reaps the merchant's gains, 
In peace flows plenty from the rural plains ; 
In peace thro' foreign lands the stranger may 
Fearless and safely travel on his way. 

No greater curse invades the world below. 
Than civil war, the source of ev'ry wo. 
In war the city wastes in dire distress ; 
In war the rural plains, a wilderness ; 
In war, the road, the city and the plain 
Are scenes of wo, of blood and dying men. 

.Vulla salus de/^o.— -Virg. 



544 Persons and Characters. 

I also add a little of his poetry concerning his age and couniry, 
the autographs of which, to the curious, may he seen on })agc 346 
of my MS. Annals in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, to wit: 

Now seventy-seven years at last 

Of my declining- life are past ; 

Pai.iful and weak my body's grown, 

My flesh is wasted to the bone. 

As ev'ry other thing we see, 

Which hath beginning, so must we 

Dissolve into the state we were 

Before our present being here ; 

From which 'tis plain to ev'ry eye, 

Men die to live, and live to die. 

" Ubi amicus, ibi patria." — Martial. 
Where my friend is, there is my country. 

You ask me when I shall again 
My country see, my native plain ? 

'Tis not alone the soil nor air, 
Where I was born, I most prefer; 
Among my friends, where'er I come, 
There is my country, there my home. 

Charles Thomson. 

Tliis venerable, pious and meritorious public servant, whose 
name is associated with all the leading measures of the war of In- 
dependence, came from Ireland to this country in his boyhood, at 
only 10 years of age. His father was a respectable man, a widower, 
emigrating to this country, but was so preyed upon by sickness at 
sea. as to die when just within sight of our capes ; there young 
Thomson and his brother had to endure the appalling sight of see- 
i)ig their honoured parent cast into the deep — a prey to voracious 
tishes, and themselves, as orplians, exposed to the neglect or wiles 
of man. The Captain, in the opinion of the lads, was unfaithful, and 
took possession of their father's property to their exclusion. They 
were landed at New Castle among strangers : but for a time were 
placed by the Captain with the family of a blacksmith. There 
Cliarles Thomson greatly endeared himself to the family— so much 
so, that they thought of getting him bound to them and to be brought 
«p to the trade.* He chanced to overhear them speaking on this 
design one night, and determining from the vigour of his mind, 
that he should devote himself to better business, he arose in the 
night and made his escape with his little all packed upon his back. 
As he trudged the road, not knowing whither he went, it was his 
chance or providence in the case, to be overtaken by a travelling 

* He went to the forge and made a nail so well himself after once seebg it done, that 
they augured favourably of his future ingenuity. 



Fersous and Characters. 545 

lady of the neighbourhood, who, entering into conversation with 
hinu asked him "what he woiihl like to be in future life." He 
promptly answered, he should like to be a scliolar, or to gain his 
support by his mind and pen; this so much pleased hej- she took 
him home and placed him at school. He was afterwards, as I have 
understood, aided iu his education by his brother who was older 
than himself. Through him he was educated by that classical 
scholar the Rev. Dr. Allison, who taught at Thunder Hill. Grate- 
ful for the help of this brother, he in after life rewarded the favour 
by making him the gift of a farm not far from New Castle. The 
son of that brother, (a very gentlemanly man,) my friend and cor- 
respondent, John Thomson, Esq. now dwells at Newport, in Dela- 
ware, and has possession of all the MSS. of his uncle, Charles 
Thomson. With him dwells Charles Thomson's sister, an ancient 
maiden lady, who came out to this country some years ago. Charles 
Thomson himself, although many years married, never had any 
children to live. 

Charles Thomson in early life became one of the early teachers 
of the languages in the academy, as much to serve tlie cause of 
literature, to which he was solicited by Dr. Franklin, as to Iiis 
personal gain. Later in life he entered into business of the mer- 
cantile nature, and was at one time concerned in tlie JBatsto fur- 
nace — still retaining his residence of Philadelphia. 

He told me that he was first induced to study Greek from having 
bought a part of the Septuagint at an auction in the city. He 
bought it for a mere trifle, and without knowing what it was, save 
that the crier said it was outlandish letters. When lie had mas- 
tered it enough to understand it, his anxiety became great to sec 
the whole; but he could find no copy. Strange to tell — in the in- 
terval of two years, passing the same store, and chancing to look 
in, he then saw the remainder actually crying off for a few ])ence. 
and he bought it ! I used to tell him that the translation which he 
afterwards made should have had these facts set to the front of 
that work as a preface; for, that great work, the first of the kind 
in the English language, strangely enough, was ushered into the 
world without any preface ! For want of some introductoj-y expla- 
nation to the common English reader, it was not known to be of 
great value in Biblical elucidations, and therefore but seldom sold 
or read. Yet Dr. A. Clarke, who is good authority in this matter, 
says it is a treasure in itself absolutely indispensable to Bible ti-uth. 
He told me that such was his passion for Greek study, that he ac- 
tually walked, when young, to Amboy, for the purpose of seeing 
and conversing there with a stranger, a British officer, the first- 
rate Greek scholar then in our country. 

When Charles Thomson first saw Piiiladelphia, the whole of the 
ground between the house, afterwards his, at the corner of Spruce 
and Fourth streets, and the river, was all open and covered with 
4 B 



546 Persons and Characters. 

whortleberry bushes, anil much of it of a miry soil towards tlie 
Little Dock creek and river shore. 

His appointment as Scci'etary to Congress was singular. lie 
had lately married Miss Harrison, who inherited the estate of 
Harriton, where Ite afterwards lived and died. Coming witli her 
to Philadelphia, lie had scarcely alighted from his cari-iage when 
a message came to him from the President of Congress — then first in 
session, in 1774 — to say he wished to see Ijim immediately. He 
went forthwith, not conceiving what could be purposed, and was 
told he was wished to take their minutes. He set to it as for a 
temporary affair ; but in fact became their Secretary thereby for 
several years! As no compensation was received for that first 
service, tlie Congress presented him with a silver urn (still in the 
family) inscribed as their gift ; and as a compliment to his lady, 
whom they had so divested of his attentions, she was asked by the 
committee to say what vessel it should be, and she chose an urn. 

He was after the peace mucli urged to write a history of the 
devolution, and after the year 1789, when he first settled at Har- 
riton, actually gathered many cui'ious and valuable ])apers, and 
wrote many pages of the work; but at length, as his nephew told 
me, he resolved to destroy the whole, giving as his chief reason, 
that lie was unwilling to blast the reputation of families rising in- 
to repute, whose j)rogenitors must have had a bad character in 
such a work. A letter from John Jay, which I saw, stimulated 
him to execute it '• as the best qualified man in the country." 

Many facts concerning Mr. Thomson and his measures in the 
period of the Revolution will be found connected with my facts 
under that article, and therefore not to be usefully repeated here. 

Mr. Thomson was made an adopted son into the Delaware tribe at 
the treaty at Easton, in 1 7 jG. lie had been invited by sundry Friends, 
members of the Peace Association, to attend for them, and take 
minutes in short hand. It was the projier business of the Secretary 
of the Governor, the Rev. Mr. Peters ; but his minutes were so often 
disputed in the reading of them, by the Indian Chief Tedeuscund, 
that Mr. Thomson's inofficial minutes were called for, and they, 
in the opinion of the Indians, were true. From their respect to 
this fact, they forthwith solemnly adopted him into their family, 
under the appropriate name of " the man who tells the truth,*' — in 
Indian sounds thus, to wit : '"Wegh-wu-law-mo-end." It is not a lit- 
tle curious that this name in substance, became his usual appella- 
tion during the war of the Revolution ; for, as Secretary of Con- 
gress, credence was given to his official reports, which always 
were looked for to settle doubtful news and flying reports, saying 
on such occasions, '• Here comes the truth ; here is Charles Thom- 
son !" 

He once related an incident of his life to Mrs. Logan, which 
strongly marked the integrity of his feelings. When young he be- 
came an inmate in the house of David I. Dove, the doggerel satirist. 



Fersoiis and Characters. 547 

whom iie soon round, as well as his wife, aiUlictcd to the most 
unpit^ing scandal; this was altogether irksome to his honest nature : 
Wishing to leave them, and still dreading their reproach when he 
should be gone, he hit upon an expedient to exempt himself: — He 
gravely asked them one evening if his behaviour since he had been 
their boarder, had been satisfactory to them ? They readily answer- 
ed, "0 yes." Would you then be willing to give mc a certificate to 
that effect? " O certainly," was the reply.. A certificate was given, 
and the next day he parted from them in peace. 

In April, 1824, I visited Charles Thomson, then in his 95th 
year. I found him still the erect, tall man he had ever been ; his 
countenance very little changed, but his mental faculties in ruins. 
He could not remember me although formerly an occasional visiter. 
He appeai'ed cheerful, and with many smiles expressed thankful- 
ness for the usual expressions of kindness extended to him. He 
was then under the surveillance of his nephew Jolni Thomson, who, 
Avith his family, lived on the Harriton farm, and managed its con- 
cerns. 

Charles Thomson passed the most of his time reposing and slum- 
bering on a settee in the common parlour. A circumstance occur- 
i*ed at the dinner table, at the head of whicjj he was usually placed, 
which sufficiently marked the aberration of his mind, even while 
it showed that "Iris very failings leaned to virtue's side." While 
the grace wjis (-raying by a clergyman present, he began in an ele- 
vated and audible voice to say the Lord's prayer, and he did not 
desist, nor regard the other, although his grace was also saying 
at the same time ! ft was remarkable that this piayer was all 
said in the words of bis ovrn translation, and with entire correct- 
ness. He made no remarks at the table, and ate w ithout disci'im- 
ination whatever was set before him. In his rooms I observed, 
besides the silver urn before mentioned, a portrait of himself and 
second wife, Miss Harrison — a colossal bust of J. V. Jones, the 
celebrated naval commander, a small man — a large print of >yilliam 
Tell, and an engraved likenesses of the Count de Vergennes and 
C. J. Fox. 

He employed many years of his life in making his translation 
of the Septuagint : nor could he be drawn from it into public life, 
although solicited by the letters of Washington himself which I 
have seen. He looked lo be useful ; and he deemed, as he said, 
that he had a call of providence to that pursuit. He improved it 
witli most sedulous anxiety and care for its perfection — writing it 
over and over again six or seven times. His original printed 
Septuagint has been given to the Theological Library at Pittsburg, 
since his death.. Some others of his relics arc in my possession ; 
and the chief of them are with his nephew at Newport, DelawaiT. 

He died the I6th of August, 1824, in the 95th year of his age, 
and lies interred in the ground attached to the Baptist Meeting 
near his Harriton mansion. A monument has been talked of for 



548 Persons and Characters. 

liis grave, but none is yet executed. To mark the spot, I had a 
drooping willow planted, to hold the place in the public eye until 
better feelings to a public benefactor shall mark it better by 
''storied urn and monumental bust." In the meantime, his ex- 
cellent life has consigned him to better reward than we can be- 
stow. His i)iety was for many years deep and sincere. 

I give the following lines of poetry as marking justly the feelingps 
which the visit to sucli a man and such a place inspired. " In his 
«ommendati(m I am fed." 

You've 8cen, perchance, some sever'd column stand 
At Athens or Palmyra, — 'mid the gloom 
Pure, prominent, majestic, — though its base 
"Was dark with mouldering ruins, — and the dome 
Which once it propp'd, had yielded to the wrath 
Of creeping ages Ye perchance, have stood 
What time the pale moon bath'd its lonely brow 
In living light, — and heard the fitful winds 
Shriek their wild question, wherefore it remain'd 
When all beside had fallen. 

Thought ye not then 
Of man, who lingering at the feast of life 
Perceives his heart's companions risen and gone ? 
Is there not grief in that deep solitude 
Of lost companionship ? 

Yet onel saw 
Who in this wilderness had trod, till life 
Retreated from the bloodless veins, and made 
Faint stand at her last fortress. His wan brow 
Was lightly furrow'd, and his lofty form* 
Unbent by time, while dignified, erect, 
And passionless, he made his narrow round 
From couch to casement, and his eye beheld 
This world of shadowy things unmov'd, as one 
Who was about to cast his vesture off 
In weariness to sleep. Sly memory slipt 
Her treacherous cable from the reeling mind,t 
Blotting the chart whereon it loved to gaze 
Amid the sea of years. His course had beert 
On those high places, where the dazzling ray 
Of honour shines — and when men's souls were tried 
As in a furnace, — his came forth like gold. 
—They brought the trophies forth, which he had won, 
And spread them in his sight,— a nations thanks^ 
Grav'd on the massy ore which misers love : 
But vacantly he gaz'd, and caught no trace 
Of lost delight. The wordling's eye would scan 

* His " lofty form, unbent bv time," was remarkable. 

t His memory olall, save bis religion, was gone. 

I He had a present of an mn, &c. from Congress and otbers, for services, &;c. 



Persons and Characters. 549 

In the mild changes of that saintly brow 
Nought save the wreck of intellect, and shuu 
Such humbling picture. But God's book was there, 
Fast by his side, and on its open page 
Gleam'd the blest name of Him of Nazareth. 
Quick o'er his brow the light of gladness rush'd, 
And tears burst forth, — yes, tears of swelling joy 1 
For this had been the banner of his soul 
Through all her pilgrimage. 

To his dull ear 
I spake the message of a friend who walk'd 
With him in glory's path, and nobly shar'd 
That fellowship in danger and in toil 
Which knits pure souls together. But the name 
Restor'd no image of the cherish'd form 
So long belov'd. I should have said farewell, 
In brokenness of heart, — but up he rose 
And with a seerlike majesty, pour'd forth 
His holy adjuration to the God 
Who o'er life's broken wave had borne his bark 
Safe toward the haven. Deep that thrilling prayer 
Sank down into my bosom, like a spring 
Of comfort and of joy. 

All else was gone, — 

Ambition, glory, friendship, earthly hope, — 

But still Devotion* like a centinel 

Waking and watching round the parting soul, 

Gave it the soldier's shield and pilgrim's staff 

For its returnless journey. When I saw 

This triumph of our Faith — this gem that glow'd 

Bright *mid the dross of man's infirmity, 

Low on the earth I laid my lip, and said 

" Oh 1 let me with the righteous die, — and be 

My end like his." 

Edward Duffield 

Was a very respectable inhabitant of Philadelphia— very intelUt 
gent, as a reading man ; and as watch and clock maker, at the 
head of his profession in the city. He was the particular friend, 
and, finally, executor of Dr. Franklin. He made the first medals 
ever executed in the province — such as the destruction of the In- 
dians at Kittatanning, in 1756, by Colonel Armstrong, &c. 

When he kept his shop at the north west corner of Second and 
Arch streets, lie used to he so annoyed by frequent applications of 
passing persons tq inquire the time of day — for in early days the 
gentry only carried ^yatclles — that he hit upon the expedient of ma- 
king a clock ^'\\h a double face, so as to show north and south at 

* His prevailing thoughts were devotional, and he would pray audibly at table, &re. 



5 JO Fersans and Characters. 

once ; ami projecting this out from the Second story, it became the 
first staiidaifl of tiic town. That same olden clock is the same now 
in use at the Lower Dublin academy ; near to which place his son 
Edward now lives. He is a curious preserver of the relics of his 
father's day. 

Lindley Murray, 

So celebrated for his English Grammar and other elementary 
works on English education, was a Pennsylvanian by birth — born 
in the year 1745, and died at York, in England, in 1826. He was 
the eldest son of Robert Murray, who established in New York the 
mercantile houses of Robert and John Murray, and of Murray and 
Sansom — houses of eminence in their day. Lindley Murray studied 
law in New York, in the same office with John Jay. He after- 
wards went into mercantile business there, but on account of his 
declining health, said to have been occasioned by a strain in spring- 
ing across Burling's slij) — a great distance — he went to Eng- 
land, and settled at York, at tlie place called Holdgate. where he 
died, full of years and in love with God and man. His mother, 
who was Mary Lindley, was also born in Philadelphia — was tlie 
same lady whoso ingeniously and patriotically entertained General 
Howe and his staff at her mansion after their landing at Kip's bay, 
near New Yoi'k — thus giving to General Putnam, who would other- 
wise have been caught in New York, the chance«)f getting off with 
his command of 3000 men and their stores. The fact is adinitted 
by Stedman in his History of the AVar — himself a British officer 
and a native of Philadelphia. 

Sir Benjamin West. 

Our distinguished countryman from Chester county, when he 
was yet a lad without reputation, boarded, when in Philadelphia, 
at a house (now down) in Strawberry alley. To indulge his fa- 
vourite j)assion for the pencil, he painted in that house, while there, 
two pictures upon the two large cedar panels — usual in old hou- 
ses — over the mantelpieces. One of them was a sea piece. There 
tiiey remained, smoked and neglected, until the year 1825, when 
Thomas Rogers, the proprietor, had them taken out and cleansed, 
and since they have been given to the hospital, to show, by way of 
contrast to his finished production of Christ healing the Sick. 
Samuel R. Wood told me that Sir Benjamin bid him to seek out 
and preserve those early efforts of his mind. 

TFilliani Rush. 

Few citizens of Philadelphia are more deserving of commenda- 
tion for their excellence in their profession than this gentleman, as 



Persons and Characters. 651 

a sliip-carvcr. In his skill in his art he siir])asscs any other 
American, and ])robably any other ship-carver in the world ! He 
gives more grace and character to his figures than are to be found 
in any other wooden designs. He ought to be encouraged to leave 
specimens of his best skill for posterity, by receiving an order to 
that effect from some of the leariied societies. I have heard him 
say his genius would be most displayed in carving the three great 
divisions of the human face — the negro, tiie American Indian, and 
the white man. The contour or profile of these run diametrically 
opposite; because the features of a white man, which stand in re- 
lief, all proceed from a perfect perpendicular line, thus | . A ne- 
gro's has a ])rojecting forehead and lips, precisely the reverse of 
those of the Indian, thus (: but an Indian's, thus > .* 

I have made it my business to become acquainted with Mr. Rush, 
because I have admired his remarkable talents. He is now aged 
68 — was born in Pliiladelphia: his father was a shipcarpenter. 
From his youth he was fond of ships, and used, when ahoy, to pass 
his time, in the garret, in cutting out ships from blocks of wood, 
and, to exercise himself, in drawing figures in chalk and paints. 
When of a proper age, he followed his inclination, in engaging his 
term of apprenticeship with Edward Cutbush from London, the 
then best carver of his day. He was a man of spirited execution, 
but inharmonious proportions. Walking attitudes were then un- 
known ; but all rested astride of tlie cutwater. When Rush first 
saw, on a foreign vessel, a walking figure, he instantly conceived 
the design of more tasteful and graceful figures than had been before 
executed. He instantly surpassed fiis master ; and having once 
opened his mind to the contemplation and study of such attitudes 
and figures as he saw in nature, he was very soon enabled to sur- 
pass all his former performances. Then his figures began to excite 
admiration in foreign ports. The figure of tlie "Indian Trader" 
to tlje ship William Penn (the Trader was dressed in Indian habil- 
iments,) excited great observation at London. The carvers there 
would come in boats and lay near the ship, and sketch designs from 
it. They even came to take casts, of plaster of Paris, from the 
head. This was directly after the Revolution, when she was com- 
manded by Captaiii Josiah. When he carved a River God as the 
figure for the ship Ganges, the Hindoos came off in numerous boats 
to pay their admiration and pei'haps reverence to the various em- 
blems in the trail of the image. On one occasion, the house of Nick- 
lin and Griffeth, actually had orders from England, to Rush 
(nearly 30 years ago,) to carve two figures for two ships building 
there. One was a female personification of commerce. The duties 
in that case cost moi-e than the first cost of the images themselves ! 
A fine Indian figure, in Rush's best style, might be preserved in 
some public edifice for many centuries to come ; even as he carve<l 

* To these might be added the features of a Jew, if an artist could oxpvess them. 



552 Persons and Characters. 

the full .stature of Washington for the Academy of Arts — niuking 
the figure hollow in the trunk and limbs, to add to its durability. 

Hannah TilL 

This is the name of a black woman whom I saw in March, 1824, 
in her 102d year of age — a pious woman, possessing a sound mind 
and memory, and fruitful of anecdote of the Revolutionary war, in 
which she had served her seven years of service to General Wash- 
ington and La Fayette, as cook, kc, 1 saw her in her own small 
frame house. No. 182, south Fourth street, a little below Pine streets 
Her original name was Long Faint — a name given her father for 
his successful conflict with a buck at that place near Smyrna. She 
was born in Kent county, Delaware. Her maf^tcr, John Brink- 
ly, Esq. sold her at the age of 1 5 years, when she was brought to 
Pennsylvania. At 25 years of age she was sold to Parson Hen- 
derson, and went with him to Northumberland. At 35 years of 
age she was sold to Parson Mason, of New York, with whom she 
dwelt there until the war of the Revolution ; she then bought her 
freedom, and with her husband was hired into General Washing- 
ton's military family as cooks — serving with him in all his cam- 
paigns for six and a half years, and for half a year she was lent 
into the service of General La Fayette. With one or the other of 
these she was picsent in all the celebrated battles in which they 
were engaged. She could speak, in a good strong voice, of all the 
things she saw in her long life, with better recollection and readier 
utterance than any other narrator with whom I have had occasion 
so to converse. I inquired respecting the domestic habits of 
Washington and others ; she said he was very positive in requi- 
ring compliance with his orders ; but was a moderate and indul- 
gent master. He was sometimes familiar among his equals and 
guests, and would indulge a moderate laugh. He always had his 
iady ^vith him in the winter campaigns, and on such occasions, was 
pleased when freed from mixed company and to be alone in his 
family. He was moderate in eating and drinking. I asked if she 
ever knew that he prayed. She answered that she expected he did, 
but she did not know that he practised it. I was the more particu- 
lar in this, because I had heard very directly from Isaac Potts, tho 
public Friend at Valley Forge, that he actually saw him, by 
chance, at prayer in the bushes at or near his place. I asked her 
if he ever swore ; she answered, that ideas then about religion were 
not very strict, and that she thought he did not strictly guard 
against it in times of high excitements, and she well remembered 
that on one provocation with her, he called her c — d fool. General 
La Fayette she praised greatly — said he was very handsome, tall, 
slender and genteel, having a fair white and red face, with reddish 
hair— that he spoke English plain enough— was always very kind. 
Her words were very emphatic : — *' Truly he was a gentleman to 
meet and to follow !'* 



Persons and Characievs. 555 

As I was interested in the narratives of this old black woman, 
I thought she might alford some gi-atitication to Gen. La Fayette 
himself again to see her ; I made him therefore acquainted wit!', the 
leading facts. As 1 never saw either of the parties afterwai'ds, i * y 
add from the communications of my sister who knew her and visited 
her occasionally, especially in her 104th year. She says she re- 
ceived from her questions, such answers as lliese — "I well I'emem- 
ber the arrival of the specie to pay the French army, lor the liosisc 
was so crowded that my pastry room was used to lodge the specie 
in, even while she still used the room. She continued with Wash- 
ington till after Andre the spy was hung. On that day s'le s 'w 
many tears shed by our officers." General La Fayette called on 
her with Messrs. Tilghman and Biddle. To his question. Where 
was you when General Washington left Morristown ? she answered, 
I remained more tlian six months witli you, Sir, in the same house. 
He left her, promising to send iier money by his son. The scciuel 
was. that her house was embarrassed for arrear groundrents, and 
she was soon after informed to make herself easy, for La Fayette 
had cleared it off I and " the pious old soul blesses you and him i'or 
the interference." More was said, but it might savour of gossip 
to say more in this article. She has since gone to her reward. 

Isaac Hunt, Esq. 

This gentleman was the author of many poetic squibs against 
Dove and his party : they \ierc often affixed to caricatures. Tiiis 
Hunt, a Philadelphian, was educated a lawyer, and proving a 
strong loyalist at the Revolution, he was carted round tlie city to 
be tarred and feathered at the same time with Dr. Kearsley. He 
then fled to England, and became a clergyman of the established 
church. He was the father of the present celebrated Leigli Hunt, 
on the side of the Radicals in England — So diffi^rent do father and 
son sometimes walk ! One of Hunt's satires thus spoke of Dove, to 
w it : 

" Sefe Lilliput, in beehive wig, 

A most abandon'd sinner ! 

Would vote for boar, or sow, or pig. 

To gain thereby a dinner." 

James Pellar Malcom, P- ^' •^• 

An artist of celebrity in England, who died there about the 
year 1815, was born of the Pellar family of Solcsbury township, 
Bucks county. He was an only son, and his mother, to enable him 
to prosecute his studies in England, sold her patrimonial estate on 
tlie hanks of the Delaware. The ancestor of the family, James 
Pellar, was a Friend, who came out with Penn. In 1689 he built 
his house here, which remained in the family till sold out and taken 
4 C 



554 Persons and Characters. 

down in 1793. Mr. Malcom appears to have visited this countiy 
in 1806, and to have been much gratified in finding numerous rich 
farmers of the name of Pellar, members of the Society of Frientls — 
" descendants (he says) of original settlers — the old Castilians of 
the place." A pre-eminence we are ever willing to accord to all 
families of original settlers. Thus constituting such, by courtesy 
and respect, the proper primores of our country. Particulars con- 
cerning him may be seen in the Gentlemen's Magazine, vol. 85, — 
year 1815. Much concerning old James Pellar, of Solesbury, 
Bucks county, as given by my aged friend Samuel Preston, Esq. 
as his recollections of him, is given at some length in my MS. An- 
nals in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, p. 491. He is 
there described as of great natural genins— a wit—fond of poetry, 
and sub-surveyor. 



THE GOVERNORS. 



THE modern Universal History, in speaking of our colonies in 
the tiriies of 1731, says, " A government in any of our colonics was 
scarcely looked upon in any other light than that of an hospital, 
wlicre the favourites of the ministry might be till they recovered 
their broken fortunes ; and oftentimes they served as asylums from 
their creditors." 

The following present such notices of our Governors as I have 
occasionally met, to wit : 

In 1707, I saw some reference to facts which went to show that 
Governor Evans, who was accused of some levities, was then re- 
proached by his enemies with lewdness with young Susan H . 

It might have been mere scandal. He afterwards married John 
Moore's beautiful and estimable daughter, with whom he lived 
awhile at housekeeping at the B'airman house at the treaty tree. 
He was but 21 years of age when first appointed Governor. He 
moved back to England, where he lived a long life. 

Colonel Gookin, the Governor, disappointed Penn and his friends 
in consequence of his conduct during a considerable part of his ad- 
ministration. He was much under the influence of his brotlier-in- 
law, Birmingham. At one time, says the Council, he removed all 
the justices of New Castle county for doing their duty in an action 
against said Birmingham — thus leaving the county without a single 
magistrate for six weeks ! At another time, when the Judges of 
the Supreme Court at New Castle would not admit a certain com- 
mission of his to be published in court, he sent for one of the Judges 
and kicked him. In trutli, his best apology seems to liave been 
that he was certainly partially deranged. In fact, he afterwards 
(in 1717) made his apology to the Council for several of his acts, 
saying his physician knew that he had a weakness in his head ; 
wherefore J. Logan remarked to Hannah Penn, ''Be pleased then 
to consider ho\N fit he was for the commission he so long wore !" 

1734 — Nov — The Mayor exhibited an account amounting to 
9£. 18s. 6d. he had paid to John Newbury for the entertainment of 
Colonel Montgomery, late Governor of New York — ordered paid, 

1736 — On the death of Governor Gordon, James Logan became 
President of the Council and ex-officio Governor for the province 
until the arrival of Governor Thomas in 1738. Do any kna\* 
where Governor Gordon was interred ? 



556 The Governors. 

When Sir William Keith, in 1738, published his history of tlie 
colony of Virginia, and proposed to continue the other colonies, he 
])rohably so purposed to live as an author ; but as he proceeded no 
further, and died at London, in 1749, in poor circumstances, it is 
inferred he did not write our history from want of encouragement. 

It may be \pvy little known that he, who moved with so much 
excitement and cabal as our Governor to the year 1736, should at 
last fall into such neglect as to leave his widow among us unno- 
ticed and almost forgotten ! She lived and died in a small wooden 
house in Tiiird street, between High street and Mulberry street — 
tbej-e. naich pinched for subsistence, she eked out her existence with 
an old female ; and declining all intej'course with society, or with 
her neighbours. The house itself was burnt down in 1786. 

Sir William's chief error of administration is said to have been 
that he early took his measures to favour the elder branch of the 
Penn family (already sulticiently provided for in the Irish estate) 
to the prejudice of the younger branch, who rapidly acquired riches 
and i)iiluence to i-emove and to injure him. 

1746 — Governor Thomas orders a day of public thanksgiving, 
because of the news of the Pretender's defeat at the battle of Cul- 
loden. Tliere was great rejoicings in Philadelphia — all refrained 
from labour and went generally to the churches. The Governor 
himself gave a dinner lo 200 persons. 

1752 — Governor Hamilton celebrates the King's birth-day by 
giving a great entertainment at his ctnintry-seat at Bush Hill, 
and iit each loyal toast it was announced by the Association Bat- 
tery at ^"V iccacoa ! In the evening there was a grand ball, surpas- 
sing all former ones in brilliancy, at the State-house, and his 
Honour gave a supper there in the long gallery. 

In 1754, Governor R. H. Morris celebrates the King's birth- 
day, by giving an entertainment at noon at his house in the city, 
and in tlie evening there was a great ball at the State-house, where 
100 ladies were present, and a much greater number of gentlemen. 
An elegant supper was given there in the long gallery. 

In 1755, Governor R. H. Morris falls into perpetual strife with 
the Assembly. Their correspondence is singular. They say ''his 
offer was a mere idle illusion, intended first to impose on the As- 
sembly and then 0)i the people, also to figure at homo in the eyes 
of the ministry ; and the Gover)ior is offended that we have not 
kept his secret." The retort reads thus: "Your very tedious 
message is of such an inflammatory nature, that did not the duties 
of ;«!} station, and justice to the people, require me to take some 
notice, I should deem it beneath my notice as a gentleman." Their 
high -titercatiors were chiefly about the means for raising a defence 
against the Indians. The frontier inhabitants, thinking these con- 
tioversies might imj)e(ie their supplies, came to Philadelphia and 
surrounded the Assembly room, requiring immediate support. This 
y^m all in the time of Braddock's defeat. It seems, on the whole. 



The Governors. 557 

Vr.dt tlic Legislature acted with the sense of the people, for the 
iiicmbers were re-elected, and Governor Morris was soon supei'scded 
by Governor Diuny. 

In 1756. Giivernor William Denny arrives, being escorted from 
Trenton, and when lieai- the city Uy Colonel Benjauiin Franklin's 
and Colonel Jacob Diichoe's Regiments. The Mayor antl Cor- 
poration give him a dinner at the lodge room, in Lodge alley — cost 
100£. 13s. 6d. ; and the Assembly gave him their dinner also at 
the State-house, at which were present the civil and military offi- 
cers and clergy of the city. He took up his residence at the house 
called the Governor's house, in soutli Second street, below the 
present Custom House. All tliis looked well and as if something 
cordial might have ensued : but ere Governor Denny had fultilled 
his year he thus addresses hisentertainei's, saying "Though mod- 
eration is most agreeable to me, there might have been a Gover- 
nor who would have told you the whole tenor of your message 
was indecent, frivolous and evasive." The Assemblies always 
ottend by endeavouring to spare the purses of the people, and the 
Governors always get provoked because they cannot lavish sup- 
plies to the King's service. 

Governor Demiy's message of September, 1757, contains tiiese 
rude remarks — '* If detraction and personal abuse of your Gover- 
nor," kc — "but I have been so accustomed to this kind of treat- 
ment, &c. I have the less reason to regret such usage, since it is 
obvious, from your conduct to those before me, you are not so much 
displeased with the person governing as impatient of being gov- 
erned at all !" The ground of offence arose from his continually 
asking supplies ! supplies ! It is really offensive to sec what levies 
are perpetually put upon the province to help tliem out of squabbles 

generated by the courts in Europe, kc 50,000£. for tiiis, and 

60.000£. for that, and 100.000^. for another. Supi)lies follow in 
such rapid succession as to have made the people feel the burthens 
very sensibly, and if there had not been very considerable of loy- 
alty, it would not have been borne. In all tliese difficulties »' Isaac 
Norris, Speaker," gives his name to bear all the brinit of the con- 
flict! 

1759 — Nov. — Governor James Hamilton arrives from abroad, 
and supersedes Governor Demiy. He had been before Governor, 
and was a native of Pennsylvania, and resident of Bush Hill. 
Every body is pleased with his appointment. A dinner is given 
to him at the lodge. Denny's, which had lasted but three years, 
had had no effect but to vex the people. 

In 1763, John and Richard Penn having arrived, the former as 
Governor, in the succeeding year gets into srjuabble as usual with 
the Assembly. The Assembly among other things resolve " That 
as all hope of any degree of happiness under the proprietary gov- 
ernment is now at an end, this liouse will adjourn to consult their 
constituents whether or no to petition his Majesty to buy out the 



558 The Governors, 

Penns* right and take them under his immediate government !'* 
They soon, liowever, got better reconciled, and Penri made a very 
good Governor. It may be seen from a letter of Thomas Penn*s, 
of 1767, that he calls this scheme for forcing him to sell out, a 
measure of B. Franklin's, to which he shall not accede. 

In 1768, Colonel Morris, from New York, and his lady, the 
Dutchess of Gordon, [a very homely woman] made a visit to 
Philadelphia, with several military gentlemen, and among them 
General Gage ; they leave Philadelphia after a few days. Colonel 
Morris was Governor of New York, and was very popular there — 
he soon after died, and was buried there. 

In 1771, John Penn, the Governor, returns to England this year 
because of the death of his father, Richard. James Hamilton, as 
President of Council, takes his place until he is succeeded by Richard 
Penn, who arrives in the same year. The administration of John 
Penn, while he staid for eight years, was on the whole very ac- 
ceptable. 

In 1772, Richard Penn, the new arrived Governor, married 
Miss Polly Masters of Philadelphia, and in 1773 he goes back to 
England, to give place to his brother, John Penn, who, after visit- 
ing England for the purpose of settling the concerns of his father, 
lately deceased, came again to Philadelphia in the year 1773, and 
again assumes the government of the province. 

The following is a List of Governors as they served in succession 
from the origin of the province, to wit : 

1682. Oct. William Penn, proprietor, acted as Governor till 
1684. Aug. Tiiomas Lloyd, Esq. President of Council till 
1688. Dec. Capt. John Blackwcll, Deputy Governor till 
1690. Feb. President and Council. 
1693. April 26th. Benjamin Fletcher, Governor. 

June 3d. William Markham, Esq. Deputy Governor. 

1699. Dec. 3d. William Penn, acted again as Governor. 
1701. Nov. 1st. Andrew Hamilton, Esq. Deputy Governor— [a 
Scotsman.] 

1703. Feb. President of Council, Edward Shippen, till 

1704. Feb. John Evans, Deputy Governor till 
1709. Feb. Charles Gookin, Deputv Governor till 

1717. March. Sir William Keith, Bart. Deputy Governor till 

1726. June. Patrick Gordon, Deputy Governor till 

1736. June. James Logan, President of Council till 

1738. June. George Thomas, Deputy Governor till 

1747. June. Anthony Palmer, President of Council till 

1748. June. James Hamilton, Deputy Governor till June— [an 

American.] 
1754. Oct. Robert Hunter Morris, Deputy Governor till 
1756. Aug. 19th. William Denny, Deputy Governor till 



The Governors. 559 

1759. Nov. 17tli. James Hamilton, till 

1763. Oct. 31st. John Penn, son of Richard, till 

1771. May 6th. James Hamilton, Tresident of Council till 

1771. Oct. 16th. Richard Penn succeeded. 

1773. Aug. John Penn — a second time Governor till 

1776. Sept. 

1777. March. Thomas Wharton, jun. Esq. President of the 

Supreme Executive Council. 

1778. Oct. James Reed, do. do. 

1781. Nov. William Moore, do. do. 

1782. Nov. John Dickinson, do. do. 

1785. Oct. Benjamin Franklin, do. do. 

1786. Oct. Thomas Mifflin, do. do. 

Then succeeded the JSTew State Constitution, and the 
Jirst Governor — say 

1790. Oct. — was Tlioraas Mifflin, who served three terms of 
three years each, to October 1 799 ; after wliich 
Thomas M'Kean was Governor for three succcs- 
give terms of three vears each. 



AGED PERSONS. 



—The hands of yore 



That danc'd our infancy upon their knee 
And told our marvelling boyhood, legends store, 
Of their strange ventures, hap'd by land and sea, — 
How they are blotted from the things that be I" 

THERE is something grateful and perhaps sublime in contem- 
plating instances of prolonged life, — to see persons escaped the nu- 
merous ills of life unscath'd. They stand like venerable oaks, 
steadfast among tlte minor trees, e'en wondered at because they 
fell no sooner. We instinctively regard them as a privileged 
order, especially when they bear their years with vigour, ''like a 
lusty winter," they being alone able to preserve unbroken the link 
which binds us to' the remotest past. While they remain, they 
serve to strangely diminisli our conceptions of time past, which 
never seems fully gone while any of its proper generation remains 
among us. 

These thoughts will be illustrated and sustained by introducing 
to the consideration, names and persons who have been the familiars 
of the jjresent generations, and yet saw and conversed with Penn 
tlie founder, and his prunitive cotemporaries ! How such concep- 
tions stride over time ! llll the long, long years of our nation 
seem diminished to a narrower span ! — For instance : 

I lately saw Samuel R. Fisher, still a merchant attending to his 
business in the city, in his 84th year, wlio tells me he well remem- 
bers to have seen at Kendall Meeting, James Wilson, a public 
Friend, who said he perfectly remembered seeing both George Fox, 
the founder of Friends, and William Penn, the founder of our city ! 

Often too, I have seen and conversed with the late venerable 
Charles Thomson, the Secretary of the first Congress, who often 
spoke of his being curious to find out, and to converse with the 
primitive settlers, which still remained in his youth. 

Every person uho has been familiar with Dr. Franklin, who 
died in 1790, and saw Philadelphia from the year 1723, had the 
chance of hearing him tell of seeing and conversing with numerous 
first settlers. Still better was their chance who knew old Hutton, who 
died in 1793, at the prolonged age of 108 years, and had seen Penn 
in his second visit to Piiiladelphia in 1700,— and better still, was 
the means of those now alive, who knew old Drinker, who died as 
late as the year 1782, at the age of 102 years, and had seen Phila- 



^9ged Persons. 561 

delphia, where he was horn, in 1680, even at the time of the primi- 
tive landing and settlement in caves ! Nor were tliey alone in this 
rare opportunity, for there was also the still rarer instance of old 
black Alice, who died as late as the year 1 802, and might have been 
readily seen by me, — she then being 1 16 ycai's of age. with a sound 
memory to the last, distinctly remembered William Penn, whose 
pipe she often lighted, (to use her own words) and Thomas Story, 
James Logan, and several other personages of fame in our annals. 
The present Mrs. Logan has told me, tliat much of her known 
affections for the recitals of the olden time were generated in her 
youth, by her frequent conversations with old Deboiah Claypole, 
who lived to the age of 95 years, and liad seen all tiic primitive 
race of the city. — knew Penn — knew the place of his cottage in 
Laetitia Court when the whole area was tangled with a luxurious 
growth of blackberries. Her regrets now are, that she did not 
avail herself more of the recollections of such a chronicle, than she 
then did. The common inconsideracy of youtli was the cause. 

It may amuse and interest to extend the list a little further, 
to wit : The late aged Sarah Shoemaker, who died in 1825 at the 
age of 95 years, told me she often had convei'sed with aged persons 
in her young days, who had seen and talked with Penn and his 
companions. In May, 1824, 1 conversed with Israel Reynolds, Esq. 
of Nottingham, Maryland, then in liis 66th year, a hale and newly 
married man, who told me he often saw and conversed with his 
grandfather, Henry Reynolds a public Friend, who lived to be 
94 years of age, and had been familiar with Penn, both in Phila- 
delphia and in England ; he had also cultivated corn in tiie city 
near the Dock creek, atid cauglit fish there. 

Mrs. Hannah Speakman, still alive, in her rsth year, has told me 
she has often talked with aged persons who saw or conversed with 
Penn, but that being then in giddy youth, she made no advantage 
of her means to have inquired. Her grandfather Townscnd, whom 
she had seen, had come out with Penn the founder. 

But now all those who still remain, who have seen or talked 
with black Alice, with Drinker, with Hutton, with John Key, 
the first-born, are fast receding from the things that be. What 
they can relate of their communications must be told quickly, or 
it is gone ! 

" Gone ! glimmering through the dream ^£ihings that were." 



am^£^ir 

crtlH^ct 
ice^of t 



We shall now pursue the more direcMBPct of this article, in 
giving the names and personal notice^of those instances of 
grandivity, which have occasionally occurred among us, — of those 
whom, 

" Like a clock worn out with eating time 
The wheels of weary life at last stood still !" 

1727 — This year dies Grace Townscnd) aged 98 yearsi well known 
4 D 



3^6^ Jged Persons. 

among the first settlers, and who Uved many years on the property nigh 
the Chesnut street bridt^e over Dock creek, at the Broad Axe Inn. 

1730 — January 5, died at Philadelphia, Mary Broadway, aged lOCf 
years, a noted midwife; her constitution wore well to the last, and she 
could read without spectacles. 

1731— May 19, John Evet, aged 100, was hiterred in Christ church 
ground. He had seen King Charles the First's head held up by the 
executioner, being then about \6 years old. 

1739 — May 30, Richard Buffington, of the pariah of Chester, a patri- 
arch indeed, had assembled in his OAvn house 1 15 persons of his own 
descendants, consisting of children, and grand and great grandchildren, 
he being then in his 85th year, in good health, and doubtless in fine 
spirits among so many of his own race. His eldest son, then present at 
60 years of age, was said to have been the first Englishman bom in Penn- 
sylvania region, and appears to have been 3 or 4 years older than the 
first-born of Philadel/ihia, or of Emanuel Grubb, the first-born of the 
firovince. 

Speaking of this great collection of children in one house, reminds one 
of a more extended race, in the same year, being the case of Mrs, Maria 
Hazard of South Kingston, New England, and mother of the Governor, 
she died in 1739 at the age of 100 years, and could count up 500 children, 
grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren ; 205 
of them were then alive. A granddaughter of hers had already been a 
grandmother 1 5 years 1 Probably this instance of Rhode Island fruitful- 
ness may match against the world ! 

1761 — Died, Nicholas Meers in his 1 11th year ; he was buried in 
Friends ground at Wilmington. He was born in the year 1650, under 
the government of Cromwell, and about the time of the rise of the Socie- 
ty of which he became a member. He lived through eventful periods^ 
had been the subject of ten successive Sovereigns, including the two 
Cromwells, He saw Pennsylvania and Delaware one great forest,— a 
range for the deer, buftalo, and panther ; and there he lived to see a 
fruitful field. If those who were conversant with him in his last days 
had conversed with him on his recollections of the primitive days of our 
country, what a treasure of facts might have been set down from his 
lips I So we often find occasions to lament the loss of opportunities with 
very aged persons, of whom we hear but little until after their death. 
" First in the race, they won, and pass'd away !" 

1763 — Miss Mary Eldrington, of Elizabethtown, New Jersey, died at 
the age of 109 years. " She still looked for a husband, and did not Kke 
to be thought old." 

1767— Mrs. Lydia \^w^er died this year, aged 87 years; she Avas 
born in 1680, came oiv^Ku^ Penn's colony, had lived in a cave, and 
}iad a lively memory ofa^Rie incidents of the primitive settlement. 

This same year, ] 767, -^s fruitful in passing off the primitive remains 
from among us ; thus showing, that in the deaths of those named in this 
year of the first settlers, there are inhabitants now alive, who must have 
had good opportunities of making olden time inquiries. 
" Of no distemper, of no blast they died, 
But fell like autumn fruit that mellow'd long, 
F.v'n wondcr'd at, because they fell no sooner." 



Jged Persons. 5(i3 

1767 — July— Died at Chester county, John Key, aged 85 years, the 
first-born in Philadelphia, at a cave named Penny Pot, at Vine street ; 
and ill August 10, (same year) died at Brandywine Hundred, Emanuel 
Grubb, aged 86 years, also born in a cave, by the side of the Delaware 
river, and the first born child in the province, of English parents. Both 
those first-borns died near each other, and their deaths in the same year, 
was not unlike the coincident deaths of Jefferson and Adams lately, as 
the signers of Independence ! 

1767 — Died at Philadelphia, Mrs. Elizabeth Morris, aged 94 years. 

1768 — September — Died at Philadelphia, Peter Hunt, aged 101 years. 

1769 — July — Hannah Milner died, aged 101 years; she was the 
mother of 1 4 children, grandmother of 82 children, and great great 
grandmother to 1 10 children— making 206 children! 

1770 — This year died Rebecca Coleman, aged 92 years. She came; 
to Philadelphia with the first settlers. Some of her posterity at her death 
were of the fifth generation. She could recount much of ancient Phila- 
delphia — for she remembered it when it consisted of but three houses, 
and the other dwellings were caves. Some now alive must remember 
her conversation, and might even yei communicate something. 

1770 — January — Died, Sarah Meredith, aged 90 years. She was born 
in a little log house, where now the city stands, where she continued un- 
til she changed her maiden name of Rush to become the wife of David 
Meredith, and to settle in the Great Valley, in Chester county, 28 miles 
from Philadelphia-^then the frontier settlement, and six miles beyond 
any neighbours, save Indians, who were then numerous, kind and inof- 
fensive. There she continued all her days ; becoming the mother of 1 1 
children, grandmother to 66, and great grandmother of 31. 

1770 — June 30th, died at Merion, Jonathan Jones, aged 91 years, 
having been 90 years in the country, he coming here from Wales when 
an in^nt. 

1770 — This year died John Ange of the extraordinary age of 140 
years, as declared by himself, and as fully believed by all his neighbours 
from the opinions of their fathers before them. He was settled as a 
planter between Broad creek and the head of VVicomoco river, in Penn- 
sylvania. He had been blind some years from age. His food was always 
simple and sparing, and himself of lean habit. He left a son of about SO 
years of age a great grandfather, hale, active and lively, and without 
grey hairs. 

1774 — 14th of February, died in Bucks county, Mrs. Preston, at the 
advanced age of 100 years and upwards. She had seen Pcnn and his 
colonists at Philadelphia ; had acted as his interpreter occasionally with 
the Indians. She possessed her memory and ajiydfirstanding till her last. 

1782 — 17th of November, died Edwarc^^Hcer, aged 102 years, 
having been born the 24th of December, 1 6^Bffa cabin near the corner 
of Second and Walnut streets— the triangulaPblock. When Dr. Frank- 
lin was questioned in England to what age we lived in this country, he 
wittily said he could not tell until Drinker should die and settle it ! 
Drinker's parents came Irom Beverly and settled on the site of Phila- 
delphia before Penn came ! He had all his 18 children by his first wife, 
having had four wives in all ! He was never sick— always cheerful. S^^ 
further particulars under the article Edward Drinker. 



504 ^g^d Persons. 

1792 — December 20th, died John S. Flutton, iiged 109 years, having 
been born in 1684 ; he was cheerful, good humoured, and temperate all 
his life. He deemed himself in his prime at 60 years of age. He was very 
fond of fishing and fowling, and could be seen when past 80 carrying his 
duck gun. Being a silversmith by profession, he was borne to his grave 
by his fellow craftsmen. Two such patriarchs as Hutton and Drinker, 
might have passed many pleasant hours in talking over the changes of 
their days, and their past recollections of the city, because their lives 
had been so long cotemporaries. See further particulars under the ar- 
ticle John S. Hutton. 

1802 — This year died Alice, a black woman, aged 116 years. She 
had known the city from its origin. When she was 1 15, she travelled 
from Dunk's Ferry to the city, and there told Samuel Coates, and others, 
of numerous early recollections of the early days. See facts concerning 
her under her proper name. 

1809 — Died at Philadelphia, James Pemberton, aged 86 years, a dis- 
tinguished member among Friends, and lineal descendant of Phineas 
Pemberton, primitive settler and Judge of Bucks county. His likeness 
in the costume of Friends, >vith half cocked hat and wig;, is preserved on 
page 20<5 of my MS. Annals in the City Library. 

ISlO—Died a' Philadelphia, George Warner, aged 99 years. This 
patriarch was one of many emigrants that came out from England as 
farmers and mechanics, in 1726 — a time when he saw our city in its 
green age, when all was young. He often described things as he then 
found them, and contrasted them with their subsequent changes. 

1823 — Died at Philadelphia, Mrs. Mary Elton, at the advanced age 
of 97 years. 

1825 — Died at Philadelphia, Mrs. Hannah Till, a black woman, who 
had been cook to General Washington and General La Fayette in all 
their campaigns during the war of Independence. The latter at my 
instance went to see her at No. 182, south Fourth street, when he was 
here in 1825, and made her a present to be remembered. See further 
respecting her, under the name " Hannah Till." 

1825— Died at Philadelphia Almshouse, Margaret or Angela Millet, 
in the 1 1 2th year of her age. She was bom and lived in Canada — said 
she was nearly forty when General Wolfe was slain — remembered him 

well. remembers and tells much oi the Indian barbarities. She was 

once married and had a child, long since dead — could walk about very 
readily — has cut two new teeth lately — was never sick and never bled — 
has never used spectacles, and could see but little — all her life had been 
exposed, and accustomed to labour — thought herself still a smart woman 
in her last year — spe ak^ Fr ench and English — came to Philadelphia fi-om 
Canada when 102 ye^M^^ge. 

1825 — Billy BrownfWpkck man, of Frankford, was seen by me in 
his 93d year of age — he Wed about two years afterwards. He was of the 
African race, taken a prisoner when a lad, leaving his parents and five 
brethren ; and was two years before reaching the coast and being sold. 
I found him quite intelligent, his memory good, and himself a pious 
good man. He was then the husband of a young wife, by whom he had 
children, the youngest then 1 6 years old. What made him most interest- 
ing, he had been at Braddock's defeat, as servant to Colonel Brown of 



Jged Per soils. 563 

the Irish Regiment. There he remembered and described to me the 
sonduct of Washington in that action — how he implored Braddock for 
leave to fight the Indians in their own way, with 300 of his own men, 
and how he was repulsed with disdain.* He was afterwards, at the death 
of General Wolfe, and near his person, still with Colonel Brown ; thence 
went to the attack of Havanna; thence at the peace to Ireland with his 
master, who there set him free by a vessel going to Philadelphia. There 
he was fraudulently conveyed to Virginia and sold— became the slave 
of one Wiley, who was extremely cruel to him — lost some of his fingers 
and toes by severe exposure— was bought by General Washington, and 
was : is slave during all the Revolution at his estate at the Long Mea- 
dows. Finally, free at Frankford ; since died, and made happy in a better 
world. 

1825 — This year died Isaac Parish, in his 92d year, a respectable 
inhabitant of Philadelphia, father of the present Dr. P. It was remark- 
able concerning him. that although there were 87 signers to his marriage 
cer.ificate when they passed Meeting, yet both he and his wife survived 
every one of them. I could never see the aged couple abroad in the 
streets with<<ut thinking that they who liad the best claims to be quite at 
home by their familiarity with every nook avid corner of the city, were in 
fact, so perplexed and surprised with the daily changes and novelties, as 
to be among the strangers and wonderers of the city. " The generation 
to which they had belonged had run away from them !"— Or, as Young 
strikingly expresses it, to wit : 

« My world is dead 

A new world rises and new manners reign : 

— The strangers gaze, 

And I at them, — my neighbour is unknown !" 

About this time I saw Miss Sarah Patterson, of Philadelphia, then 
well, in her 90th year. Robert Paul, an ancient Friend, still going to 
Pine street Meeting, I saw at the age of 95 years. Thomas Hopkins, 
another Friend, going to the same Meeting, I saw and talked with when 
he was passed 90 years. 

There is at this time alive at St. Thomas, seven miles from Cham- 
bersburgh, Pennsylvania, a man named John Hill, who is probably the 
oldest man now alive in North America, deemed to be 135 or 6 years 
of age 1 He having been a soldier in the time of Queen Anne and served 
28 years. His faculties of body and mind are still good, as good as most 
men of 60 to 70 years. He was born in England. 

•The detail of Billy's narrative of the defeat, he. was given by me to the Historical 
Society of Pennsylvania, in my MS. book of "Historical Collections," in 1827. 



SE:AS0X8 AlVD CLIMATE. 



" I sing the varying seasons and their change." 

IT is intended to include in the present chapter, only such nota- 
ble changes ol" the temperature in the extremes of heat and cold^ as 
was matter of surprise or remark at the time of the occurrence, and 
therefore most likely to arrest our attention in the present day — as 
a wonder of tlie past ! 

As early as the year 1683, William Penn, in his letter to Lord 
North, of 24th, 5th month, says — '*The weather often changeth 
without notice, and is constant almost in its inconstancy ! " Thus 
giving us, at a very slender acquaintance, the name of a coquetish 
dime ! 

An oldfashioned snow storm, such as we had lately on tlie 20th 
and 21st of February, 1829, is the best thing in our country to 
bring to recollection olden time, when our fatliers browbeat larger 
snowdi'ifts than have encumbered our fields and roads since hones- 
ty and leather aprons were in vogue ! It is cheering to see the tow- 
ering bank in a sunny morning gemmed, like the crown of a mon- 
arch, with jewels that receive their splendour from the sun's rays, 
and reflect them back to ornament the cold white hillock w hich the 
clouds Iiavc bestowed upon us, to awaken recollections dear, and 
sensations as cutting as the winter. It tells you of log fires which 
cheered tliem in the wilderness, and warmed the pottage which 
gave them the very hue of health. In short, as said the Literary_ 
badet, *'a snow storm in its severest form is a mirror, to reflect 
back olden time, in all its colouring, to the present ! " Nor is it 
less grateful, as a winter scene, to beliold the occasional magnifi- 
cent effulgence of an ice-rain, embossing in crystal glory, as if by 
magic hands, the whole surface of the surrounding works of nature 
and art. 

" For every sBrub and every blade of grass, 
And every pointed thorn, seems wrought in glass ; 
In pearls and rubies rich the hawthorn show, 
While through the ice the crimson berries glow. 
The spreading oak, the beech and towering pine, 
Glazed over, in the freezing ether shine— 
The frighted birds the rattling branches shun, 
That wave and glitter in the glowing sun." 



Reasons and Climate. 367 

It is probable that the winter of 1682, being the first which Pcnn 
Saw here, must have been peculiarly mild, for lie says he scarcely 
saw any ice at all, and in the next year the winter of 1683, which 
he calls the severest before known, froze up for a few days our great 
river Delaware ! He must certainly have been too favourably 
impressed by wrong information, for often the river has continued 
ice-bound for three months at a time. It was, however, grateful in- 
telligence to the colonists then, and must have been a most wel- 
come incident, ill-sheltered as they were, to have such favourable 
winters. 

In his letter of August, 1683, to the Free Society of Traders, he 
thus speaks of the climate, to wit : *'I have lived over the hottest 
and coldest seasons of the year that the oldest inhabitants remem- 
ber. From the 24th of October to the beginning of December he 
found it like an English mild spring. From December to the be- 
ginning of March they had sharp frosts with a clear sky as in sum- 
mer, and the air dry, cold and piercing. This cold is caused by 
the great lakes that ai'e fed by tlie fountains of Canada. The air, 
already sweet and clear, rarely overcast, will refine as tlie woods 
are cleared off.'' Thus the reasons of our former colder winters 
was then well understood. He has another shrewd remark : — " It is 
rare to w ant a North Wester ; and whatever mists, fogs or va- 
pours foul the heavens by easterly or southerly winds, in two hours 
time are blown away, — the one is followed by the other — a remedy 
that seems to have a peculiar providence in it. Tlie winter before 
this (last) was mild. From March to June they enjoyed a sweet 
spring, with gentle showers and a fine sky. From June to Au- 
gust, which endeth the summer, they had extraordinary heats." 

Thomas Makin's Latin description of Pennsylvania thus de- 
acribes our climate as he knew it down to the year 1729, to wit : 

Nay, oft so quick the change,— so great its pow'r 

As summer's heat and winter in an hour!" 

" Sometimes the ice so strong and firm, we know 

That loaded wagons on the rivers go ! 

But yet so temp'rate are some winters here, 

That in the streams no bars of ice appear 1 " 

Professor Kalm, tlie Swedish traveller, who visited us in 1748-9, 
has left several facts descriptive of our climate, which he derived 
from the aged Swedes and by his own observation, to wit : 

It snowed much more formerly in winter than in the time of 1748. 
The weather then was more constant and uniform, and when 
the cold set in it continued to the end of February or till March, 
old style ; after which it commonly began to grow warm. Rut in 
1748, and thereabouts, it would be warm even the very next day 
after a severe cold, — and sometimes the weather would change sev- 
eral times a day ! Most of the old people told Mr. Kalm that 
spring came much later than formerly, and that it was much colder 



568 Seasons and Climate. 

in the latter end of February and the whole month of May than 
when they were young. Formerly tlie fields were as green and 
the air as warm ahoiit the end of February, as it was then in 
March or the beginning of Api'il, old style. Their proverb then 
was "We have always grass at Easter." 

The lessening of vapours by cultivation, &c. was supposed to 
have changed the seasons. 

The winters he understood, came sooner formerly than since. 
The first Mr. Noiris used to say tliat the Delaware was usually 
covered with ice about the middle of November, old style, so that 
merchants always hurried their vessels for sea before that tisne. 
But about the year 1748 the river seldom froze over before the 
middle of December, old style. 

An old Swede of 91 years of age, told him he thought he had 
never witnessed any winter so cold as that of the year 1697-8 — at 
which time he had passed the Delaware at Christianna several 
times with his wagons loaded with hay. He did not agree to the 
idea of others, that the waters had generally diminished. 

Isaac Norris' letter of the 8th of October. 1702, says. We have 
had a snow, and now the North West blows very hard. The cold is 
great, so that at the falling of the wind the river (at Philadelphia) 
was filled with ice. On the 10th, he adds, there is a sign of a 
thaw, and he hopes vessels may yet get out. 

The severity of the winter 1704-5, is thus expressed by Isaac 
Norris, sen. to wit : *' We have had the deepest snow this winter 
that has been known hy the longest English liver here — No trav- 
elling ; all avenues shut : the Post has not gone these six 
weeks ; the river fast ; and the people bring loads over it as they 
did seven years ago — [as in 1697-8 aforementioned.] Many crea- 
tures are like to perish." Kalm says many stags, birds, and 
other animals died, and that the snow was nearly a yard deep. 

Early ice was thus noticed the 23d of November, 1732, saying, 
it has been so very cold this week past that our river is full of 
driving ice, and no vessel can go up or down — a thing rarely hap- 
pening so early. Many persons have violent colds. 

The winter of 1740-1, a great snow. This winter was very se- 
vere during the continuance of '• the great snow." It was in gen- 
eral more than three feet deep. The back settlers (says the Gazette) 
subsisted chiefly on the carcasses of the deer found dead, or lying 
around them. Great part of ♦' the gangs" of horses and cows in the 
woods also died. Ten ajul twelve deer ai*e found in the compass of a 
few acres, near to springs. The chief severity was in February.* 
Many deer came to the plantations and fed on hay with the other 
creatures. Squirrels and birds were found frozen to death. By 
the 19th of March the river becomes quite open. Old Mrs. Shoe- 

•It was in February of the year 1717, that the greatest recorded " snow storm" oi 
Massachusetts occurred ; — it being from tea to twenty feet deep— compelling many to go 
.ibroad on its frozen crust from their chamber wiiidows. 



fieasons mid Climate. 5&y 

ttiakcr, whom I knew, told me of I.er recollection of that severe 
winter, to the ahove effect. Her words were, that all the tops ot 
the fences were so covered that sleighs and sleds passed over them 
ill every direction. James Logan's letter of 1748, calls .t "the 
hard winter of 1741, "-as a proverhial name, say.ng " it was one 
of remarkahle severity-the most rigorous that has ever hcu 
known here." Kalm says it began the 10th of December and 
continued to the 13th of March, ol.l style, ami hat «<>;«^ " ^ ^^ 
stags which came then to the barns to eat with the cattle, became 
domesticated therehy. c •*! •» i.Jb 

The 1st of November, 1745, is recorded by .John Smith, in his 
Journal, as the cold day— the river having frozen over at J5urlit.g- 
ton. and many boys skating on the Schuylkill. 

The 17th of March, 1760. Franklin's Gazette records ''the 
Greatest fall of snow ever known in Philadelphia since the settle- 
ment !" This is certainly saying much of such a snow so late ui 
March !-[as marking the contrast the day I write this-on the 
12th of March. 1829, it is mild and thundered several times .] I he 
wind in the snow-storm was from north-east, and fell incessantly 
for 18 hours. Tlie minutes of Assembly show that the snow m 
some places gathered seven feet deep, and prevented the Speaker 
and many members to get to town-so the house was adjourned 

The same winter another singular circumstance occurred--toia 
to me by old Isaac Parish, to wit : The day he was married the 
weather was so soft and open that tiie wedding guests i ad to walk 
on boards to the Meeting to keep them out of the soft mire; but 
that night the cold became so intense that the river Delaware froze 
up so firmly that his friend William Cooper, married at the same 
time with himself, walked over to Jersey on the ice bridge on the 
next morninff. No ice was previously in the river. , , , 

MrS^oelaker, who died at the age of 95. told me she had 
seen the deep snows of 1740 and '80 ; and from l^^r i-ecol ect.ons 
she said the winter of 1780 was probably as deep as that of 1740, 
and withal was remarkably cold, so much so as to be called the 

^"^Thrwinter of' 1784 was also long remembered for its severity 
and long continuance. 

Mild Winters. 
The following are instances of mild winters, occurring iu the 
years 1790. 1802, 1810, 1824, and 1828, and here severally stated 
in their detail for the purpose of comparison, to wit : 

Extract from A. IPs. Diary, for 1789 and 1790. 
I2th mo 1789.— The weather moderate during the early part of this 
month. 25th, (Christmas,) a pleasant day— no ice in ^he Delaware- 
Three light snows this month. Rain from the 23th to tne 31st, but the 
weather moderate. 

4 E 



•^"u iSeasons and Climate. 

1st mo. 1, 1790. — A charming day— no ice in the river, and no frost 
in the ground. 

2. This day as pleasant as yesterday — boys swam in the Delaware; 
and ships sail as in summer— flies common in houses. 

12th. Cold — skating on the pavement this morning. 

15th. Cold — snow on the ground this morning— continued snowing 
until 9, A. M. — wind N. E. 

2d mo. 7. — Navigation stopped for the first time this winter— morn- 
ing cold, with a strong wind from South. 

13th. Delaware river froze very hard— weather clear and cold— wind 
N. W. by West. 

16th. Delaware river broke up— weather foggy, very damp and 
warm, with a thaw— wind south--west— heavy rain at night, with thun- 
der and lightning. 

3 d mo. 1 1 — The deepest snow on the ground we have had this win- 
ter—some ice in the Delaware. 

An ancient female Friend informed me she remembered a similar 
moderate winter 60 years ago, in which the Delaware was not frozen ; 
and that the ensuing summer v/as healthy and very plentiful, as were 
the years 1790, 1802 and 1810. 

Extract from A. H's. IHary, for 1802. 

1st mo. 12th — Morning very cold— wind high, with flying clouds— 
this day the most like winter of any this season. 

15th.— Remarkably pleasant, wind south south-west— no skating for 
the boys this winter — not one cake of ice in the Delaware, and even the 
ponds are not froze hard enough to bear for two days together — preva- 
lent winds south-west. 

19th.— A very great white frost this morning. 

2d mo. 5th. — And sixth of the week — by far the coldest morning 
this season — froze very hard last night — wind west and a very clear hor- 
izon. 

6th. — Very cold — water froze in chambers first time this season- 
some ice about the pumps in the streets — Schuylkill froze over. 

19th. — Weather moderate — a fine shad in our market this morning— 
this is remarkable; but what is more so, I find recorded, 1st mo. 19th, 
1793, the extreme temperature of the weather exceeds all winters I 
have known — this day and others preceding, may be compared to part 
of April, as one day this week a shad was caught in the Delawaix. 

Extract from Jl. H^s. Diary, for January, 1810. 

1st mo. 18th. — And fifth of the week — sun rose clear — a heavy white 
frost — wind south — soon clouded — wind south-west — some rain before 
noon, and some sunshine — cleared towards evening — wind shifted to 
north-west, with a heavy gale all night. Jack Frost has opened his 
pipes to some purpose — many people seemed to think we should have 
no winter, but now it appears to have begun in earnest. 

19th. — And sixth of the week — morning clear and very cold— wind 
north-west and a gale — streets froze very hard — 34 degrees colder this 
morning than yestermorn, same time. The tide in the Delaware has 
not been so low for 1 4. years as this day. 



Seasons and Climafe. 571 

20th. — And seventh of the week — morning cloudy, still and damp — 
ice in the Delaware for the first time this season, which has been one of 
the most open and moderate remembered for many years, there not 
having been any skating, even on ponds, — similar to a note in my Diary 
of 1802. N. B. Water froze in bed chambers for the first time this 
season. 

The season until this cold spell has been so open and moderate that 
many people were ready to conclude we should not have any winter; but, 
as the Indians used to say, '' The winter will come sooner or later, and 
•vrill not rot in the sky." I have known two winters in which the naviga- 
tion was not interrupted by ice, not even by a single cake. 

2 1 St. — And first of the week — exlrepie cold this morning — Ther- 
mometer five and in the sun nine above — rose a little by noon — very 
cold all day — ice in the Delaware — stopped about noon — boys skating on 
it in the afternoon. 

22d. — And second of the week — severe cold this morning — wind 
north-west — ice in the Delaware stopped and remarkably thick and strong. 

The season of 1824, having been called very mild, I also add some 
notices of it, which may serve as a comparison with the others before 
given, to wit : 

1823. December. 6 inches snow — 7:^ inches rain. 

1824. January 5. No ice in the river. 

6. Mild, and plant trees. 

7 to 9. Mild, and white frost. 
10 to 14. Mild, and no frost in ground. 

15. Froze stiff last night. 

16. Clear and cold. 
17 and 18. Moderate. 

19. 1st winter, 26 deg. sunrise. 

20. Cold, 16 deg. at sunrise. 

21. do. 30 do. do. 

22. 23. Cold, 28 deg. at sunrise. 
24. Very mild. 

2 5 and 26. North-east and sleet. 
27 to 29. Mild. 
3 1 . Little snow and mild. 
(From the 21st the ice was floating in the Delaware.) 
Feb'ry. 1. The 2d winter is set in, — 16 deg. at sunrise. 

2. Thermometer 7 deg. sunrise, and keeps cold till 

7, when very mild. 

12 and 13. Frost out of ground. 
14 to 19. Mild air. 
20 to 22. do. 

23. Cold — at night snows. 

24. Cold — Thermometer 25 at sunrise. 
26. Snow melts, and mild. 

27 to 29. Mild. 
1st. March begins cold. 

7'Af year 1828. This winter of 1827-28, is remarkable for its mild 
ness — no snow, or frost, and the plough enabled to cut the fiirrows !— 



572 Seasons and Climafe. 

mild rains every where instead of snows. The Gazettes every where 
teem with notices of the unusual mild weather. Even boats in January, 
are descending the Susquehanna, from as far as the Bald Eagle I 
Even as late as the 7th of February it is stated from the Juniata that arks 
were still passing down that river, and that this is the first winter ever 
Icnown that the river has continued clear of ice ! On the 9th of February 
a shad, caught near Bombay Hook, was bought in the Philadelphia market 
fpr the Mansion House Hotel. This, so far, has been the rainy winter. 

The mildness of the wii.ter prevented the usual storing of ice foT-the 
fish markets, Sec. — a thing unprecedented. One person laid in his ice 
in one day in November, ^n the 13th and 14th of April, 1828, came 
a snow storm ! — much snow — not cold. 

An elderly gentleman remarks on this season, that " the winter of 1 827- 
28, is past, and such a one precisely has never occurred during sixty 
years of my observations. There were two events differing from any 
mild winters I ever remember, viz. so much absence of the sun — ^but 
one day in December clear all day — January 20th, and 21st, clear all 
day — February 9th, sun rose clear and continued so all day as mild as 
the month of May— 12, 13th, 14th, 16, 17th, 19th, 22d, 23d, — all these 
days were clear, the sun shining all day — in one or two days the sun 
made its appearance nearly all day, and a number of days one, two or 
three hours— add these to the whole days and it would scarcely amount 
to seventeen days clear sun — this is one singular trait." 

" The next is the uninterrupted state of the navigation of the river Dela- 
ware. I have known several soft winters in the course of my life, but I 
do not recollect any but what was more or less interrupted and obstructed 
■with ice. The winter of 1777-78, when the British army lay in Phila- 
delphia, and the American at Valley Forge, was an open one — much 
rain and excessive bad travelling, but there was at one time much ice in 
the river. The following winter, '78-79, was a mild, pleasant one ; yet 
there was ice sufficient to obstruct the navigation. This winter was so 
rnild that on the 22d of March the orchards of different kinds were all 
in blossom and the meadows as green as in the month of June, in the 
neighboui'hood of Downingstown, Lancaster road, and the next morning 
a storm at north-east, with nearly two feet of snow on the ground, which 
destroyed all the fruit for that year." 

The coldest weather, to last any considerable time, for these many 
years, was on February 7th, 1817 — it froze almost all the fire-plugs in 
the city, and the water in the main pipe in South street. 

The following are instances of Anomaly — to wit : 

The 8th of May, 1803, was a remarkable day. It snowed so 
heavily as to make a wonderful breaking of the limbs of trees then 
in full leaf. The streets in the city were filled with broken limbs 
thereby — most strangely showing — "winter lingering in the lap 
of spring." 

On the 13th and 14th of April, 1828, was a snow storm in which 
much snow fell, but not being cold, it soon after disappeared. 

The winter of 1817 was remarkable for displaying some very 
vivid lightning in the month of January ! No snow had fallen be- 
fpre this occurrence. The day preceding it fell a little, but melted 



Reasons and Climate. 5rJ 

I'nc s.-inie day. At night it grew warm and rained, accompanied 
by vivid lightning. During tlic same niglit it blew up quite cold, 
and snowed about half an inch. Very cold weather immediately 
set in. Tlie papers at Albany and New Hampshire spoke of vivid 
lightnings also on the night of the irth of January. Good sleigh- 
ing occurred at Philadelpliia on the 23d of January. 

On the 25tli of October, 1823, was the dark day. There was 
great darkness at 9 o'clock, A. M. so as to make candlelight de- 
sirable. At Norristown they were obliged to use candles. The 
darkness at New York came on at about 11 o'clock, and compelled 
the printers to print by candlelight. It was stormy there at an 
earlier hour. At Philadelphia there was thunder and some rain. 
At Albany, at 8 A. M. same day, it snowed fast all day. forming 
a fall of 12 inches, but melted very fast. It thundered there at 12 
and at 2 o'clock while snowing ! The heavy snow broke the limbs 
of trees still in leaf, very much. At Newark it lightened and 
tiiundered severely, and hailed, and was very dark. On the whole, 
it was a wide spread darkness for one and the same storm. 

On the nth of April, 1824, it thundered and lightened consid- 
erably for the first time this spring. Old people tell me they never 
used to see this occurrence until the warm weatlier. But of late 
years it has occurred several times in the cold season, and some- 
times in March. The Christmas days of 1824 and 1829 were re- 
markable for their coincidence of singular warmth. The Ther- 
mometer in the shade at 7 o'clock, A. M. stood at 33°, and at 2 
o*clock, P. M. at QS" — both days exactly alike, and on both periods 
having a gentle wind fi-om the south-west. 

There were in olden time two memorable ^^ hot summers," so 
ealled, and referred to in many years afterwards — tlie years 1727 
and 1734. I describe the latter from the Gazette of the time, to wit : 

July, 1734. — The weather has been so hot for a week past, as has 
not been known in the memory of man in this country, excepting 
the "hot summer" about 7 years since. Many of the harvest peo- 
ple faint or fall into convulsions in tlie fields, and 'tis said in some 
places a multitude of birds were found dead. The names of five 
inhabitants dying of the heat are given. Subsequent papers con- 
firm the extreme heat in the country, and the deaths thereby. 

I ought to have mentioned too. that as early as the year 1699 
Isaac Norris. sen. [Vide Logan MSS.] speaks then of the " hottest 
harvest season he had ever before experienced. Several persons 
died in the field with the violence of the heat." 

An elderly gentleman tells me that on the 1st of October, 1770, 
memorable as the tlien Election day, was well remcmbei-ed as a 
fsnowy day ! From that time to tliis he has never witnessed it so 
early again. Since then, he thinks the earliest snows have not 
fallen earlier than the 1st of November. The middle of November 
has been regarded as an early snow. Often he has seen "Green 
Christmas," — that is — no snow till after Christmas, at least not 
such as to lay on the eai'tli. 



574 



Seasons and Climate. 



Tlie night of the nth April, 1826, was remarkably coid. It 
froze so har«< as to bear a wagon loaded with flour on a muddy 
road. Some snow on the ground at same time. On the 12th of 
April at sunrise the mercury stood at 24. Old people say they 
never saw it so cold at that season. One remembers a deeper 
snow on the lOth of April about 40 years ago, when he went abroad 
in a sled. 



Comparison of time past and time present, derived fi-om a Thermo- 
metrical Table of the years 1748 and '49, compared with the years 
1823 to -26. 

YEARS. 



MOTHS. 


1748. 


1749. 


1823. 


1824. 


1825. 


1826. 


October, .... 


64° 




58° 


59J° 


64 2-3° 




November, . . . 


04^ 





44-i 


48^ 


48 




December, . . . 


49A 





39A 


41 1-3 




Jamiary, .... 




33*" 





41 


39 


m 


February, . . . 





40 





sH 


39 




March, 




60 




44 


50J 




April, 





6'2 





58 


58* 




May, 




75 




CO 


67 




June, 


. . 


81 


74A 


74^ 


78A 




July, 





HU 


^a 


79 


83^ 




Augnst, .... 




85 


75^ 


79 2-3 




September,. . . 





804 


69i 


691-3 


71 1-3 





The extreme variations in each of the above months, are :— 
YEARS. 



,IOXT..S. 


r 

1748. 


r 


49. 


1823. 


1824. 


1825. 


"tl 
1826. 


October, .... 
November, . . . 
December, . . . 
January, .... 
February, . . . 

March, 

April, 

May, 

July,' ...... 

August, .... 

September, . . . 


39° 79° 
42 66 
30 66 




50° 
38 
35 


72^ 

50 

46 


38 62 
32 51 
28 59 

34 51 
45 72 
58 78 
64 85 
73 84^ 
68 82 
6Ji 82 


51° 

33 
28 
41 
44 

& 

76 
70 
64 


81i° 

59 

53 

46 

I? 

68 
80 

92 
79 


29° 51° 






12° 

25 
30 
33 

70 
66 

3* 


58° 
67 
68 
86 
92 
98 
97 
102 
98^ 
















64 
71 
71 

'i6 


87 
87 
87 
86i 





















The greatest degree of cold, mentioned in the register for 1748-9. 
was on the morning of the 21st of January, 1749, on which day at sun- 
rise, the Thermometer was 7° below Zero, and the greatest degree of 
heat was on the 5th of August, 1749, when the Thermometer was at 
102°. Neither the cold or heat were greater than have been experienced 
in later years. On the 2d of February, 1789, the Thermometer was at 
17^° below Zero, and on the 25th of January, 1806, at 14^°. In July, 
1793, it rose, when completely shaded, to 104|°. 

J Meteorological Table for the months of January and Februa- 
ry for 22 years, from 1807 to 1828, compiled by S. Hazard, Esq. 
may be seen in my MS. Annals in the Historical Society of Penj\- 
sylvania, page 271. 



1810. 


32.656 


1811. 


34.968 


1812. 


39.3 


1813. 


35.625 


1814. 


43.135 



^'easons and Climate. 
Sain fallen from 1810 to 18 

Years. Years 

1815. 34.666 
1«16. 27.947 

1817. 36.005 

1818. 30.177 

1819. 23.354 



1820. 


39.609 


1821. 


32.182 


1822. 


29.864 


1823. 


41.815 


1824. 


38.74 



1825. 29.57 

1826. 35.14 

1827. 38.50 

1828. 37.97 

1829. 41.85 



^.l.^^^ fJ'' ^'1.^ investigation mid diligence of my friend 
Samnel Hazard, Esq. for a long detail of notices of our winters for 
more than a century past. Besides the surprise which some of 
the facts w.ll excite, they will also prove useful for future i^cur 
iairir ''''■' *:,^«^traordinary weather-to see whether the I ke 
iiad not occurred before. 

mnfers at and near Philadelphia, from its orij-in to 
the present time. 
The following investigation was commenced with a view to ascertain 

lstf'.^.H^''•^^'^''^i'^"^^i^^^^°" ^^ ^'- ^^^^^^^^^^ l^^s usual ybeen 
obstructed by ace, and when it became freed from such obstructfons ^ 
For th,s purpose we have consulted the newspapers for the Srent 
periods, confining our attention principally to December, Jallrv 
February and March, although occasionally notice is taken of some' 
other months. The early Gazettes have genei^lly noticed the cTccurrenc: 
t^nn fl aT i"-^'^ '^'^ P^P^"' ^'^^^ o'^itted it. During the Revolu 
t^on we find but few remarks on the subject, and in some /ears none ^t 

^''''Fn^r^"i^'' 'k "The river froze over that night. The Bristol 
L' f ' ^^S^'-D'-^^' ^"'ived at Chester from England, with set 
tiers for Pennsylvania, where they lay all winter. ^ ' '' 

1704. Snow fell one yard deep. 

February. Flowers seen in the woods. 

tebr-uary 23. The river is now clear of ice. 

November 1 L u My ink freezes, which obliges me to conclude." 

December ^^ o^r^^ -tr:;?^:^:?^^^:^?^:. 

falhngdt:;''- '"'^ "^'^^* '^^"^^"°- ^^-^ «^ -' vessels are 

''''■ fu?:fre'" ''' ^" "'''''' """^^ ^^"^^ °"'- ^-^' ^h- ^--- being 
December 26. do. do. do 

January 2. River still locked up. 

6. Vessels get up to New Castle. 

-— 9- 16. 22. River still locked up. 

February 6. Vessels cleared and entered. 



1714. 
1720. 



i722. 



locked up. 



576 Seasons and Climate. 

1723. January 1, Weather is yet very moderate and our river open. 

6. Weather is yet very moderate, and river free from ict. 

December. Vessels enter and clear through the month. 

1724. January 18, River very free from ice. 

December 15. On Thursday last a violent storm of wind and rain; 
tide overflowed the wharves. Two outward bound vessels return- 
ed for fear of ice, of which our river is very full. 

December 22. River full of ice. 
> 29. Some driving ice, but not so as to prevent ves- 
sels going up or down. 

1725. March 3. Snow fell near two feet deep last night and yester- 
day, which has not been known for some years. 

December 21. River is very full of ice, though several ves- 
sels came up with it; no arrivals or clearances mentioned till 
18th July. 

1726. January 18. Entries and clearances. 

February 1 . No vessels in or out since our last, river being 
blocked up by ice. 

15. River driving with ice. 

December. Entries and clearances through the month. 

1727. February 14. Very cold weather for four days; which has filled 
our river full of ice. 

March 30. Weather and floods prevented the legislature from 
meeting at the time to which they stood adjourned. 

1728. January 23. We have had very hard weather here for nearly 
two weeks ; so that it has frozen our river up to such a degree that 
people go over daily, and they have set up two booths on the ice 
about the middle of the river. 

30. River still fast. 

February 7. Some say the ice is driving near Bombay Hook. 
River here still fast. No clearances mentioned till March 5. 

December 31. 36 vessels, besides small craft, frozen up at 
docks, viz. large ships 14; snows 3; brigs 8 ; sloops 9; schooners 2. 

1729. January 29. Our river still frozen up. 
February 17. Entries and clearances. 

December. Entries and clearances through the month. 

1730. January 20. We had here such a deep snow, the like not known 
these several years. River full of ice ; no vessels can pass. 

27. A vessel cleared. 

December 2 1 . Vessels attempting to go were forced back by ice. 

29. Entries and clearances. 

1731. January 26. River still full of ice. 

February 2. No vessels since our last ; river locked up with ice, 

• 9. Entries and clearances. 

December 14. Our river is now full of ice. 

21. River a little opened ; vessels design going. 

1732. January 4. Vessels at Hoarkill cannot come up for ice. 

25. River still fast. 

February 22. Entries and clearances. 
December. do. do. 

J 733. January 18. Great snow at Lewes; ice driven ashore by a 
N. E. storm. 



Seasons and Climate. 577 

173 J. February 1. River still fast. 

■- . 15. Ice grows rotten ; expected to drive in a few days. 
March 8. River open ; vessels come up fi om Lewes. 
December. .Entries and clearances. 

1734. January. 1. River continues open, and weather very moderate ; 
winter liitherto as moderate as for many years past. 

December 21. Our river is now free from ice; weather fine 
and open. 

1735. January 16. Our river continues open and the weather very 
moderate. 

December. Entries and clearances. 

1736. January 6. River is fast, and full of ice. 
February 5. Arrivals. 

'25, Two whales killed at Cape May. 

December. Arrivals and clearances through the month. 

1737. January 20. Weather very cold; persons frozen ^o death; a 
vessel below cannot come up on account of the ice. 

December. Entries and clearances through the month. 

1738. January and February. Entries and clearances through the 
month. 

December. Entries and clearances till 18lh. 

1739. January 25. River now entirely clear of ice ; vessels gone down ; 
fast since 1 8th December. 

December. Entries and clearances. 

1740. January 10. No entries or clearances from this date till 
February 2 1 . When arrivals are mentioned. 

March 15. Ice broke up in the Delaware. 

December 19. River unnavigable from this to 13th March. 

1741. January 8. Our river has been last some time, and we beard 
from Lewes that 'tis all ice towards the sea as far as the eye can 
reach. Tuesday and Wednesday are thought to have been the. 
coldest days for many years. 

March 5. The severity of the winter complained of throughout 
the country. Cattle dying for want of fodder ; many deer found 
dead in the woods, and some came tamely to the plantations, and 
fed on hay with other creatures. 

March 1 3. River navigable. The winter extremely long and 
severe. 

19. River now quite open ; vessels daily come up. 

April 19. We hear from Lancaster county that during the 
great snow, which in general was more than three feet deep, the 
back inhabitants suffered mucii for want of bread ; that many fami- 
lies of new settlers had little else to subsist upon but the carcasses 
of deer they found dead or dying in the swamps or runs about their 
houses. The Indians fear a scarcity of deer and turkics, SiC. 

December. Entries and clearances. 

1742. January. do. do. 
22. Comet visible for some time. 

February and March. Entries and clearances — no mention of ic t . 
December. Entries and clearances — no mention of ice. 

1743. January. do. do, do 

4 F 



jTS Seasons and Climate. 

1744. Januiuy 3. No entries this week — river full of ice. 

19. AiTivals. 

December. Entries and clearances. 

1745. January, February, March. Entries and clearances; find ii© 
mention of ice. 

December. Entries and clearances. 

1746. January. No arrivals nor clearances this month; no ice is 
mentioned. 

December 28. River frozen up for the week past. 

1747. February 24. First arrivals since 23d December. 
December 15. No entries this week, river being full of ice. 

1748. January 12. Entries and clearances. 

26. A vessel ashore on Reedy Island, cut through with 

the ice — no entries or clearances — severe weather — a man frozen 
to death on a flat in Mantua creek. 

February 2. Entries and clearances. 

9. River again full of ice ; no entries or clearances 

till March 1. when there are some. 

December. Entries and clearances through the month. 

1749. January 31. A vessel reaches " Elsingburgh." The river, by 
hard S. E. gale almost freed from ice. 

February 7. River again full of ice. 

14. Arrivals. 

December. No arrivals from 12 to 26 ; ice not mentioned. 

1 750. January 22. Our river is now broke up ; and yesterday a vessel 
went down. This morning a violent N. E. storm, which has done 
considerable damage to the vessels and wharves. 

February 6. River free from ice; vessels going up and down. 

1751. January!. Rivei full of ice. 

22. River so open that a shallop came up from Marcus 

Hook. This morning a violent S. E. storm which damaged 
wharves and vessels. 

December 24. For a week past our navigation has been stopped, 
the river being very full of ice. 

1752. February 18. Our river has been driving for some days pasty 
and is now so clear of ice, that if the weather continues moderate 
in a few days vessels will fall down. 

February 25. River entirely clear ; 12 sea vessels arrived in 
one tide. 

1753. January 2. Our navigation is stopped ; river full of ice. 

9. Vessels entered. 

23. Navigation quite clear. 

December 29. River full of ice. Navigation stopped. On Mon- 
day last a violent S. E. storm drove several vessels ashore. 

1754. January 15. Our river is now and has been for several days 
quite clear of ice. 

December. Entries and clearances through the month. 

1755. January 14. There is so much ice at present in the river tha^ 
our navigation is stopped. 

January 21. Clearances from this date forward. 
December. do. through the month. 

1756. January and February. Clearances through the month. 



Seasons and Climate. 579 

1756. !March 18. On Friday niglit we had a violent N. E. snow-storm, 
which did considerable damage to the vessels at the wharves, and 
probably on the coast. This is the first mention of snow. Arrivals 
and clearances continue through the month. There is no intima- 
tion that the navigation was inierrupted this winter. 

December. Entries and clearances. 

1757. January. Clearances and arrivals throughout the month, althougli 
the managers of the New Castle Lottery advertised that they have 
been prevented by the severity of the weather, from riding about to 
sell their tickets, and the country people from coming in to purchase; 
no mention of the navigation being interrupted, and entries and clear- 
ances published every week through the winter. 

December. Entries and clearances through the month. 
!758. February 2. Navigation has been stopped some days, and is 
still, there being a good deal of ice in the river. 

16. River almost clear of ice ; some vessels have fallen 

down. 

December 28. For a few days past our river has been full of 
ice, but is now likely to be soon clear again. 

1759. January 4. Our river is so full of ice that no vessel can stir. 

II. A rrivals and clearances. 

2 5. River has for some days been interrupted with ice. 

February 1. Clearances. 

December 28. Navigation stopped for a week past. River full 
of ice. 

1760. January 3. Clearances. 

17. Thursday last our river was so free from ice that a 

vessel came up ; but it is now fast again 

February 7. For three days past have had a fine thaw by which 
the ice is greatly dissolved, and we hope the navigation will be open 
in a few days. 

14. Arrivals and clearances. 

March 20. On Sunday last, we had a violent N. E. snow-storm, 
when considering the season of the year and the time it lasted, 
(18 hours) there was the greatest fall of snow that has been known, 
it is said, since the settlement of the province. 

December. Arrivals, Sec. through the month. 

1761. No arrivals or clearances from January 15 to 5th February. 
December 17. Our river is and has been interrupted by ice for 

some days past. 

24. Navigation quite stopped — measures for relief of 

the poor. 

1762. January 14. On Saturday and Sunday last we had a violent N. 
E. storm here, which, with the sudden thaw for some days before, 
occasioned prodigious freshes and the tides to rise higher than has 
been known for some years past — our river is now so clear of ice 
that we expect vessels up. 

— — 21. Arrivals. 
December. Entries and clearances during the month. 

1763. January 13. Our navigation now is and has for some days.be.en 
stopped— river full ef ice. 



.80 Seasons and CUmatt, 

1763. Jaiitiarv CT. A vessel reaches Marcus Hook. 

Febmaiy ■:4. A moderate thair for some days — ice in river 
gready diniinished— on Tuesday a brig came up. 
December. Entries, kc. during ihe month. 
Td-j. Januarr. do. do. 

December -27. Our navigation was at a stand for a few days, the 
river being full of ice ; but on Tuesday night we had a violent X. 
E- storm for some hours, which ended in raii^^and the wind blow- 
ing prodigiously hard at the same time destroyed the ice, so that 
some vessels ventured down yesterday. 

SI. Delaware frozen over in one night — passable nest 

morning. 
^t'5. Januarr 5. Our navigation has been qtiite at a stand for a week 
past. 

February 7. On Tuesday last an ox was roasted whole on the 
river Delaware, which from the novelty of the thing, drew together 
a great number of people. 

February 14. The weather is now so moderate and our bay so 
clear of ice that the ve^els at the capes are come up to Reedy 

Cb. Our navigation is now quite clear and several ves- 

rr'.s hive come up. 

A letter from Fort Pitt, dated January 31,1 765, says ^ the weather 
has been so uncommcwily severe at this post, that both rivers have 
been passable on the ice for six weeks " 

March £8. On Saturday night last came on here a very severe 
soow -storm which continued all night and next day. when it is be- 
lieved the greatest quantity of snow that has been (contidering the 
advanced state of the season) for many years past, it being said to be 
about 2 or -Zi feet on a level, and in some places deeper. A great 
number of trees are destroyed ; some torn up bj the roots, others 
broke off and the roads so bad that there is scarcely any travelling. 
December. Entries, Sec. all the month. 
,766. January 9. River quite fast since Friday last — weather ven 
severe, 

30th- Xo arrivals, &c. since 9th — ^ice mostly dissolved. 

February 6. Arrivals. 

15. A sloop drove up to New Castle in a cake of ice. 

December. Arrivals and clearances throughout 

757. January 1. Our river is so ftill of ice that navigation is at a stand . 
Thermometer 6", on 2d, 5=. 

December 24. The cold weather of Saturday night filled the 
river so foil of ice that vessels could not depart ; but on Tuesday 
there was a fine thaw accompanied with rain, and the weather is 
DOW moderate, and we hope the navigation %vill soon open again. 

768. February II. Our river k ik)w so clear of ice, that vessels get 
up and down. 

March 14. On Saturday night last, we had a most violent snow- 
storm from X. E. 

December. Arrivals and clearances through the month. 

769. January. Arrivals and clearances through the month. 



Seastma amd aUmaU. 581 

February 25. Since oar last, hai-e bad a fine thaw, warm sua 
ar.d some rain, by which our narigatkxi is now clear. 

December 21 Our navigation was for sereral days at a stand, 
river being full of ice, but on Thursday last, aboat 60 vessels went 
down. 
TO. January 11. At present there is so much ice in the river that 
the navigation is at a stand. 

Febraary 15. Our navigation is now so clear that Tcssds come up. 
December. Entries and clearances this month. 
fl. January. do. do. do. 

February 14. On Saturday monung we had a gale from soatfa, 
jjrA rsjiTi — higher tide than known for several years. River now so 
full of ice as to stop navigatioo. 

28. Navigation agam clear. 

March 14. On Sar^rday night vitrfent gale from the E. X. E. 
and heavy rain^^asted all day— ^id much damage. 

December 26. The cold has been so intense for 3 days pas: 
that navigation is at a stand — river foil of ice. 
'72. January 2. River pretty clear of ice on Tuesday, bat yestodar 
so much ice as to obstruct navigation. 

January lo A great quantity of ice prevents ave^dg^tkigup. 

30. Hafl and snow-storm firom X. H. The cold this 

month has been excessive. 

Febniary ::. The thermometer in the shade, stood at 65= higher 
than felt here for many years. The navigatkxi which has been ob- 
structed by ice is now entirely op^i. 

March 1 5. During the last week there fdk large quantities of 
snow, in many places two fe^ deep— a good deal of ice in the river. 

December. Arrivals and clearances through tbe moodi. 
'5. January 20. River foil of ice— navigadMi stopped. 

2 1 . Thermometer in open air on east side of the citv 

at : P. M. 8 above =. at 4 P. M. r, at 6 P. M. 5'. at 10 P. M. 4". 

6 A. M. 0-, at nooa 1 1= above 0, at 5 P. M. 14" above 

C, ai 10 P. M. 1 1 above C — west side of the city — at 6 A. M. 4 be- 
low ; another sitaation on the 21st at 3 P. M. 5" ; 22d at 9 A. M. 
2. A gla^ of wine within 8 or 9 feet of a chimney where ^terc 
had been a hickory Sre the whole evoiing till midnight, congealed 
to the consistency of snow. 

March 3 . Vessels that had been detamed by ice came np. 

December. Entries and clearances. 
T4. January 12. River so full of ice that the naiigatiDn is stopped. 

February 1 4. River &st bound with ice, 

December 23 and 23. Snow. 

2S and 29. Snowing^-deep snow on tbe grooiML 

3(J. Ice in tbe Delaware. 

'75. January 17. Delaware navigable. 

13 and 19. Snow. 

February 12. Snow. 
Xovember 19. Snow. 

.il' > We can find no notices. 



5&2 i^easons and Climate. 

1778. January 19. The river was closed at this date. 

1779. February. Leaves of willow, blossoms of peach, and flowers of 
dandelion were seen. 

1780. January. On Sunday morning last, at a fire at the French Con- 
sul's, the weather was so severe that many of the engines were ren- 
dered useless by the intense cold ; during this month, the mercury, 
excepting one day, never rose so high in the city as to the freezing 
point. 

March 4. The Delaware became navigable after having been 
frozen nearly three months. This is denominated the hard ivinter. 
Ice 16 to 19 inches thick — frost penetrated the ground from 4 to 5 
feet. During tlis winter the ears of horned cattle, and the feet of 
hogs exposed to the air, were frost-bitten. Squirrels perished in 
their holes, and partridges were often found dead. 
ITS 1. January 27. " The winter thus far hath been remarkably mild — • 
so that the earth has scarcely been frozen half an inch deep, or the 
smallest ponds covered with ice strong enough to bear a dog. Thus 
mild it had continued until Monday last, (23d,) when we had a very 
hard gale of wind, chiefly from the north-west, but alternately vary- 
ing to almost every point, and accompanied with a smart fall of rain 
and snow. Several vessels were forced from their fastenings, and 
drove ashore on the Jerseys, and the island. Trees were torn up 
by the roots, and some houses unroofed." Garlic was tasted in 
butter this month. 

1782. In a pocket almanac, on the blank leaves between January and 
February, is the following memorandum : 

« 29 and 30 of tiiis month, was extremely cold. 

3 1 . More moderate ; the river froze over the 30th of last month, 
at night, so as to admit people on it the 31st, in the morning, and 
continued fast until the 16th inst. — when it drives generally, and the 
21st several vessels came up ;" and in the Freeman's Journal is the 
following paragraph : 

February 6. " About a week since the extremity of the cold was 
felt here. On Tuesday afternoon the thermometer fell very low. 
This day the mercury was within the bulb, and in some instances it 
fell 4* below 0, being the greatest excess of cold experienced here 
for many years. It is needless to say the Delaware opposite the 
city, and for several miles downward, is covered with a fixed and 
strong floor of ice. 

10th. Ferry boats cross upon the ice. — The river probably closed 
on the 30th January, and opened on the 1 6th February. 

1783. December 26. The navigation stopped, and in a few days the 
river was frozen over, opposite the city, and continued so till 1 8th 
of March. 29, snow. 

1784. January 13. On Tuesday and Wednesday a most remarkable 
thaw, attended with a warm, disagreeable, unwholesome vapour, 
which in the evening was succeeded by a sharp N. W. wind and 
clear sky, so that within a few hours we have experienced a transi- 
tion from heat to cold, of at least 53 degrees. The suddenness and 
severity of the frost has entirely bound up the navigation. 

February 12. Bay full of ice. 



Seasons and Climate. 583 

1784. February 28th and 29th. Mercury below 0. 

March 12. Navigation opened, having been closed since 26th 
December. 

December 22. . So much ice that the river is at a stand. 

1785. January 3. Vessels attempt to go down ; the moderate weather 
having so far cleared the ice ; but on the evening of the 4th the 
harbour was entirely frozen across. 

20th. Frozen from side to side ; broke up in 4 or five days, and 
was entirely free from ice ; all vessels from below came up. 
February 2. The river was again frozen over. 
22. Vessels got up and down. 

1786. January 21. Our weather has been remarkably mild for the 
greater part of the winter, until Friday (17th) last, when it grew 
cold, and froze the river in a few days from side to side at the lower 
part of the city. 

December. Navigation stopped. 

1787. January 6. The mildness of the weather for some days past 
having liberated the navigation, several vessels came up. 

1788. February 5. Thermometer fell to 6» below o, or 38 below free- 
zing point. The day before it had stood at 6» above freezing point, 
so that it fell 42° in about 17 hours. 

March 5. Boys sliding on the ice. 

December 23. Navigation interrupted by large quantities of float- 
ing ice. 

26. Skating on Schuylkill. 

1789. January 3. OAving to moderate weather the navigation is again 
restored, and many vessels have departed. The three lower bridges 
on Schuylkill were caiTied away by the breaking up of the ice, and 
one of them nearly destroyed. 

19th. Sleighing. 

February 5. Vessels locked up in the river near Marcus Hook. 
River froze and thawed four times, and not navigable till 8th March, 

19th and 20th. Snow 8 or 10 inches deep. Mercury fell 5° be- 
low in the city, and twenty miles fi'om the city 12* below 0. Both 
at six A. M. 

23d, 24th, 25th, and 27th. Mercury fluctuated between 4 and 
10 above 0. A very backward spring. 

December. Entries and clearances through the month. 
i790. January 2. Such an open winter as the present has not been 
known in this city since it was founded — boys bathing in the river 
as if it were summei' — wharves crowded with wood— oak 15 shil- 
lings—hickory 25 shillings. 

February 7. Only time this winter that the Delaware was inr 
terrupted by ice— frozen over. 

8th. Skating on the river. 

10th and 11th. Deep snow. 

17th. Ice drove. 

March 1 0th. The only considerable snow this winter — only re- 
mained on the ground three days. Yesterday morning thermome- 
ter at 4». 

1790. September 24. First frost. 



J.84 Seasons and Climait» 

1790. November 26th and 27th. First snows. 
December 8. River closed by ice. 

12th and 13th. River navigable — vessels sailed. 

16th. Snow and cold until 

1 8th, when the river frozen over and stands— boys skating — con- 
tinued closed till iSth January. 

21st. Snow all the morning— continues cold till the end of the 
month. 31st, very cold. 

1791. January 1. Ohio river has been closed for some time by ice. 
1 7th. Snow. 

1 8th. Snow— river opened so that vessels arrived. 
December 23. River closed — having been obstructed by floating 
ice for several days, continued closed till end of the month. 

1792. January 2. Mercury on Saturday at 12 o'clock 48° — an April 
day — navigation expected to open in a day or two. 

5th. Arrivals. 

7th, 13th, 18th, 2 2d. Snow. 

February 7th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th. Snow. 

March 6. Ice started. 

December. Arrivals and clearances this month. 

1793. January 14. Hail, 

18th. The extreme temperateness of this season exceeds every 
Avinter remembered by the oldest inhabitants of Philadelphia, for 
now we have April weather. A fine shad was caught and brought 
to Mr. Irwin's tavern, the white horse. Market street, where it was 
elegantly served last Thursday evening ( 1 7th) to several gentlemen 
who supped on the Jaiiuary shad with great satisfaction, and toasted 
the fishermen. 

21st. Light showers like April — no ice in the river to this time 
of any consequence ; the navigation being free and open. 

24th. A litde snow this morning. 

27th. Snow and rain. 

30th. Snow about six inches deep — windy night and some hail. 

February 1. Froze hard last night — first time any sleighing has 
been this season. 

2d. Rain. 6th. Rain. 

9th. Rather warm for the season. 

12th. Snow last night and this morning about 1| feet deep- 
coldest weather this winter. 

23d- Snow this morning— great fresh in Schuylkill. 

October. Very dry weather and warm mostly through this 
month — very little rain for eight weeks past — the yellow fever ra^ 
ging in the city. 

1794. January. Vessels could not leave the piers on account of the 
quantity of ice still in the river. 

13th. River clear from ice — vessels sailed yesterday. 
18th. Vessels got up safely to Fort Mifflin piers. 
Dec. 25. "As warm as the most timorous invalid could wish." 
Arrivals and clearances through the month. 

1795. Jan. 21. The sky has continued almost invariably without a sin- 
gle cloud for a long time past. Flies were seen a few days ago. 



Seasons and Climate. 585 

Indeed there was an expectation with many people, that there would 
be no ice during- the present season— about the middle of last week, 
however, a frost came. On Monday moi-ning, January 19tli, at 7 
o'clock, the thermometer in the open air was so low as 12" — ?. j^reat 
part of the river was frozen over. This mornini^(2 nh) thermome- 
ter siine hour and situation has risen to 19". The positive cold has 
dimi'.iished, but the Delaware is now entirely frozen over. 

16rh. A vessel comini^ up meets driflinj^ ice near Marcus Hook. 

February 26. Thermometer at half past 7 A. M. 9°. 
27. do. do. 10°. 

We do not remember, through the winter, the mercury being so 
low at the same hour. 

December. Arrivals and clearances throughout the month. 

1796. January 10. Snow. 11th. Moderate to the 16th — no ice in the 
river of any consequence. 

17th. Snow, rain and hail. 20th. Snow. 

27lh. Snow. 29th and oOth, coldest this season. Navigation 
open to this time. 

February 2. Vessel arrives at New York, understanding Dela- 
ware is closed by ice. 

9th. Navigation interrupted by driving ice for about a week past ; 
yesterday a vessel came up. The winter to this time the most 
moderate I ever remember for 45 years— very little interruption by 
floating ice. Schuylkill is frozen so as to bear people on it ; but 
not very safe for many in a place. 

15th, One of the coldest days this winter. 

19th. Snow last night. 22d, do. 

March 8. Snow last night. 

October 1. Do. Cold for a week past. 
7th- Do. Very dry, rest of the month, grain suf- 
fering for rain. 

November 30. Some snow. 

December 6. Within ten days we have had very eold weather — 
the Susquehanna has closed ; men and horses cross daily. It is not 
within man's memory to have seen the river so low of water or to 
have closed so early. Snow in Philadelphia, 2 inches deep. 

23d. River closed — there were entrances up to the 21st. On 
the night between 23d and 24th, Dr. Priestley's thermometer in the 
town of Northumberland, was depressed to 13 below ° while in this 
city it stood at 2° below °. 

24th. Severe cold as remembered for 40 years ; snow 2 feet 
deep at the westward. 

1797. January 10. River still closed — loaded wagons come over on 
the ice — weather as cold as remembered these hfty years. 

16th. Last Monday night (9th) about a mile N". VV. of the city, 
a gill of best French brandy was placed in a field in a conmion sau- 
cer, and about 10 minutes after the sun rose next morning. t!ic cir- 
cumference had a ring of ice about half an inch broad. The ice had 
no regular form ; but clotted like grease. The remaining brandy had 
the appearance of oil, and when tasted was mild as milk. A small 
vial of the same brandv with a glass stopper was exposed in the 
4 G 



3»G Seasons and Climate. 

field, no crusi was formed on it, the action of the air btii.y- prevent- 
ed by the stopper. Watei' placed in a room where no fire had 
been for some days, was in a liquid state until the dawn of day, but 
was formed into a lump of ice in 10 minutes after the sun rose. 
28th, river still fast ; though it thaws, and the weather is fine for the 
season. 

February 7. A vessel arrives at Markus Hook — river driving. 

9th. A vessel arrives. 

March 3. Snow last night. Frost to the loth. 11th, snow. 

December 1. Schuylkill fast and Delaware full of ice. 

15th. Weather moderated something — two or three vessels 
came up, but in a few days the weather became cold, and continued 
so, that on the 22d the river was quite fast ; being one day sooner 
than last year. 

1798. January 1. Ice and slippery pavements. 
5th. Snow in the night about 4 inches. 
February 5. River opened about this time. 
October 31. Snow last night. 
November 19. Snow. 20th, snow. 
December 12. Snow — ice in the Delaware. 

15th. Several outward bound vessels sailed yesterday, our rivet 
being perfectly free of ice. 

17th and 18th. Ice in the Delaware stopped. 23d, snow. 
2 5th. Fine sleigliing. 

1799. January 1, Snow — more snow in the last 6 or 8 weeks than 
remembered for several winters in the same time and season, and 
very cold weather most of the time. 

3d. Snow. 4th, Delaware full of ice. 5th, snow. 

6th. Ice in the Delav/are stopped, and boys skating on it — snow 
on the ground about 3 inches deep. 9th, snow. 

10th. Delaware nearly cleared of ice, vessels preparing to sail, 

24th. Snow. 29th, Delaware full of skim ice. 

30th. Do. clear of ice — a fog last night. 

February 3. Stormy; snow and hail; a tolerable deep snow on 
the ground. 

4th. Considerable ice in the Delaware. 

9th. Delaware clear of ice. 

17th. Tolerable deep snow. 

19th. Snow — streets and pavements very slippery. 

23d. Last night and tiiis morning thought to be as cold as any 
this season. Navigation obstructed by ice, as much being made 
last night as on any night this winter. 

25th. Extremely cold. Skating on the Schuylkill, and the ice 
in the Delaware stopped. 

26th. Skating on the Delaware — ^began to drive in the afternoon, 
and the people hastened off— snow. 

27th. A deep snow on the ground. 

March 3. Small snow. 

5th. Last night as cold as any this season— Delaware full of ice. 

6th. River full of ice. 

1 1th. Delaware clear of ice. Several vessels came \ip. 



/Seasons and Climate. 587 

Deep snow on the ground. " A very long and severe 
lis has been." 

1 4th. A deep snow on the ground. 
JSOO. January I. The winter thus far has been remarkably open; 
there having been very little ice in the Delaware and that very thin. 

6th, 7th and 8th. Mornings and nights very cold — much ice in 
the Delaware. 

18th. Delaware clear of ice. 

24th. A smart snow on the ground— this day warm, tlic snow- 
soon melted. 

25th. A little snow. 

29th. Last night coldest this season — tlie Delaware being frozen 
from side to side, though very little in it last evening. 

31st. Tremendous storm of snow and wind, N. E. by E. 

February 9. Deep snow on the ground. 28th, snow. 

March 8th. Snow without intermission for 25 hours, near two 
feet upon a level. 

December 23. The weather, except some cold nights, has been 
remarkably open. No ice in the Delaware — this day being remark- 
ably warm for the season — such a season not being remem- 
bered since the British army were here in 1777 and '78. 

1801. January 3. As cold as remembered for many years. 
7th. Earthquake and meteor at Pittsburg. 

March 2. This and for 8 days past remarkably warm and fine 
for the season. Buds on the gooseberry bushes; frost generally out 
of the ground ; but little ice in the Delaware, and some weeks none. 
Unusual quantities of rain fell. 

May 4. A smart snow on the ground. 

November 12. At midnight the shock of an earthquake. 

December 31. Very little cold weather thus far this season — 
began to snow in the afternoon. 

1802. January 15. No ice to impede navigation, and even the ponds 
have not been frozen to bear. 30th, weather moderate— many 
shrubs put forth leaves and blossoms — one fall of snow during the 
month. 

February 4th, 5th and 6th. Coldest weather this winter — free- 
zes hard. 1 7th. A shad in market. 2-Zd. No obstruction this 
winter except floating ice this day for a few hours — snow storm. 
23d. Heavy storm of wind, N. E. coldest weather. 

March 26. Show. 

December 19. River fast. 21st, completely frozen. 22d, 23d 
and 24th, a general thaw — navigation open. 

1803. January 3. Snow. 22d, river full of ice ; navigation stopped. 
February 9. Very heavy fog for several days. 16th, snow. 
March 2. Snow. 7th, snow. 37th, snow. 

April 16. Snow. 

November 9. Frost. Dryest time for many years. Pumps in 
Abingdon dry. 

December 22. Coldest day this winter. 

1804. January 1. The most open, moderate weather for the season, 
remembered for many years ; not the least sign of ice in the Dela* 



588 Seasons and Climate^ 

ware ; little or none in the Schuylkill. Vessels come and go us hi 
sunimer. 

10th and llth. Some ice in the docks, and on Jersey shore. 
Boys skating on ponds for the first time this winter. 

13th. Some ice in the Delaware. Son)e snow. 

14th. A little ice in the Delaware. 

1 6th. Considerable ice made in Delaware last night. 

19th. Snow — sleighing. 

31st. The Delaware full of ice. 22d, snow. 

33d. The deepest snow remembered for several winters. River 
full of ice. 

35th. Ice in the Delaware stopped ; good skating on it. Water 
froze in bed-chambers last night for the first time this season. 

37th. Skating on the Delaware. 

February 5. Ice in the Delaware afloat. 

34th. Deep snow on ground. 38th, light snow. 

March 3. Snow ; heavy snow on the ground. 

5. Delaware full of ice ; ice at Burlington strong enough to 
cross upon, 

6th. Ice in the Delaware stopped, 

7th. Delaware tolerably clear of ice, high wind having driven it 
ashore- Wood very scarce and dear; from 10 to 13 dollars a cord. 

But few signs of vegetation before the 15th April. 

During the winter the thermometer stood for many days at 4 and 
6 deg. above 0- Medium depth of snow 3 feet. 

December 18. Delaware obstructed by ice. 
i805. February 28. Delaware navigable. 

March 2. No ice to be seen. 

Winter variable and peculiar ; intense cold, deep snow, hail, 
sleet, high wind, and heavy rain. 

October 7. Frost. 

December 28th and 29th. Thus far the season has been remark- 
ably favourable. Very little ice either in the gutters or elsewhere. 

30th. The country people were ploughing yesterday in different 
parts of the country ; very little skating even on the ponds, for boys. 

1806. January 6. First snow of consequence this season. 
9th. Quantities of ice in the river. 

13th. Vessels come up to the Hook. 

15th. Coldest day this season. 

18th. River not yet fast ; great quantities of ice ; Schuylkill fast, 

19th. Snow. 21st, sleighing for a week past. 

27th. Vessels pass up and down. 

February 1. River free of ice. 

March 7. Snow. 19th, snow. 23d and 24th, snow. 26th, snow. 

October 17. Frost. 

December 4. Snow. 5th, sleighing in the valley. 1 1th, snow. 
12th, sleighing in the city for the first time this season. 18th, river 
so full of ice as to stop navigation. 20th, river navigable. 22 d, 
vessels came up. 3 1 st, coldest night ; froze in a stove room window. 

1807. January 12. Some ice in the river. 

14. Navigation stopped by great quantities of ice. 



Seasons and Climate. 589 

)Hih, snow last night; sleighing. 20th, river still being full of ice, 
no passing up or clown ; very cold for three days past. 21st, river 
fast, and so continued till 

Februarys. When it drove — full of ice. 5 th, snow. 7th, very 
eold — river fast again. 9th. It is remarked, that the weather for 4 
or 5 days has been the coldest known for several years past. 14th, 
ice broke up at Trenton; fears entertained for the bridge. 15th, 
ice drives — vessels sail. 29th, Schuylkill broke up ; great quanti- 
ties of ice driven down. 

March 5. Snow. 14th, snow and rain. 29th, snow and rain. 
.Tlst, snow. 

November 17. Snow. 25th, snow. 

December 18. River has not been impeded by ice up to this date. 

1808. January 11. Navigation still open. Uth, snow, sleighing. 15th, 
great quantities of ice in the river. 16th, river not quite fast. 20th, 
much ice in the river. 28th, snow. 

February 1. Heavy rain. 5th, snow. 1 4th, snow. 20th, snow. 
October 19. Frost. 29th, white frost and ice. 
November 28. Snow. 

December 7. Snow. 8th, skim ice in the docks. 2fith, ground 
covered with snow. 

1809. January 3. New Castle packet returned on account of spray 
freezing on rigging ; navigation stopped at Whitehall. 5th, inter- 
rupted here. 9th. snow; great quantities of ice driving out of the 
Delaware ; much ice drifting at Cape May. loth, grovmd covered 
with snow. 1 1th, heavy fog. 13th, an arrival — the last till 25th — 
much ice made last night. Uth, a brig drifting in the ice at Bom- 
bay Hook. 15th, some snow ; fine skating on the pavements. 22d, 
deep snow on the ground. S5th, Last night the coldest this season. 
Delaware nearly frozen over. 26th, snow 8 inches deep. 

February 5. Snow. 7th, snow, 9th, much ice in the river. 
10th, a fog, skating on the Delaware; sleighing. Uth, hail. 18th, 
fog. 20th, good skating on the river below Pine street ; from thence 
to Callowhill, before the city, is and has been open for some time. 
Wood brought from the island in boats, being taken there from 
Jersey in sleds upon the ice, having been frozen on that side for 
many weeks. Snow — on the 1 8th, the ice in Brandy wine broke 
up with a great swell, and carried away part of the bridge. 

27th. Men employed by merchants to cut the ice from Pine 
street to Gloucester point — above being clear to Callowhill street — 
above that, and between the island and Jersey, fast. 

28th. Heavy white frost. 

March 4. Snow on ground. 6th, snow. 13th, snowed all day. 
Flocks of birds which passed to the northward early last week re- 
turned to the southward. Uth, snow, the deepest this winter, being 
18 inches. 18th, windows and doors open; first shad in market. 
24th, ice on south side of street; thus far the spring very backward. 
26th, froze in the shade all day. 28th and 29th, freezing. 31st, 
blue birds whistling in every direction. 

November 24. Strange to tell to future generations, snow about 
one foot deep, and tolerable good sleighing; a circumstance not 



■t90 Seasons and Climate. 

kno-.vn lor many years, if ever, in this land. It snowed also 9 inche.s 
on the 19th inst. 25th, sleighs and sleds in market; this morning 
at sunrise, the river Schuylkill, above and below the permanent 
bridge, was frozen over ; a similar circumstance has not occurred 
for many years at so early a period. 30th, heavy white frost, and 
skim ice. 

December. A snow-storm at the capes. 

1810. January 20th. Ice in the Delaware for first time this season, 
being the most open recollected for many years, there not having 
even been skating on the ponds; similar to I8u2; water froze in 
bed-chamber for first time ; I have known 2 winters in which navi- 
gation has not been interrupted by ice ; not even a single cake : 
Schuylkill frozen over: 2 1st, Delaware stopped about noon, and 
boys skating in afternoon ; also on the 22d, ice remarkably thick 
and strong ; a vessel drifting in the ice, deserted by her crew, near 
Wilmington. 26lh, snow. 27th, snow 5 or G inches deep ; tolerable 
sleighing. 31st, river still fast. 

February 3, Snowed all day, and sleighing. 11th, ice disap- 
peared below; vessels preparing for departure. 14th. snow. 16th, 
ice began to float in Delaware. 17th, wasting fast. 18th, fog, and 
a N. E. wind drove ice on shore; ice not come down from the Falls. 
19th, vessels get up. 20th, ice from the Falls came down; river 
very full of broken ice. 21st, Delaware entirely clear of ice and 
several arrivals. 26th, large lumps and cakes of ice from above 
the Falls. 

March 11. Rain and snow. 12th, houses covered with snow. 
1 4th, herrings in market. 17tl), ice 1-3 of an inch thick; a shad in 
market. 24th, snow 3^ inches. 28th, spits of snow. 29th, snow. 
51st, ice thickness of a dollar. 

November 1 . First snow this season. 2d and 3d, snow. 4th, 
froze hard. 17th. This day has been cool and clear, after two of 
rainy weather, during which time there was a heavy gale of wind 
from the eastward, which raised the river higher than for some years 
back. 19th. Rain again began last night, and continued to-day very 
fast; the meadows overflowed, and some of the wharves and stores 
injured. 23d, snow most of the day. 

December 3. Snow last night and this morning. 9th, skating 
on the ponds for the first time. > 5th, skim ice in the Delaware ; 
first this season ; some of it an inch thick, and very sharp ; several 
vessels sailed. 18th, Delaware froze from side to side, and the nav- 
igation completely stopped. 19th, ice in Delaware broke up this 
afternoon. 20th, several vessels sailed ; ice much broken, and 
drove on shore. 21st, Delaware very full of broken ice. 2 2d, rain 
and heavy fog; ice much gone. 24th, Many vessels sailed yester- 
day and to-day; Delaware entirely clear of ice. 31st, snow. 

1811. January 4. Snow. 7th, to this date river free of ice. 8th, heavy 
fog. 9th, rain. 1 1th, light snow. 12th and 13th, snow and rain. 
16th, hail and rain; slippery pavements ; boys skating on them. 
29th, ice in the river. 30th, snow. 

Februai-y 3d and 4th. Rain and snow. 5th and 6th, ditto ; ground 
well covered. 7th, snow last night and this morning, deepest this 



Seasons and Climate. 591 

winter. 12th, snow. 17th and 1 8lh, snow. 19th, coldest day this 
season by 3°. Thermometer i9°. 20th, Delaware covered with 
ice. 23d, snow most of the day ; distrcssinsj time lor wood ; none 
to be purchased. 25th, thaws. 26th, mucli ice in Delaware. 

March 6. Snow. 12th, fo'^gy. 13th, warm for the season — 
like spring. Utii, shad in market. 18th, liigh wind. 34th, rain, 
with thunder and lightning. 

October 10. Heavy fog W. S. W. Thermometer 72. The 
comet has appeared every evening for two weeks past, about two 
o'clock, A. M. or 6 or 7 P. M. 

November 26. Hard frost for the season. 

December 2. Frost. Second growth of apples at Washington, 
Pa. 3d, moderate for the season. 7th. The weather has been re- 
markably moderate for the season to tliis date, though a great deal 
of rain has fallen within a month pasi, but no snow. 13th, snow. 
14th, ditto. 4 inches. 19th, coldest day this season. 20, coldest 
night this season. 2 1st, snow ; ice in Delaware quite thick. 24th, 
snow last night — very hard gale of wind — freezes hard. 25th, full 
of ice. 

1812. January 12. River fast. 16th, much drifting ice — snow last 
night four inches deep. 18th, river fast again. 19th and 20th, snow 
and sleighing. 2 2d, much ice from Bombay Hook. 23d, earth- 
quake at Lewistown. 27th, thaws, but river fast ; heavy fogs ; 3 1st, 
very foggy ; river fast. 

February 4. Heavy gale of wind last night ; the ice driving this 
morning ; a remarkable rumbling noise like thunder about twelve 
o'clock. 7th, several shocks of an earthquake this morning at quar- 
ter before 4 o'clock. 8th, river free ; vessels came up ; two schoo- 
ners in the ice yesterday below Reedy Island. 1 1th, snow. 16th, 
snow and hail. 2 st, snow. 23d, snow and rain. 25th, snow. 

March 8. Hail and snow. 

November 19. Snow, a little. 24th, a very hard gale; blew 
down several chimnies and fences ; Maffet's Letter of Marque brig 
upset in it, and sixteen drowned. 

December 9. Snow, the first of any consequence. 21st, Schuyl- 
kill fast, and Delaware full of ice. 25th, river navigable — vessels 
sailed to-day. 

1813. January 9. Some snow. 1 1th, vessels at Reedy Island ice 
bound; river full of ice. 13th, river fast. 15th, snow in the night 
and this morning one foot deep, sleighing plenty — good bottom. 
19th, thaws. 20th, rain and snow. 26th, snow. 28th, snow. 30th, 
river fast. 

February 4th and 6th, thaws fast. 10th, rain and snow. 12th, 
snow. 20th, snow. 22d, snow. 26th, vessels sailed ; river navigable. 

March 7. Snow most of the day. 

October 10. Frost and ice. 14th, white frost. 21st, heavy frost. 

December 1 1 . The weather to this day has been very moderate 
^little or no snow, and no ice in the river. 1 9th, snow most of the 
day and night. 2 1st, snow about four inches deep. 

1814. January 9. Navigation stopped by ice. 13th, river fast. ;31st, do. 
— skating on it. 



592 Seasons and Climate. 

February 2. River drives — full of ice. 13th, vessels cunif up- 

November 8. Heavy white frost. 

December 6. Fre&h pound butter sold at fifty cents. lOtb, snow. 
15th, much floating ice in the Delaware. 16th, thaw. 21st, sliim ice 
in Delaware. 32d, increase of ice. 24th, ice gone and vessels sail- 
ing. 26th, some ice in Delaware. 27ih, river full of ice. 

1815. January 6. Considerable ice in the Delaware. 7th, river full of 
ice, floating. 10th, ice is much broke and wasted. 14th, much ice 
in Delaware. 22d, snow. 30th, ice in the Delaware stopped and 
strong. 31st, Delaware hard frozen, and boys skating on it. 

February 2 Sleighs and sleds bring wood to South street wharf- 
8th, fine sleighing, lith, ground well covered with snow. 13th, 
fine sleighing — a good and complete road across the Delawai-e from 
Southwark to James Kaighn's wharf— large quantities of wood 
brought over in sleds, carts and wagons, and now selling at ten dol- 
lars. 16th, ground covered with a light snow ; thewcather on Tues- 
day last was more severely cold throughout the day than any other 
• day within the recollection of the oldest inhabitants ; the thermom- 
eter at 8 A. M was 9 below °, at noon 6, at 9 P. M. 12 ; on the 
11th of January, 1813, it was for a little time at 11, but in a few 
hours rose to 3 below °. 18th, fine snow. 21st, strength of the ice 
weakening fast in the Delaware ; several ferry boats broke in, in 
crossing. 22d, snow. 24th, snow. 27th, wood scarce, at twelve to 
fourteen dollars for oak ; pine nine to ten dollars ; ice in Delaware 
continues firnj, and large quantities of wood brought over in sleds 
from Kaighn's ferry to Southwark. 

March 1. Ice in Delaware weakening; sleds break in ; poor suf- 
fer much. 2d, a fog on the river. 5th, ice in the Delaware began 
to move about 5 A. M. to the great joy of the inhabitants. 6th, Del- 
aware nearly clear of ice ; five boat loads of river fish, rock and 
perch, came up ; about 500 suckers were taken in a shad net at 
one haul on Saturday about eight or nine miles up Schuylkill, a 
mode of fishing not commonly used at this season; a very great 
fresh on the river yesterday, to-day has completely cleared the ice. 
13th, two shad in market, sold at one dollar and fifty cents each. 
14th, river fish plenty and reasonable ; no shad to-day. 

1816. January 18. Schuylkill Falls bridge fell, having, it is calculated; 
about thirty tons of snow upon it 

February 28. First shad in market — sold at one dollar. 

1817. January 14. First snow. 16th, the first snow this season to 
cover the ground, fell in Marlsboro' township, Chester county, three 
quarters of an inch deep. 17th, rain and lightning; the Susque- 
hanna frozen the second time this season at Wilkesbarre. 19th, 
river closed. 

March 9. River opened. 

1818. January 31. River closed. 

February 28. The ice in the Delaware gave way a few minutes 
past 2 o'clock. 

December. River obstructed by ice. 
i.819. January 1. River in a fair way to be cleared of the ice which 
has for some time obstructed the navigation. 2d, river in a great 



^Seasons and Ciimaft'. 59S 

jueasure freed from ice— weather unusually mild, clear and pleasant 
wind west, 4th, river partially open — occasional arrivals and de- 
partures. 5th, river free from ice. 6th, do. much obstructed by 
floating ice from above— weather very mild. 7th, permits vessels 
to depart. 8th, much obstructed by ice. 9th, filled with ice. 1 Uh, 
river partially open — some ice until 26th, then free. 2 5th, no frost 
for a week past, and what was in the ground dissolved — fire disa- 
greeable at Indiana, Pa. — a snake basking in the sun, 

February 12, N. E. snow-storm, continued till dusk, about twelve 
inches deep, 18th, snow, 

October 25, Snow at Lancaster, which whitened the roofs ot 
houses. 

December. Entries and clearances through the month. 

1820. January 1. Much ice at Reedy Island, Cth, outward vessels 
got to sea from the Island. 16th, river broke up by a storm. 1 7th, 
high tide — wharves overflowed and covered with drifting ice. 20th, 
first arrival since the 4th. 27th, vessel at Cohanzey could not get 
up for the ice. 

February 4. Bay full of ice. 16th, arrivals. 
December. Arrivals and clearances. 

1821. January 4. Two vessels in the ice off" Bombay Hook — a great 
deal of ice in the bay. 6th and 7th, snow-storm from the N. E. It 
began at Philadelphia, 6 o'clock, of from 18 to 2i inches deep ; 
New York, 8 o'clock; Baltimore about noon; Washington, 8 o'clock. 
1 Ith, 4 vessels reached Marcus Hook on Sunday. 20lh, thermome- 
ter at 3° above zero ; at the same hour on the 19th, it was 3° below °. 
24th, 12° above °, morning, 10 do. 2 P. M. 6 do. sunset, 4° below 
°, midnight, 25th, maximum in the night 7 below °, At 8 A. M. 
6 do. 3 cows frozen to death yesterday near the city — weather 
very severe. 27th. This was considered the coldest night at Reading 
ever experienced. Sleighing for the last two weeks. 

February 14. The Delaware is completely navigable. Several 
vessels came up, being the first arrivals since 1 2th January. 

September 1 5. Steamboats ceased running on account of the ice. 

December 19. River quite clear of ice. 
1 322. January 3. Outward bound fleet left Chester, Marcus Hook, &c. 
yesterday. Much ice in Ladd's cove. 8th, skating on Schuylkill — 
vessel driving in the ice. 

February 23. Freshet in Schuylkill— Fall's bridge carried over 
the dam. 

December 3, First snow this season at Mauch Chunk. 26th, 
arrivals. 

1823. January 22. The navigation of the Delaware is no longer ob- 
structed by ice— a fresh in the Schuylkill. On yesterday morning 
the water was 3 feet perpendicular at the over-fall, and by sunset 
only 2 ! inches — the ice above the dam remains fast. 

October 31. On Saturday last, snow at Wilkesbarre, mountains 
incased by it — in some places 2 inches deep. 
December. -Arrivals. 

1824. January. A slight fall of snow covered the pavements. One or 
two sleighs seen in the streets. 

A H 



•3.9-i Seasons ami Climate'. 

Decciubei'. Arrivals through the month. 
1825. February 14. A May day. The Delaware as free from ice as 
in July. 

October 19. Mountains at Gettysburg covered with snow. 25th, 
Tuesday morning last, the mountains at Chambersburg covered 
with snow, first time this season. Ten days before the thermome- 
ter ranged for several days at 80. 

December 28. Several vessels in the ice, below, notwithstand- 
ing, arrivals and clearances. 
I 826. January. River free from ice — a dense fog. 27th, Pittsburg 
rivers closed with ice. 30th, the most considerable snow in this 
city the present winter. Average depth, three or four inches. 
31st, river closed. 

February 3. Skating on the Delaware and Schuylkill. 8th, 
Delaware opened. 

December. Arrivals and clearances. 

1827. March 17. Shad in Reading at 75 cents. 
December. Navigation opened all the month. 

1828. During the winter the navigation has been uninterrupted. The 
ice houses were unfilled, and several cargoes of ice arrived, and 
were sold here from the Eastward during the spring. 

November 1 4. Slight snow — as also for a few moments a day or 
two preceding. 

December 24. There has as yet been no ice in the canals to 
impede navigation, and boats are continually passing to and fro at 
Reading. 27th, thus far the navigation has remained open — no ice 
either in Delaware or Schuylkill — skating in small ponds in the 
cool mornings. 

The Climate of Fhiladelphia and adjacent country, 

Has been much investigated by Dr. Benjamin Rush in 1789, and 
revised in 1805. The facts of which may be consulted at large in 
Hazard's Register of Pennsylvania, vol. 1, p. 151. 

Among his facts are these, to wit : The climate has undergone 
a niatci-ial change since the days of the founders — thunder and light- 
ning are less frequent ; cold of winters and heat of summers less 
uniform tiian tliey were 40 or 50 years before. The springs arc 
much colder and the autumns more temperate. He thinks the 
moan temperature may not have changed, but that the climate is 
altered by lieat and cold being less confined than formerly to their 
natural seasons. He thinks no facts warrant a belief that the win- 
ters were colder before the year 1740, than since that time. He 
observes, that there are seldom more than 20 or 30 days in sum- 
mer or winter in which the mercury rises above 80° in the former, 
or falls below 30° in the latter season. The higher the mercury 
rises in hot days, the lower it usually falls in the night. Thus, 
w hen at 80° by day, it falls to 66° at night ; or w hen at only 60° 
by day, it only falls to 56° at night. The greatest disproportion 
is most apparent in August. The warmest weather is generally 



Seasons and Climate. 593 

ill July ; but intense warm days arc often felt hi May, Jv,nc, 
August, and September. The variableness of weather in our 
State, he observes, lies south of the 41% and beyond that, the 
winters are steady, and in character witli the eastern and nortiioni 
States. Our intense cold seldom sets in till about the 20th or 25tU 
of December, — "as the day lengtiiens the cold strengthens." — so 
that the coldest weatlier is commonly in January. The greatest cold 
he has known at Philadelphia, was 5° below zero, and the greatest 
heat 95°. The standard tempei-aturc of the city is 522°. The 
month of June is the only month which I'esemblcs a spring mouth 
in the south countries of Europe. The autumn he deems our most 
agreeable season. The rains in October are the harbingers of the 
winter, so that, as the Indians also say, the degrees of cold in 
winter can be foreicnown by the measure of rain preceding it in 
the autumn. The moisture of air is greater now than formerly, 
owing probably to its now falling in rain, where it before fell in 
snow. Finally, he says, " We have no two successive years alike. 
Even the same successive seasons and months differ from each 
other every year. There is but one steady trait, and that is, it h 
uniformly variable.'* 

Spring and Summer Occurrences, 

Being such notices of facts as were deemed rare for the season 
at the times affixed in tlie following memoranda, to wit : 
1736. April 22. Hail-storm near the city — hail as large as 

pigeons' eggs. 
1750. May. This is the coldest May ever known. Several 

frosts, and some snow. 
1772. April 2. Fell in several places six inches snow. 
1783. May. A heavy hail-storm, believed the heaviest ever 

known here — did not extend far in width — stones fell of half 

an ounce — many windows were broken. 
1786. May. Remarkable for the absence of the sun for two weeks 

and a constantly damp or rainy weather. 

1788. August 18th and 19th. There fell 7 inches of rain. 

1789. This spring remarkably backward — peaches failed — no 
cherries or strawberries — quite uncomfortable to sit without 
fires until June. 

In July. Very hot weather — by 10 o'clock A. M. the meats 
in the market putrify, and the city Mayor orders them cast 
into the river — merchants shut np their stores — thermometer 
at 96' for several days— in August fires became agreeable. 
1793. April 1. Blossoms on fruit trees are universal in the city 
— birds appeared two weeks earlier than usual. 

May 22. To end of the month a continuance of wet and 
cloudy weather — wind mostly at north-east, and so cool that 
fire was necessary most of tiie time — the summer of this year 
was the '' Yellow Fever" calamity. 



59G Seasons and Cliinak. 

1796. July 26. The most plentiful harvest rcincinbcred. 
I79r. April 7. The peaches and apricots in blossom. 
1799. Aprils. Frost last night. 11th. Some ice in the gutters. 
20th. Some ice in the morning. 

June 6. Black and white frost in the Neck. 

1801. May 28. Hay liarvcst near the city. 

1802. April. Several frosts tliis month and in May — fires 
agreeable. 

1803. May 7. Ice — on tlie 8th, a snow which broke down the 
po])lars and other trees in leaf — on the 15th, a fire was neces- 
sary. 

1805. Summer — no rain after the middle of June, all through 
July — heat 90 to 96 degrees — pastures burnt up and summer 
vegetables failed. 
1807. April 3. Snow. 

June 13. Fire necessary. 

August and September. The influenza prevailed. 

1809. April 13. The houses covered with snow like winter. 
26. Ice as thick as a dollar. 

May 6. Ice. 13th. Grass frozen. 30th. Frost — the cool- 
est May remembered for many years. 

1810. April 1. Snow on the ground. 3d. Spits of snow. 
May 13. White frost for several mornings. This year 

w as remarkable for its abundance and excellence of fruits. 

1811. July 3. Warm dry weather for some time — Indian corn 
suffers — a finer dry hay harvest not remembered — between 
Sd and 9th, hot weather continued from 94 to 97°. 

1812. April 13. Snow and rain. 

May 4. Rain and snow. 8th. Frost. 22d. The spring 

very backward — fires necessary. 
1816. June 5. Frost. 10th. So severe as to kill beans. 11th. 

Severe frosts at Downingstown — destroyed whole fields of 

corn. 
1818. July 22. Monday last rain fell 4 inches. 

1824. July 20. Storm of rain and hail at Chester. 

— 28. Unprecedented fall of rain near Philadelphia- 
doing much damage to bridges, &c. 

1825. June 11. Severe heat at 2 o'clock — thermometer at 96' 
in the shade. 

1827. July 20. Peaches, pears and phimbs in market. 

Indian Summer. 

This was a short season of very fine mild weather, which was 
formerly n uch moie manifest than of later years. It was expected 
to occur in the last days of November. It was a bland and genial 
time, in which the birds, the insects, and the plants, felt a new 
creation, and sported a short-lived summer, ere they shrunk finally 



SeasoHS and Climate. 59- 

iVom the rigour ol' the winter's blast. The sky in the mean time, 
was always tliinly veiled in a murky haze— intercepting tlie direct 
rays of the sun, yet passing enoiigli of light and heat to prevent 
sensations of gloom or chill. 

The aged have given it as their tradition, that the Indians, long 
aware of such an annual return of pleasant days, were accustomed 
to say '*they always had a second summer of nine days justbeiorc 
the winter set in.*' From this cause, it was said, the white inhabi- 
tants, in early times, called it the " Indian summer." It was the 
favourite time, it was said, of the Indian harvest, when they looked 
to gather in their corn. 

The known amenity of such a season was fixed upon, in olden 
time, as the fittest time for the great fair at Philadelphia, which 
opened on the last Wednesday in November, and continued thi?e« 
days : thus insuring, as tlicy conceived, as many good days before 
and after tiie term, foi- good travelling to and from the same. Tiie 
fair in the last week of May, was also chosen for its known settled 
weather. 

Weather Prognostics. 

A curious old almanac of our country, of the year 1700, gives 
the following rules for prognosticating the weather, to wit : 

The resounding of the sea upon the shore, and the murmur of 
winds in the w oods without apparent wind, shew wind is to follow. 
A murmur out of caves portendeth the same. 

The obscuring of the smaller stars is a sign of tempest. Also, 
if the stars seem to shoot, winds will come from that quarter the 
star came from. 

The often changing of the wind sheweth tempests. 

If two rainbows appear, it will rain." A rainbow presently af- 
ter rain, denotes fair weather. 

If the sky be red in the morning, it is a sure token of winds or 
rain, or both, because those vapours which cause the redness will 
presently be resolved. 

If the sun or moon look pale, then look for rain. If fair and 
bright, expect fair weather. If red, winds will come. If a dark 
cloud be at sun rising, in which the sun is soon after hidden, it will 
dissolve it, and rain will follow. If there appear a cloud and after 
vapours are seen to ascend upon it, that portendeth rain. If the sun 
seem greater in the East than common, it is a sign of rain. If in 
the West, about sun setting, there appear a black cloud, it will rain 
that night or the day following, because that cloud will want heat 
to disperse it. 

If mists come down from the hills, or descend from the heavens 
and settle in the vallies, it promiseth fair hot weather. Mists in 
the evening show a hot day on the morrow ; the like when white 
mists arise from the waters in the evening. 



598 Seasons and Climate. 

The circles that api>car about tlic sun, if they be i-ed and broken, 
it poi'teiideth wind. If thick and dark, it shows winds, snow or 
rain — which are also presaged by the circles about the moon. 

White and lagged clouds appearing like horses manes and tails, 
Coretelletli great winds — even as the sailors long have said, viz. 

Shagged clouds — like an old marc's tail, 
Make lofty ships — to carry low sail. 

Thunder in the morning, if it be to the south-westward, and the 
w ind be tijere, denotes, many times, a tempestuous day ; also, a 
rainbow or water gall in the West, denotes a stormy w^t day. 
The '"sun dogs" appearing in the morning or evening, is a sign 
of cold, wet, windy weather — especially in winter time. 

To the foregoing wc might add, as a weatiier proverb of long 
standing and observation in our country, that the 17th and 18th of 
March have always been periods of memorable time. On the 17th, 
being St. Patrick's day, '' he turns up the warm side of the stone" 
— indicating warm weather must soon follow; and on the 18th, 
'• Shelah comes draggle tail'd," i. e. brings a wet day. In 1760, 
however, they concerted to bring together a most tremendous snow- 
storm. Wc add the following modern rule as a 

Weather Denoter. 

A wet summer is always followed by a frosty winter, but it hap- 
pens occasionally that the cold extends no farther. Two remark- 
able instances of this occurred in 1807-8 and 1813-14. With these 
exceptions every frosty winter has been followed by a cold summer. 
The true cause of cold, or rather the direct cause, is to be found in 
the winter excess of west wind, every winter with excess of west 
wind being followed by a cold summer ; and if there is no cold be- 
fore, or during a first excess, then a second excess of west wind in 
winter occasions a still colder summer than the first. It also ap- 
pears, by repeated experience, that cold does not extend to more 
than two years at a time. Again, if the winter excess of the east 
wind be great, in the first instance, the winters will be mild, and 
followed by mild summers ; while the summer excess of east wind 
is itself, in the first instance, always mild ; but uniformly followed 
by cold winters and cold summers, which continue, more or less, 
for one or two years, according to circumstances. 



MEDICAL. SUBJECTS. 



To note — the thousand ills 
Which flesh and blood assail. 

UNDER this liead it is intended to com])i'ise such facts as have 
.ome to our knowledge i'csj)ccting early diseases ; to name some 
of the plants in use as remedies in primitive days ; and to cite some 
facts concerning some of the earliest named physicians. 

Of Febrile Diseases. 

1687 — Phineas Pemherton, in his MSS. states, tliat a great 
mortality occurred at the Falls of Delaware, (in 1687) occasioned 
by " the great land flood and rupture." 

1699 — Isaac Norris, sen. leftamonghis papers a record, saying, 
*' About the time of tlic harvest proved the hottest summer he had 
ever before experienced. Several persons died in the field with 
the violence of the heat. In the autumn of the same yeai* the town 
was visited by a very destructive fever ; — he says of it : This is 
quite the Barbadoes distemper — [i. e. the yellow fever of modern 
times.] tliey void and vomit blood. There is not a day nor night has 
passed for several weeks but we have tlie account of the death or sick- 
ness of some friend or neighbour. It hath been sometimes very sick- 
ly ; but I never before knew it so mortal as now — nine persons lay 
dead in one day at the same time — very few recover. AH business 
and trade down. The fall itself was extremely moderate and 
open. "* Five of his own family died. 

Thomas Story, a public Friend and the Recorder of the city, 
has also sjjoken of this calamity in his Journal, as being a scourge 
which carried off from six to eight of the inhabitants daily, and 
visiting the most of the families. '* Great was the fear (says he) 
that fell upon all flesh! I saw no lofty or airy countenances, nor 
heard any vain jesting ; but every face gathered paleness, and 
many hearts were humbled." 

The whole number which died was about 220, of whom about 
80 to 90 were of the Society of Friends. 

1717 — The summer of this year is mentioned in the letter of 

• In a letter of subsequent date he says, that " three years after" the same disease be- 
came a scourge at New York, " such as they had never seen before ! Some hundreds died, 
and many left the town for many weeks, so tlral the town was almost left desolate." 



600 Medical Subjects. 

Jonathan Dickinson, as a time in which was '• great prevalence ot" 
fever and ague in the country parts adjacent to Philadelphia." 

1741 — The summer of this year is called a time of great sicklies 
in Philadelphia — Vide Secretary Peters' MS. letter to the proprie- 
tary, to wit: It was called the "'Palatine distemper," hecause 
prevailing among the German emigrants, prohahly from their con- 
finement on shipboard. The iidiahitants were much alarmed and 
fled to country towns and places, and the country people, in equal 
fear, avoided to visit the city. From June to October, 250 persons 
tlied — others of course recovered. Noah Webster, speaking of this 
sickness, says, after tlie severe winter the city was severely visi- 
ted with ''the American plague." The same disease Doctor Bond 
has said was yellow fever, supposed to have been introduced by 
a loarl of sick people from Dublin. 

1743 — Some of it also again prevailed in Philadelphia, says 
Secretary Peters, while at the same time, just such another disease 
visited New York, and was there considered as certainly " not im- 
ported." Joel Neaves' case, who died of it at Philadelphia, was 
thus described, " He had a true genuine yellow fever with black 
vomit and spots, and suppression of urine — all this from overheat- 
ing himself in a very hot day, by rowing a boat. He also gave 
it to others about him, and they to others — yet but few of them 
died." 

1747 — Noah Webster, in his work on Pestilence, says, ''This 
year the city was again visited by bilious plague", preceded by 
influenza. 

February, 1748, is said by said Peters' letters, was a time of 
great mortality in all the provinces; it was called " the Epidemic 
Pleurisy." It thinned the country so much that it was said that 
servants, to fill the places of others in town a)id country, were 
bought in great numbers as fast as they arrived. Tiie Indians 
were afraid to come to a treaty by reason of the sickness. It stopt 
suddenly before the summer came. 

1754 — I perceive by the Gazettes that there were many deaths 
by reason of the " Dutch distemper." 

1755 — It had often happened that the servants coming from 
Germany and Holland, after being purchased, cummunicated a 
very malignant fever to whole families and neighbourhoods, 
where they went. It was of such frequent occurrence as to be cal- 
led in the Gazettes the " Dutch distemper." This year I find it 
stated, that it is now settled "to be precisely the disease known 
as the "gaol fever." 

Of Smallpox. 

This loathsome and appalling disease was of much more peril 
to our forefathers, than to us in our better management now ; to 
the poor Indians it was terrific and destructive. 

The happy art of inoculation was first practised in Philadelphia 



Medical Sitbjecls. 6i).\ 

in the year IfSl ; and tlie first person of note, who then devoted 
himself as a forlorn hope for the purpose of example, was J. 
Growden. Esq. The circumstance, with his character in life as a 
])uhlic othcer in higii standing, made his house a place of after-noto- 
riety, and is the same venerable and respectable looking building 
(when you can see it !) now in the rear of some two or three small 
houses, since put up in south Fourth street vis a vis to the first 
alley below High sti'eet. It was then a dignified two story large 
house with a rural court yard in front. 

The terror of inoculation was not such in Philadelphia at any 
time, as seized upon our brethren of New England, and of Boston 
in particular, in 1721, when their doctor, Z. Boyleston, had his 
life menaced, his person assaulted in tl»e streets, and loaded with 
execrations for having dared with scientific Iiardihood to inoculate 
his only son and two of his negroes.* Even sober, pious people 
were not wanting there to regard it as an act of constructive mur- 
der, in case the patient died. 

We also had had our public attempts, growing out of tlie ahove 
facts, to forestall the public mind, and to create a religious preju- 
dice against the attempt at inoculation. Our Weekly Mercury 
of 1st January. 1722, contains the sermon of the Rev. Mr. Masley, 
who preached and published against the inoculation of the smallpox, 
wliich he calls an unjustifiable art, an infliction of an evil, and » 
distrust of God's overruling care to procure us a possible future 
good ! 

Under such circumstances it hecame a cause of some triumph in 
Philadelphia to publicly announce the success of the experiment on 
J. Growden, Esq. made in the Gazette of March, 1731, to wit : 
" The practice of inoculation for the smallpox begins to grow 
among us. J. Growden, Esq. the first patient of note tliat led 
the way, is now upon the recovery !" 

1701— Is tlie first mentioned occurrence of smallpox in the city 
of Philadelphia. In that year one of the letters in the Logan MSS. 
says *'the smallpox was very mortal and general." As early as 
1682 the vessel that brought out William Penn had the small- 
pox on board, which proved fatal to many while at sea. 

1726 — A ship from Bristol, England, with passengers, had 
many down with the smallpox, but they, with George Warner the 
informant, being landed at the Swedes' church below the towne, 
and conducted through the woods to the "blue house tavern," 
out South street, all got well without communicating to the inhab- 
itants of the city. 

1730 — Was called tlie '^ great mortality from the smallpox." 
That year there died of it, George Claypole and his five children 
He was a lineal descendant from the Lord Genei*al Claypole, who 

• This was the same year it was fu-st attempted in England, after the Turkish 
•ipon the daughter of the celebrated Lady Montague. 
4 I 



QQ& Medical Subjects. 

married Crotnwell's daugliter. His wife Deborah liad to be 
up'\ ards of 90 years of age. Vide Logan MSS. 

1736-7 — There are some evidences of the progress of isio. ulation — 

for the Gazettes thus state the fact, to wit : Fi-om tlie fuil of 1736 

to the spring of 1737, there have been 129 persons inoculated, viz. 

Of whites — men and women 33 persons, 

under 12 years of age 64 

Of niulattoes 4 

Of negroes, young and old, ... 28 

Only one cliild died among all of the foregoing 129 ! The above 
account was framed from the then physicians of that day, to wit : 
Doctors Keajsiey, Zachary, Hooper, Cadwallader, Shippen, 
Bond, and Sommers — they being the only physicians who inocula- 
ted. Doctor Grseme had then no share in it, being himself con- 
fined with illness the whole time the disease was in town. 

1746 — Even at this late period religious scruples against the 
smallpox had not subsided : for I see in a MS. journal of John 
Smith, Esq. (son-in-law of James LogaiJ,) that lie thus intimates 
bis disapprobation of tiie measure, to wit : " Two or three persons 
(in one month) have the smallpox, having got it at New York. 
Inoculation he dislikes, because it seems clear to him that we who 
are only tenants, have no right to i)ull down the house that belongs 
only to the landlord who built it !" 

It was probably about this period of time that Thomas Jefferson 
■ — say about 1760 — came to Philadelphia on purpose to get inocu- 
lated for tlie smallpox, and was placed in a cottage house back from 
the city, near to the Schuylkill. It was then that Charles Thom- 
son first became acquainted with him ; and from him I derive this 
fact. 

Samuel Preston, Esq. an aged gentleman, has given me some 
ideas of the fatality of the smallpox among the Indians in Bucks 
county. It got among the Indians settled at Ingham spring, and 
as they used sweating for it, it proved fatal. Several of the In- 
dians, as they had never heard of the disease, thought it was sent by 
the whites for their ruin. Such as survived abandoned the place. 
Tedeuscung, the Delaware Chief, was among the latter. 

Of Plants used for Medicine. 

In the olden time the practice of medicine and the dependence of 
the people upon physicians in cases of ordinary sickness, were es- 
sentially different from the piesent. Physicians then were at 
greater expense for their education, with less compensation for 
services, than now. Then, all accredited physicians were accus- 
tomed to go to England or Scotland to prepare themselves. The 
people were much accustomed to the use of plants and herbs in cases 
of sickness ; and their chief resort to physicians was in calls of sur- 
gery or difficult cases of childbirth. As tlie druggist shops have 



*Meilicar Subjects. 6\)3 

sinco iiu'5v;vsotl in dnigs and mineral preparations, the use of herbs 
and roots have more and more declined. We have indeed since then 
brought the study of the names of plants into great repute under 
the imposing character of botanical lectures, but the virtue and 
properties arc too often abandoned for a mere classification of un- 
instructive names. In that day, every pliysician's house was his 
own drug shop, at which all his patients obtained their medicine. 
I have formerly seen aged persons, not possessing more than the 
ordinary knowledge of plants for family medicines, who could tell 
me. in a walk through the woods or fields, the medicinal uses of 
almost every slirub oi* weed we passed. It was indeed grateful to 
me to perceive that nothing around us seemed made in vain ! 

" Let no presuming impious railer tax 
Creative wisdom, as if aught was form'd 
In vain, or not for admirable ends." 

Thus, in the commons, the Jamestown weed was used, by smoking 
it in a pipe, for the asthma: the pokeberries, when ripe, and the 
juice di'ied in tlie sun. as a plaster of great virtue for the cancer ; 
sour dock root, made an ointment for itch and tetters ; burdock 
leaves, made drafts for the feet, to reduce and allay fevers, — tea 
from it was made into a wholesome tonic — the roots were also used ; 
the plant everlasting, much approved for poultices in drawing swel- 
lings to a head ; mullein was made a steam vapour to set over in 
cases of bowel diseases ; motherwort, was used in childbirth cases ; 
catmint tea, was used for colic : a vine which grows among field 
strawberi'ies, called cinque-foil, was used as a tesan for fevers * 
blackberry roots and berries were used for dysenieries. 

In the woods they also found medicines ; much of which knowledge 
was derived from the Indians, as G. Thomas, 1689, says "there arc 
also many curious and excellent herbs, roots and drugs of great vir- 
tue, which makes the Indians, by a right ajjplication of them, as able 
doctors and surgeons as any in Europe." The inner bark of the oak 
and of the wild ciierry tree were their tonics. Sassafras roots and 
flowers were used as pui'ifiers and thinners of tiie blood. They 
used the leaves of the beech tree for steeping the feet in hot water. 
Grapevine saj) they used to make the hair grow. Of the dogwood 
tree (its flowers or bark) they made a great cure for dysentery. 
The magnolia leaf they used as a tea to produce sweat ; the ber- 
ries put into brandy cured consumptions, and was a good bitter; 
the bark of it was used for dysenteries ; it could cure old sores, by 
burning the wood to charcoal and mixing the powder of it with 
hog's iard. They used the root of the bayberry bush to cure the 
toothach. The cedar tree berries were used as a tonic — to strength- 
en a weak spine — to destroy worms, kc. Golden-rod was deemed 
excellent for dysentery. Boneset, used for consumption and for 
agues ; s,weet fern for bowel complaints ; pennyroyal, excellent to 
produce sweats for colds ; dittany, for cure of a fever ; alder bud§< 



61*4 Medical Subjects. 

made a tea for purging the blood ; elder berries was used for pur- 
ges, and the inner bark to make ointment for burns and sores. It 
is needless to hint at even a few of the numerous plants cultivated 
in gardens and laid up in store against family illness,* Many are 
still known. It may suffice to say in conclusion, that they regard- 
ed the whole kingdom of vegetation as appointed for "the healing 
of the nations." It would be a most commendable adjunct of bota- 
ny, if to present exterior and superficial classification of plants, 
they would investigate and affix their uses.and virtues. 

Of Physicians. 

Those who came first among us in primitive days were generally 
from Great Britain. The names and characters of those we can 
occasionally see in the passing events of their day. may be general- 
ly summed up in the following brief recital, to wit : 

Thomas Wynn, an eminent Welsh physician, who had practised 
medicine several years with high reputation in London, and his brother, 
came to this country in 1 682 with the original settlers, located themselves 
in Philadelphia, and were the earhest physicians of the city. Dr. Grffith 
Owen arrived in the prime of life, and is said to have done the prin- 
cipal medical business in the city, where he was highly distinguished 
for his talents, integrity and zeal He died in 1717, about the age of 70 
years, and left a son who practised some time after his father's death.f 
Dr. Graeme came from Great Britain with the Governor, Sir William 
Keith, in the year 1717. He was about 30 years of age when he arrived, 
had an excellent education and agreeable manners, was therefore much 
employed as a practitioner, and greatly confided in by his fellow citizens- 
Dr. Loyd Zachary probably commenced the practice of medicine be- 
tween 1720 and 1730, and died in the year 1756, in the meridian of life, 
greatly and most deservedly lamented. He was one of the founders of, 
and a very liberal contributor to, both the college and the hospital. Dr. 
Kearslev, Sen. was for many years a very industrious practitioner both 
in medicine and surgery. He was not deficient in public spirit. The 
public are more indebted to him than to any other man for that respecta- 
ble edifice Christ Chuixh ; and by will he founded and endowed a hos- 
pital for poor widows. He educated Dr. John Redman, and Dr. John 
Bard, of New York. This eminent physician Dr. John Kearsley, had 
been so very popular in the Assembly, that on several occasions he has 
been borne home from the hall on the shoulders of the people; he died 
in 1772, at the age of 88 years, having been in the city since the year 
1711 — happily dying just three years before he could witness the out- 
rage oflFered to his respectable nephew Dr. John Kearsley, who was ob- 



* It was an annual coHcern of the ladies of the family at Norris' garden in Philadelphia, 
ID dry and lay up various herbs for medical purposes, to be civen away to the many who 
called for them. 

t Dr. Wynn also left a son-in-law, Dr. Jones, who enjoyed considerable repute as a phy- 
sician. Doctors Wynn and Owen were of the Society of Friends; the former was Speaker 
of the Assembly. To their names might have been added Dr. John Cioodson, chirurgeon, 
who was m the city at and before the year 1700. He was also of the Society- of Friends— 
also Dr. Hodgscm. 



Medical Subjects. 605 

noxious as a tory in 1775. Dr. Cadwallader Evans was one of the first 
pupils of Dr. Thomas Bond, and compleled his medical education in 
England. He was descended from a much venerated early settler, and 
had a great share of public spirit as well as of professional woi-ih. In 
1769 some observations appeared in the Gentlemen's Magazine, of 
London, from Dr. Kearsley, Jun. of Philadelphia, relative to angina 
77;fl//5-/2a, wliich prevailed in 1746 and I7b0. " It extended, " says the 
author, " through the neighbouring provinces with mortal rage, in oppo- 
sition to the united endeavours of the faculty. It swept off all before it, 
baffling every attempt to stop its progress, and seemed by its dire effects 
to be more like the drawn sword of vengeance to stop the growth of the 
colonies, than the natural progress of disease. Villages were alniost 
depopulated, and numerous parents were left to bewail the loss of tlieir 
tender offspring." An essay on the iliac passion, by Dr. Thomas Cad- 
wallader, a respectable physician in Philadelphia, appeared in the year 
1740, in which tnc author opposes with considerable talent and learning 
the then conmion mode of treating that disease. This was one of the 
earliest publications on a medical subject in America. Dr. Thonias 
Bond, about 17 54, was author of some useful medical memoirs, which 
were published in a periodical work in London. Phineas Bond, M. D. 
a younger brother of Thomas Bond, after studying medicine some time 
in Maryland, visited Europe, and passed a considerable time at the medi- 
cal schools of Leyden, Paris, London, and Edinburg. On his return he 
settled in Philadelphia, where he enjoyed a high reputation for many 
years. He was one of the founders of the college, now the University 
of Pennsylvania. About the middle of the 18th century Dr. Thomson 
published a discourse on the preparation of the body for the reception of the 
smallpox, and the manner of receiving the infection, as it was delivered in 
tlie public hall of the Academy before the trustees and others in Novem- 
ber, 1750. This production was highly applauded both in America and 
Europe, as at that period the practice of inoculation was on the decline. 
The author states that inoculation was so unsuccessful at Philadelphia 
that many were disposed to abandon the practice ; wherefore, upon the 
suggestion of the 1392d aphorism of Boerhave, he was led to prepare 
his patients by a composition of antimony and mercury, which he had 
constantly employed for twelve years with uninterrupted success. 

" It was reserved for the accomplished Dr. William Shippen, and Dr.\ 
John Morgan,* to construct a permanent foundation for the medical in- \ 
stitutions of our country. Both these gentlemen were natives of Phila- 
delphia, and after receiving the usual preparatory course of instruction, 

* Dr. Morgan was educated by the Rev. Mr. Finley at his school at Nottingham, and 
finished his studies in the Philadelphia Academy, having studied with Di-. Hedman he- 
went into the provincial array a short time in the French war. In 1760 he visited Europe 
generally, where he mixed much with the scientific men in London, Edinburg, Paris and 
Italy. On his return home he was regarded as something extra among the people, and as 
having perhaps some of the " excentricities of genius." The aged citizens still remember 
him as the first man who ventured to carry a silk umbrella — a scouted effeminacy then ! 
— and also as an innovator in first introducing the practice of sending to the apothecary 
for all the medicine wanted for the sick I With Dr. Morgan was joined Dr. Chanceller and 
Parson Duche, making then a rare trio, in forcing the use of sun umbrellas upon the town ! 
Dr. Rush has said, " the historian who shall hereafter relate the progress of medical 
science in America, will be deficient in candour and justice, if he does not connect the 
name of Dr. Morgan with that auspicious era in which medicine wasfirst taught and studied 
3ta a science in this countiT^." 



UOtj Medical Subjects. 

repaired to Europe to complete a scientific education. Here they en^ 
joyed ample means of qualifying themselves for the great duties of pro- 
fessors and teachers. Accordingly in 1762 Dr. Shippen commenced a 
eourse of lectures on Anatomy and Midwifery, accompanied by dissec- 
tions, to a class often students; and this was the first systematic course 
of lectures on medical subjects ever delivered in America, if we except 
those delivered at New Port in 1756, by Dr. Hunter. In 1765 Dr. Mor- 
gan returned from Europe, and was appointed professor of the Institutes 
of Medicine, and Dr. Shippen the professor of Anatomy; they were the 
only professors of this new institution until 1768, when Dr. Kuhn was 
elected professor of Botany; in the following year Dr. Benjamin Rush 
was chosen professor of Chymistry. These learned characters, assisted 
by the venerable Thomas Bond, as lecturer on Clinical Medicine, 
zealously devoted their talents to the duties of the several departments 
©f medical instruction. This first medical school in the American colo- 
nies was soon after confirmed and establislied by the authority of the 
Trustees of the College of Philadelphia, while Dr. Era klin officiated as 
theii' president. The Philadelphia Dispensary foi the medical relief of 
the poor, the first institution of its kind in the United States, was founded 
in 1786. The College of Physicians'of Philadelphia was establisiied in 
1787, and the labours of the professors commenced under circumstances 
eminently auspicious to the improvement of medical science," an unfor- 
tunate competition and discord, however, between the medical college 
and an opposition school, for a time marred their prospects and impeded 
that useful progress which the friends of the institution and the public 
had confidently expected. But in 1790 some inportant changes took 
place, and a harmonious union of the contending parties was efiected. Dr. 
Rush was appointed professor of the Institutes and Practice of Physic, 
and of Clinical Medicine. From tliis period, the progress and improve- 
ment of the institution have been no less honourable to the venerable 
founders; than beneficial to the community. The commanding talents, 
and profound erudition of Professors Rush, Wistar, Barton, Physic, 
Dorsey, Chapman, and others, have given the medical school of Phila- 
delphia a celebrity which will probably long remain unrivalled in the 
United States, and will enable it to vie with the most elevated seminaries 
of the European world. It has become the resort of students from 
every section of our united confederacy. Five hundred, in some sea- 
sons, have attended the various courses of lectures, and the inaugural 
dissertations of those who from time to time received its honours, havp 
extended the fame of the school from which they have emanated. Ai 
the commencement in June, 1771, the degree of A. B. was conferred on 
7, and the degree of M. D. on 4 candidates. Such has been the prosperity 
of this medical institution, the first founded in our country, that from the 
most accurate calculation that can be made, it is computed that between 7 
and 8000 young men have received instruction within its walls since its 
establishment; and from this source the remotest parts of our union have 
been furnished with learned pliysicians, who are omaments to their pro- 
fession. During the four months attendance on the lectures, the class 
expends not less than S200,000 in the city of Philadelphia. 

As Dr. Wni. Shippen was the first public lecturer in Philadel- 
phia, having commenced his anatomical lectures tliere in the year 



Jledical Subjects. GOf 

17(ia, ajid thus leading the vim in tin enterprise wliirh lia.s become 
so eminently successful to others in subsequent years, it may be cu- 
rious now to learn the means by which he beranic qualifjtHl to be- 
^uch a leader— told in all the Vrank simplicity and naivete of a 
liither (himself a ])bysician,) sending forth his son an adventurer 
for knowledge abroad, and as a caiulidate foi- futui'C usefulness 
and fame at' home. The letters and IMS. i)apers of the father 
ha\ ing been under my inspection. I have gleaned as follows, to wit : 

In September, IT5S, Dr. William Shippcn, Sen. writes to several 
persons in England to speak of bis son William, whom be tlicn 
sends to London and France to perfect him in the medical art. 
*'My son (says be,) has had his education in the best college iw 
this part of the country, and has been studying physic with me, 
besides which he has had the oppoitunity of seeing the practice of 
every gentleman of note in our city. But for want of that variety 
of operations and those frequent dissections which are common 
in older countries, I must send him to Europe. His scheme is to 
gain all the knowledge he can in anatomy, jdiysic, and sui-gery. 
He will stay in London for the winter, and sliall attend Mr. Hun- 
ter's anatomical lectures and private dissections, injections, kc. 
and at the same tinie go through a course of midwifci-y with Dr. 
Smelly; also enter a pupilin Gay's Hospital. As soon as the 
season is over he may go over to France and live with Dr. Leese 
in Ruan. and there 'study jjhysic until he can pass an exami- 
nation and take a degree. Then he may return to London, revisit 
the hospitals, and come home." At the same time his good 
father does not forget "that better ])art," and earnestly commends 
his son to the spii'itual guidance and oversight of his belo\ ed friend 
the Rev. George Whitefield. 

Under such auspices, Dr. Wm. Shijjpen, Jan. was enabled to re- 
turn to his country a doctor indeed, and ably qualified by liis teaching 
to raise a scboolof eminent pupils in the jiealing art. He directed 
his chief attention to the department of anatomy. His first public 
advertisement reads thus, viz. "Dr. Wm. Shippen's anatomical lec- 
tures will begin to-morrow evening at his father's house in Fourth 
street. Tickets for the course at five pistoles each. Gentlemen who 
incline to see the subject prepared for the lectures, and to learn the 
art of dissecting, injecting, kc. are to pay fire pistoles additional." 

Thus the lectures were begun in a private house in the year 1762 
with only ten students. But he lived to enlarge his theatre — to 
address a class of 250 persons, and to sec medical lectures diffused 
into five branches— and Edinbui-gh itself rivalled here at home ! 
He died at Germantown in 18U8, and was succeeded by Dr. 
Wistar. 

Who now knows the locality of this first lecture room ! Or does any 
body care to transfer their respect for the man, to the place where 
he began his career ! It was on the premises now Yohe's Hotel, in 
jaorth Fourth street, a little above High sti-ect — then sufficiently 



60S Medical Subjects. 

out of town, witli II long back yard leading to tiie alley opening 
out upon Higli street along the side of Warner's bookstore — by 
this they favoured the ingress and egress- of students in tlie shades 
of niglit. It was at first a terrific and appalling school to the 
good citizens. It was expected to fill the peaceful town with dis- 
quieted ghosts — mobbing was talked of. and not a little dreaded. 
It was therefore pretended that they contented themselves with the 
few criminal subjects they could procure ; which was further coun- 
tenanced by a published permission to him, by authority, to take 
'the bodies of suicides. As the dead tell no tales the excitement of 
the day subsided, and the affair was dropt in general parlance, — 
save among the boys, with whom it lingered long — 

" And awful stories chain'd the wondering ear ! 

Or fancy-led, at midnight's fearful hour 

With startling step we saw the dreaded corse !" 

The talcs had not subsided when I w as a boy, when for want of 
facts we surmised them. The lonely desolate house is yet stand- 
ing by the stone bridge over the Cohocksinc, on north Third street, 
which all the boys of Philadelphia deemed the receptacle of dead 
bodies, where their flesh was boiled, and their bones burnt down 
for the use of tlie faculty ! The proofs were apparent enough : — It 
was always shut up — showed no out-door labourers — was by a 
constant stream of running water to wash off" remains — had "No 
Admittance," for ever grimly forbidding, at the door ; and from the 
great chimney about once a fortnight issued great volumes of black 
smoke, filling the atmosphere all tlie country rwmd with a most 
noisome odour — offensive and deadly as yawning graves them- 
selves ! Does nobody remember this ! Have none since smiled in 
their manhood to find it was a place for boiling oil and making 
hartshorn — took thus far out of town to save the delicate sensa- 
tions of the citizens, by tlie considerate owner Christopher Mar- 
shall ! Tlie whole mysteries of the place, and the supposed doings 
of the doctors, w as cause enough for ghost's complaints like these : 

" The body-snatchers they have come 

And made a snatch at me ; 

It's very hard them kind of men 

Won't let a body be ! 

Don't go to weep upon my grave 

And think that there I be ; 

They hav'nt left an atom there 

Of my anatomic !" 
But more certain discoveries were afterwards made at Dr. Ship- 
pen's anatomical theatre in his yard. Time, which demolishes all 
things, brought at last all his buildings under the fitful change of 
fashion '' to pull down and build greater," — when in digging up 
the yard for cellar foundations, they were surprised to find a grave- 
yard and its materials, not in any record of the city ! — a thing in 



Medical Subjects, 609 

. itself as perplexing to tlie moderns who beheld the bones, as it had 
been before the trouble of the ancients ! 

In 1765, it is publicly announced that "Dr. John Morgan, Pro- 
fessor of Medicine in the Collcg'' of Philadelphia, is to join Dr. 
AViiliam Shippcn, jun. in delivering lectures. Dr. Shippen to lec- 
ture on Anatomy and Dr. Morgan on the Materia Mcdica." Tims 
forming the first combination of lectures in Philadelphia, and in- 
deed in the then colonies, — a precedence to which Philadelphia 
still owes her renown in medical science. 

In 1768. the name of Dr. Bond is also ])ublicly announced as to 
lecture on Clinical practice, and Dr. Kuhn on the Materia Medica 
— being so much added by the college to the two former lectures. 
^ In 1769, Dr. Benjamin Rush is made Professor of Chymistry 
to the college, and at the same time Thomas Penn, f^s^. makes a 
present of a complete cliymical apparatus. 

In looking back through the ♦' long vista of years that have flf^d,'* 
the memory and the fancy can re-create the imagery of some of the 
men and things that were. My friend Lang Syne, whose imagi- 
nation is lively, and his pen picturesque, has portrayed the remem- 
bered physicians of his youthful day, in a manner which may 
gratify those who are not wholly absorbed in their own contem- 
plations, to wit : 

One of the earliest, and one of the most vivid recollections in this city, 
by the reminiscent, is of the person of old Dr. Chevat, living at the time, 
directly opposite the (now) white swan, in Race, above Third street. He 
it was, who by his genius, professional skill and perseverance, finally 
perfected those wonderful (at the time) anatomical preparations in wax, 
which, since his death, have been in possession of the Pennsylvania 
Hospital. These anatomical preparations, the very sight of which is 
calculated to fill the mind with solemn awe, while beholding not only the 
streets, but the lanes, alleys and inner chambers of the microcosm or lit- 
tle world of man, was beheld by the writer only some few years since, 
forcing back upon the memory the once aged appearance of the doctor, 
contrasted with the exertions made by him, and apparent to every one 
who beheld hhn, to appear active and sprightly in business, cleaving, as 
it were, to his *' last sand." This aged gentleman and physician was al- 
most daily to be seen pushing his way in spite of his feebleness, in a kind 
of hasty walk or rather shuffle ; his aged head, and straight white hair, 
bowed and hanging forward beyond lli^ cape of his black oldfashioned 
coat, mounted by a small cocked hat, closely turned upon the crown up- 
wards behind, but projectingly, and out of all proportion, cocked before 
and seemingly the impelling cause of his anxious forward movements ; 
his aged lips closely compressed (sans teeth) together, were in continual 
motion, as though he weie munching somewhul all the while ; his golden 
headed Indian cane, not used for his support, but dangling by a knotted 
black silken string from his wrist; the ferrule of his cane and the heels 
of his capacious shoes, well lined in winter time with thick woollen cloth 
might be heard jingling and scraping the pavement at every step ; he 
seemed on the street always as one hastening as fast as his aged limbs 
4 K 



t>ll> Medical /Subjects. 

would permit liini, lo some patient, dangerously ill, without lookinp; st 
any one, passing him to the right or left ; he was always spoken oi' as 
possessing much sarcastic wit ; and also, for using expletives in his com- 
mon conversation, in the opinion of those who spoke on the subject, to 
be neither useful nor ornamental. 

An anecdote, strikingly illustrative of the latter, might here be given 
of the doctor, and a member of the Society of Friends, who had lent him 
his great coat to shelter him on his way home, from the then falling rain. 
The coat was loaned by the Friend to the doctor, with a moral condition 
annexed ; which upon the return of the coat, he declared he had reli- 
giously performed, — adding, in facetious vein, a supplemental remark to 
the Friend, descriptive of an unusual propensity he found himself to be 
labouring under, during the whole time he had l)een enveloped in a plain 
coat — having so said and done, they separated on the most friendly terms, 
with a he£\rty laugh on both sides. — Does none remember ? 

Dr. Thomas Say, lived in Moravian, (now Bread street) on the west 
side, near Arch street. — Having to pass that way frequently to school, 
his person became very familiar. In fair weather, he was to be seen, 
almost daily, standing, dressed in a light drab suit, with his arms gently 
folded, and leaning with one shoulder against the cheek of the door, for 
the support evidently of his rather tall and slender frame — now Aveakened 
by age. He was the same Dr. Thomas Say, who, many years before, 
had been in a trance, of three days' continuance ; during which time, 
(whether in the body or out of the body, he could not tell) he beheld 
many wonderful matters, as is fully detailed in the " Life of Thomas 
Say," now extant, and written by his son Benjamin, deceased. He was 
of lair complexion ; and his thinly spread hair, of the silvery white, 
slightly curled over, and behind the ears — in appearance very venerable, 
in his speech and manner, mild and amiable — as is well remembered 
concerning him, while he stood one day affectionately admonishing some 
boys, who had gazed perhaps too rudely at the aged man, of whom they 
had heard, probably, that he had seen a vision. He mildly advised them 
to pass on their way — pressing at the same time, and with lasting effect, 
upon the mind of one of them, never to stare (said he) at strangers, and 
aged men. 

The next aged physician of the Old School, was Dr. Redman, who lived 
next door to Dr. Ustick's Baptist meeting-house, in Second near Arch 
street. The doctor had retired from practice altogether, and was known 
to the public eye as an antiquated looking old gentleman, usually habited 
in a broad skirted dark coat, with long pocket flaps, buttoned across his 
uvider dress ; wearing in strict conformity with the cut of the coat, a pair 
of Baron Steuben's military shaped boots, coming above the knees, for 
riding ; his hat flapped before, and cocked up smartly behind, covering 
a full bottomed poAvdered wig — in the front of which might be seen, an 
eagle pointed nose, separating a pair of piercing black eyes— his lips, 
exhibiting (but only now and then) a quick motion, as though at the mo- 
ment, he was endeavouring to extract the essence of a small quid. | As 
thus described, in habit and in person, he was to be seen almost daily, in 
fair weather, mounted on a short, flat, black, switch-tailed horse, and 
riding for his amusement and exercise, in a brisk rackling canter, about 
the streets and suburbs of the citv. 



,Mcdicul Subjects. 611 

rie v\ us so well known, that in his rambles about the town, on foot, he 
wovild step in, without ceremony, at the first public office which pre- 
sented itself to his view, and upon his seeing any vacant desk or writing 
table, set himself down, with a pleasant nod to some one present, and 
begin writing his letter or memorandum. One day, while thus occupied 
in his writing, he was suddenly r.ddressed by a very forward presuming 
person, who wanted of him some medical advice gratis. Finding himself 
thus interrupted, he lifted the corner of his wig, as usual, and desired 
the person to repeat his question, which he did, loudly, as follows : — 
Doctor ! what would you advise, as the best thing, for a pain in the 
breast ? The wig having dropped to its proper place, the doctor, after 
a seemingly profound study for a moment on the subject, replied — Oh 1 
ay — I will tell you rny good friend — the very best thing I could advise 
you to do for a pain in the breast is to — consult your physician ! 
. These three veterans of the city, in the science and practice of medi- 
'cine in the time of the colonies— like three remaining apples, separate 
and lonely upon the uppermost bough of a leafless tree, were finally 
shaken to the ground, by the unrelenting wind of death, and gathered to 
the " narrow house," — as very readily surmised by the reader no doubt. 

My friend Mr. P. another Fhiladelplilan, long residing in New 
York, has also communicated his reminiscences of some of the 
Philadelphia faculty, as they stood imj>iTssed upon his boyish 
judgment and feelings, which I shall add, to wit: 

1 wish to mention the names of a few physicians in my day : — Dr. Wil- 
liam Shippen, sen. resided, when he left off practice, in Germantown ; at 
the age of 90, he would ride in and out of the city, on horseback, full gal- 
lop, without an over-coat, in the coldest weather. Dr. Thomas Bond 
died in 1784, always rode in a small phaeton; resided in Second, near 
Norris' alley. Dr. Redman resided near the Baptist Meeting, in Second 
street ; a small black filly had the honour to carry the doctor on his visits 
and would await his return at the door of the patient; the doctor would 
sometimes kindly lend his creature, but she was sure to throw the rider. 
Dr. Chevat, a most eccentric man, full of anecdote, and noted for his 
propensity for what is now termed quizzing, resided in Race, above 
Third street. The doctor was what was termed a tory ; was licensed to 
say and do what he pleased, at which no one took umbrage. He one 
day entered the old Coffee-house, corner of Market and Front streets, 
with an open letter in his hand ; it was 12 o'clock; change hour; the 
merchants all assembled. On seeing the doctor, they surrounded him, 
inquiring what news he had in that letter, which he stated he had just 
received by a king's ship arrived at New York. In reply to the inqiiiry, 
he said that the letter contained information of the death of an old cobbler 
in London, who had his stall in one of the by-streets, and asked the 
gentlemen what they supposed the cobbler had died worth ? One said 
5000^. another 10,000^. and another 20,000^. sterling. No, gentle- 
men, no, you are all mistaken. Not one farthing, gentlemen ; running 
out, laughing at the joke at the expense of the collected mercantile wis- 
dom of the city. Another time, having been sent for by the Spanish 
minister, Don Juan, (I forget his name) who resided in old Mr. Chew's 
house, in Third, between Walnut and Spruce streets, the weather being 



612 Medical Subjects. 

rather unpleasant, the ambassador ordered his carriage to the door to 
coT,vey the doctor home — the doctor, full of fun and joke, directed 
the coachman to drive by the Coffee-house ; which, as he approached, 
was perceived by the merchants, who immediately drew up in order, 
hais off, to pay their respects to Don, as minister from a friendly power 
—the doctor kept himself close back in the carriage until directly oppo- 
site the Coffee-house ; the gentlemen all bowing and scraping, when he 
pops out his head — good morning, gentlemen, good morning; I hope 
you are all well ; thank you, in the name of his majesty, king George, 
and drove off, laughing heartily at having again joked with the Philadel- 
phia whigs. 

The few physicians mentioned in the preceding notices as having 
their pacing nags, or a little wheeled vehicle, are intended as rari- 
ties among the profession. It was only an indulgence awarded to 
tlie aged and infirm to submit to motive assistance. Any young 
man resorting to it. would have endangered his reputation and 
practice. Dr. Rush has told his fi-iends how often he visited Ken- 
sington on foot to serve poor sick persons, from whom he expected 
nothing directly, but by the fame of which, in his successful prac- 
tice in their behalf, he indirectly was rewarded with his future 
choice of ])ractice there.* It was* not only to walk far for smaller 
reward, but the time was before the fashion of umbrellas and boots, 
that they had to wade through unpaved lanes and alleys without 
defence against storms of rain, hail, or snow ! As if it were inferred 
that men who professed to heal all maladies, should themselves be 
invulnerable to the assaults of disease. 

In extreme olden time, occasional indulgence was enjoyed by 
the faculty, under an oiled linen hat-cover, and a large shoulder- 
cape of like material called a roquelaure — it was intended as a 
kind of storm-shed, to sliield the upper works only.f Wet feet or 
drenched lower limbs with the then hardy sons of Esculapius, 
were nothing ! — or if regarded, it was only as the Indians feel for 
feeble children — by concluding that those who could not encounter 
the necessary exposures of the hunter's life, were not worth the 
keeping. 

In tracing some of the leading features of our domestic historj 
of medicine, there is one modern and modish change of practice, 
which has almost subverted all former scruples of sex, and given 
a iiiige accession of business to the faculty. We mean the trans- 
fer of midwifery from the hands of the grandames to professional 
men. This very tiling shows the powerful ascendency of custom. 
The same ladies are still living who once, in all cases short of 
the extremities of death, would have resisted the approach of the 

* The very residence of such a man as Dr. Rush, shows by its locality how little they 
regarded horses or stabling then — it being a bank-house on the east side of Front street, 
above Walnut. It wao long a fashionable location for a physician or gentleman, although 
it had not one foot of yard. 

+ Old Mrs. Shoemaker, who saw them in use, said ministers also u^ed them. It hooked 
round the netk and descended to the loins — loose as a cloak all round. 



Medical Snhjecis. <>1S 

man-midwife— yet came at length to submit themselves to that as- 
sistance. Its introduction as ji practice (prevaletit as it now is) 
came into use only since the year irOO. This new measure \ya9 
deemed in necessary accordance with our Jiew notions of foreign 
luxuries— in furniture, eipiipage and dress, and from the same 
causes, to wit : the greatly increased ability to pay for whatever 
was deemed modish and novel. The innovation being once adopted 
in liigh life, soon •' infected downward all the graduated scale," 
till, finally, the whole service is engrossed by obstetric professors. 

Before this era, the crisis of all our uiothers, and the hojjes of 
all our forefathers, was committed to "female women." who. if 
they had not the science of their successors, had a potent and ready 
assistant in dame nature, (for reason as we will— facts are stub- 
born things) and it must be conceded, that the issue, in such hands, 
was equally satisfactory to all concerned. 

Now the gentlemen of the profession, always men of influence 
.ind character, are known in every street and public hall ; but then 
there was a kind of mysterious concealment of tlie good grandame. 
that made her. when rarely seeji or spoken of among tlie younger 
members of a family, a being of some nondescript relation — some- 
thing sui-generis, and as mysterious in licr visits or goings abroad 
as her occupation itself. Some of their names and persons pass in 
review while we write, but we are aware that they are things not 
to be expatiated upon with the present generation. But as the 
office and the service was worthy, they had their esteem in days 
of '*Lang Syne" — even to published elegiac praise. On the Gth 
of January, 1729-30, was published in the Gazette, tlie decease of 
such a useful matron, to wit : "Yesterday died Mary Broadway, 
aged 100 years — a noted midwife — her constitution woie well to 
the last, and she could read without spectacles." On this worthy 
woman was afterwards published an elegy, which in a short time 
went through two editions. Who now can show it ! Perchance 
from the muse of Aquila Rose, or from the poet Keimer ! With 
that loss, we have also to deplore the extinction of the first published 
medical tract in our annals — an essay of the year 1740, by Dr. 
Thomas Cadwallader, on the iliac passion ! But a more modern 
grandame drawn to my hand may close this notice, to wit : " At 
Second and Dock streets I would remember the house once occu- 
pied by Mrs. Lydia Darrach, a whig of the Revolution,* who as- 
sisted in increasing the census of the city more than any other lady 
of her profession." Finally, if they thus differed in the services 
afforded to our mothers, our mothers also in turn as much differed 
in their former mode of assisting the little strangers, by means 
called killing, by the moderns, maugre all which, we stouted i1 
out and lived ! " The babe then must be straitly rolled round the 
waist with a linen swathe and loaded with clothes until it could 

• Her generous whiggism may be found told under the chajaer on the war of Indepcn 
ience. 



C|14 Medical Subjects. 

scarcely breathe, and when unwell or fretful was dosed with spirit 
and water stewed with spicery. The mother in the meantime was 
refreshed with rum either buttered or niade into liot tiff!''* In all 
this the initiated sufficiently know the marked dissimilar views 
and practice now ! 

With the increase of luxuries have come in the indolent habits 
of repose and tabie indulgencies — creating a new disease quite un- 
known to our robust ancestors. They had never heard of the pre- 
sent modish name " Dys{K;psia." Indigestion, if it troubled them af- 
ter occasional excess in banqueting, was quickly cast off by the stout 
efforts of dame nailui^. Men and maidens then walked much more 
than they rode, and pursued active employments quite as much as 
they read. They had not then learned to cloy themselves witii 
the A^arieties of the restorateur's art : — Frencli stimulants were 
unknown. Even the sedentary habits of study were then unaillicted, 
and the idea of a " disease of genius," now so called, had never 
been placed to the maladies of professional men. 

Of the Calamities of the Profession. 

A few words may be added, because exemption from eri'or or in- 
justice is not the lot of Inmianity. An annalist, without ill-nature» 
may tell all. 

Tlie name of Dr. E. J. cliymist, has not been previously intro- 
duced to the notice of the reader as among tlie preceding roll, 
his being an exempt case, and himself un enfant perdu. He hatl 
the misfortune greatly to overplay his part in a case of intended 
merriment, which set the whole town in commotion and indigna- 
tion. The circumstances are strange : — In the year 1737 an ap- 
prentice lad living with the said Dr. J. had expressed a desire to 
be initiated into the mysteries of masonry. The Dr. and some of 
his friends affected to become operators, witli a design to make 
their sport of his simplicity and credulity. He was blindfolded, 
and was to say certain profane words to the devil. They then 
.administered to him a cup, which some said was in imitation of a 
sacrament, in which was a strong dose of physic. Being led to 
kiss a book to swear upon, he was made to kiss a substitute, inten- 
ded to much increase the rude sport of the company. Tlien spirits 
was set on fire, having a deposit of salt, intended to cause the ap- 
pearance called Snap Dragon, whicli gives to every face near it the 
pale hue of death, f The lad was here uncovered so as to see them, 
but not being terrified, as they expected or wislicd, although one of 
the company was clotlicd in a cow's hide and horns. Dr. J. as if 
infatuated with his mischievous fancies, actually cast the pan of 
remaining burning spirits upon the poor lad's bosom ! This fatal 

* Memoirs Historical Society — vol. I, p. 290. 

t Hanks in his late expose of masonry, says he saw this thing practised in his lodge lii 
Virginia. 



Jledical Subjects. 01 y 

vevi'l tcrm'matotl in the death of tlie young man— for after lan- 
guishing three days in delirium he died. The facts thus length- 
ened hy the proofs in the case, have hecn told as they appealed in 
substance at the trial— for the act being a felony in its nature, 
caused the arrest of the doctor, and Ids distress in his turn. As 
he and his companions were withal Free Masons, it brought re- 
proach upon the fraternity. They had therefore to repel it by 
holding a special meeting, and publicly expressing their abhor- 
rence of the act. On this occasion an article ai)peared in the 
Mercury of 1737-8, against Kenjamiu Franklin, who was privy 
to some of the affair, and his vindication is given in his paper, No. 
479, entirely exculpating, himself. 

At the era of the Revolution Dr. John Kearsley, although other- 
wise a citizen of good character and standing, became exposed to 
the scoffs and insults of the people, by his ardent loyalism : being 
naturally impetuous in liis teniper, he gave mucii umbrage to 
the whigs of the day by his rash expressions. It was intended 
therefore to sober his feelings by the ai-gument of « tar and feathers." 
He was seized at mid-day at his own door in Front a little below 
Higli street, by aparty of the militia, and in his attempt to resist 
ihem he received a bayonet wound in his hand. Mr. Graydon, a 
bystander, has told the sequel. He was forced into a cart, and amidst 
a multitude of hoys and idlers, paraded through the streets to the 
t»ine of ti»e Rogue's March. The concourse brought him before the 
Coffee-house, where they halted, — the doctor foaming with rage 
and indignation — without a hat — his wig dishevelled, and himself 
bloody from his wounded hand — stood up in the cart and called 
for a bowl of ])unch ; when so vehement was his thirst that he 
swallowed it all ere he took it from his lips. " I was shocked, says 
Graydon, at the spectacle — tlius to see a lately respected citizen 
so vilified." It is grateful to add, however, that they proceeded to 
no further violence. Thus proving that a Philadelphia mob has 
some sense of restraint. But although the doctor was allowed to 
escape the threatened tar and feathers, the actual indignity so in- 
flamed and maddened his spirit, that his friends had to confine him 
for a time as an insane. He died during the war— ^a resident at 
Carlisle. 

In contradistinguishing him from his once popular uncle of the 
game name and profession, he was usually called "tory-doctor.'* 

Of Quacks. 

The forced display and quackery of medicine, as we now see ii 
in staring capitals, saluting us with impudent front at every turn. 
is an affair of modern growth and patronage — all full of promise 
for renovating age ! — 

" Roses for the cheeks, 

And lilies for the brows of faded age, 

Teeth for the toothless, ringlets for the bald 1" 



616 ^Medical Subjects. 

On to])ics like tin sc, our simple forefathers were almost silent. 
Yet we have on record some *• fond dreams of hope" of good Mrs. 
Sybilla Masters (wife of Thomas) who went out to England iu 
1711-12, to make her fortune abroad by the patent and sale of her 
^'Tuscorora rice," so called. It was her preparation from our 
Indian corn, made into something like our hominy, and which she 
then strongly recommended as a food peculiarly adapted for the 
relief and recovery of consumptive and sickly persons. After she 
had procured the patent her husband set up a water mill and suit- 
able works near Philadelphia, to make it in quantities for sale, 
Thei-e was much lack of consumptive people in those robust days. 
Possibly some one may now take the hint and revive it for the 
benefit of the sufferers and themselves I 

About the year 1739, I saw much said in the Gazettes of the 
newly discovered virtues of the Seneka rattlesnake root, and while 
the excitement was higli. Dr. John Tennant got 100£. from the 
Virginia colony for proving its use in curing the pleurisy. 

In October, 1745, Francis Torres, a Frenchman, (probably the 
first, and for a long time lonely and neglected quack in our an- 
nals) advertises the sale of the Chinese stone with some powders, 
both to be applied outwardly, and to effect strange cures indeed — 
all ably proved by his certificates. The stone was a chymical 
preparation ; when applied to the bite of a rattlesnake or any such 
poison it cured immediately. It could draw off humours, cancers, 
swellings, pains, rheumatisms, toothach : greatly mitigated labour 
pains, and pangs of the gout, &c. Might it not be a good invest- 
ment to again introduce some from China ! Such a stone would 
prove the philosopiier's stone— like Midas' finger, converting what 
it touched to gold ! — the usual desideratum in those who sell. 
Location of first Hospitals, ^c. 

When city physicians made their calls on foot, it was obvious it 
was a convenience to have their liospital and poorhouse much 
nearer than they now are. The hospital thei-efore, a two-story 
house of double front still standing, was the hired house of Judge 
Kinsey, on the east side of High street, fourth house west of Fifth 
street, having then much open ground and fruit trees in the rear. 
Tiic poorhouse at the same time, was near the centre of an open 
meadow extending from Spruce to Pine, and from Third to Fourth 
streets. 

In the time of the war, as has been told under its appropriate 
head, they made use of several empty private houses for the recep- 
tion of the sick soldiery by the camp fever. The house of the 
present Schuylkill Bank, at the soutii east corner of Sixth and 
High streets, then deserted by the tory owner, lawyer Galloway, 
was filled with tiiose feeble men of war. At the same time, the 
large building in Chesnut street (late Judge Tilgiiman's) was 
also so used. 



Medical Subjects. G,l-7 

Yellow Fever of 1793. 

No history of Philailclplila would be complete, which should over- 
look the eventful period of 1793, when the fatal yellow fever made 
its ravages there. It is an event which should never be forgotten, 
because, whether we regard it as a natural or a spiritual scoui'go, 
(effected by the divine power) it is a circumstance which may re- 
visit us, and whicli therefore, sbould be duly considered, or we 
sufter it to lose its pi'oper moi'al influence. 

The medical histories and oflicial accounts of that disastrous 
pei'iod are in print before the ])ublic. and in genei-al terms give 
the statement of the rise, progi-ess, and termination of the disease, 
and the lists of the weekly, monthly, and total deaths : but l!ie 
ideas of the reader are too generalised to be i)roperly affected with 
the measure of individual sufferings; therefore, the facts which 1 
have preserved on that memorable occasion are calculated to sup- 
ply that defect, and to bring the whole home to people's interests 
and bosoms. 

Let the reader think of a desolation which shut up nearly all the 
usual churches; their pastors generally fled, and their congrega- 
tions scattered ; the few that still assembled in small circles tor 
religious exercises, not without just fears that their assembling 
might communicate the disease from one to the other. No light 
and careless hearers then appeared ; and no flippant picaching to 
indulge itching ears — all, all was solemn and impressive. Tliey 
then felt and thouglit they should not all meet again on a like oc- 
casion ; death, judgment and eternity then possessed the minds of 
all who so assembled. 

Look then, in which way you would, through tiie streets, and 
you saw the exposed coftins on chair-wheels, either in quick mo- 
tion, or you saw the wheels drawn before houses to receive their pes- 
tilential charge. Then family friends or mourners scarcely ever 
accompanied them ; and no cotiins were adorned to please the 
eye ; but coarse stained wood of hasty fabric received tliem all. 
Then graves were not dug singly, but pits, which might receive 
many before entire filling up, were opened. Li the streets you met 
no cheerful, heedless faces, but pensive, downcast eyes, and hur- 
ried steps, hastening to the necessary calls of the sick. 

Then the haunts of vice were shut up — drunkenness and revel- 
ling found no companions — tavern doors grew rusty on their 
iiinges — the lewd or merry song was hushed — lewdness perished,, 
or was banished, and men generally called upon God. Men salu- 
ted each other as if doubting to be met again, and their conversa- 
tion for the moment was about their several losses and sufferings. 

The facts of " moving incidents" in individual cases prepared 
for the present article have been necessarily excluded from lack ot 
room, but may hereafter be consulted on pages 210 to 21*^ iu my 
MS. Annals iu the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 
4 L 



CITLTURE OF SILK. 



FROM the commencement of our annals, at different periods of 
lime, t]ie advantages of silk culture has been recommended or 
attempted. 

As early as the year 1725, James Logan, in writing to thpPenii 
family, recommends " the culture of silk in this country as ex- 
tremely beneficial and promissing." He says "iron-works also 
protnise well." In the next year he speaks of silk sent to England, 
saying <<he is glad it proves so good, and he doubts not, in time, the 
country may raise large quantities." 

In 1734, Governor Gordon addresses the Lords Commissioners 
of Trade on various objects of produce, &c. and speaks in strong 
terms of his expectations from the culture of silk *'as a fit return 
to Great Britain" for their usual importations ; he says the tree is 
so natural to our soil, and the worm tiirives so well. Some among 
us have shewn its practicability by making some small quantities, &c. 

In the year 1770, the subject was taken up in Philadelphia and 
adjacent country with great spirit. It was greatly jjromoted by 
tlie exertions of tlie American Philosophical Society, stimulated by 
the communications from Dr. Evans and Dr. Franklin in Europe. 
Application was made to the Assembly for the establishment of a 
public filature at Philadelphia, for winding cocoons, and the man- 
agers to have power to grant premiums, &c. equal to about 500£. 
per annum, for five years. The necessary incipient funds, equal 
to 900£. were furnished by generous individuals on subscription, 
being generally 2£. each, some 15£. and Governor John Penn 
20£. With such means the filature was opened in June, 1770, at 
a house in Seventh street, between Arch and High streets, and a 
rate of premiums were announced. 

It appears that in the year 1771, about 2300lbs. were brought 
thereto reel, and that of it 1754lbs. were purchased by the man- 
agers in about two montiis, in July and August ; nearly two thirds 
of this liad been raised in New Jersey. At the same time much 
discussion of tljc subject appeared in the gazettes, and many mul- 
berry trees were planted in New Jersey and the counties around 
Philadelphia. The ladies in particular gave much attention to 
the subject, and especially after the war had begun, when the for- 
eign fabrics of silk were cut off from their use. As early as the 
yejw 1770, Susanna Wright, of Lancaster county, at Columbia,, 



Culture of Silk. 619 

made a piece of mantiia of 60 yards length, from he.- own cocoons, 
of which I have preserved some specimens* in my MS, Annals in tlic 
Citv Library, page 165 and 170. She also made much sewing 
silk. Mrs. Hopkinson, mother of the late Francis Hopkinson, rai- 
sed much cocoons. A woman in Chester county raised thirty 
thousand worms. To give eclat to these colonial designs the 
Queen gave her patronage by deigning to appear in a court uiess 
from this American silk. The best dresses worn with us were 
woven in England. Grace Fisher, a minister among triends, 
made conside^-able silk stuff; a piece of hers vvas presented by 
Governor Dickinson to the celebrated Catharine Macauley. 1 ho 
daughters of Reuben Hains in Germantown raised considerable, 
and his daughter Catharine who married Richard Hartsiiorne, 
wore her wedding dress of the same material— preserved on page 
230 of the MS. Annals. The present Mrs. Logan was among 
those who in the time of the war raised their own silk in conjunction 
with several other ladies, to provide for their personal or lamily 

In 1772, Robert Proud, our historian, makes a MS. memoran- 
dum of his visit to James Wright's place at Columbia, where he 
saw 1500 worms at their labour, under the charge ot • the cele- 
brated Susanna Wright." They said they could raise a million 
in one season, and would have undertaken it with suitable encour- 

*^About the present time, the culture of silk begins again to awaken 
the public attention. A few families in the country arc engaged 
in it. A Holland family on the Frankford road is making it their 
exclusive business on a large scale; and in Connecticut whole 
communities are pursuing it, and supplying the public with sewing 
silk. 

* It received the premium of the Society. 



SHIPS AlVD SHIF-BiriL.DIXG. 



PHILADELPHIA has long been justly renowned for her supe- 
rior excellence and elegance of ship-building. None of the colo- 
nies equalled her ; and perhaps no ])lace in the world surpassed 
her in her skill and science in this matter. At the present day 
otiier cities of the Union are approaching her excellence. When 
Samuel Humphrys, sen. was lately in England he was offered, it is 
said, a great sum to remain and execute models for the British 
Navy. In early times they used to construct at Philadelphia great 
raft ships, of much larger dimensions than the late renowned ones 
from Canada, called the Columbus and Baron Renfrew, and which 
in tlie present day, have been regarded as nonpareils. A little before 
the war of Independence, the last raft ship was built and launched 
at Kensington.* Our great raft ships were generally constructed 
for sale and use in England, when our timber was more plentiful 
and cheaper. They would carry off '' 800 logs of timber, compe- 
tent to make six ships of 250 tons each." An eye-witness, who saw 
one of those mammoth fabrics descend into her destined element, 
said she bent and twisted much in launching, but when on the 
water looked to the eye of the beholder much like another ship in 
form, &c. 

The ship-yards used to occupy the river hanks, beginning about 
Girard's wharf above High street, up to Vine street, and as popu- 
lation increased, extended northward. As early as the days of the 
Founder, the ship-yarJ of William West was began at Vine street 
The activity of ship-building there, by which he enriched his pos- 
terity, was wonderful. He had generally more orders than he 
could supply, (so says his present grandson) and mostly required 
for English and Irish houses abroad. William Penn's letter of 
1683. says, even then, " Some vessels have been built here and 
many boats." 

In July, 1718, Jonathan Dickinson writes to his correspondent, 
saying, "Here is great employ for ship-work for England. It in- 
creases and will increase, and our expectations from the iron- works 
40 miles up Schuylkill are very great." The same writer calls 
a ship sometimes a galley, and a small vessel a hoy, — of such he^ 

* One was launched in 1774-5 at Slater's wharf, a little south of Poole'a bridge, and W«3 
navigated by Gapteh* Newmaw. 



ships and Skip -Building. 631 

speaks as being used in navigating the Delaware, and going to 
Cape May for cedar rails, &.c. 

In 1721, he incidentally mentions that the sails and rigging 
coming to him from London for his new ship had escaped the pi- 
rates : Thus showing that sails and rigging were at least preferred 
from abroad, in that day. 

In 1722, I notice as among the vessels at Philadelphia, those 
they call— a pink— a galley— and, a great fly-boat of 400 tons- 
all of which traverse the Atlantic ocean. 

In connection with ship-building we may justly congratulate 
ourselves on having the ablest ship-carver, in the present lespecta- 
ble and aged William Rush, that the world has ever seen. His 
figures on the heads of ships have excited admiration in numerous 
instances in foreign countries, and have been sent for from Eng- 
land, to adorn vessels there ; we should have heard more of such 
facts of preference, but that the duties there were managed to cost 
more than the first cost of the images themselves. More con- 
cerning his talents as an artist will be found under the article 
"William Rush.'' 



PAPER MOXEY. 



" Gold, imp'd by thee, can compass greatest things- 
Can purchase States and fetch and carry Kings." 

IN the first introduction of paper money, there was much ilif- 
ference of opinion concerning its eventual benefit to trade and to 
the community. It appears to have been first emitted under the 
auspices of Governor Keith, about tiic year 1 7Z5. Many remon- 
strances and counter views were urged by some. 

In 1723, when Benjamin Franklin first visited us from Boston, 
where he had seen abundance of paper money, he noticed with sur- 
prise the free circulation of metalic money among the people. The 
whole of his own money then consisted of a Dutch dollar and a shil- 
ling's worth of coppers — both coins unknown among us now. 

The very next year (1724) James Logan, in writing to the pro- 
prietaries, shows the quick effect of the paper emission, by saying 
" No gold or silver then passes among them because of their paper 
money, — when tliey buy the former they give 3 shillings per £. or 
15 per cent, advance in exchange for their paper." 

The common fate of *' paper credit" soon follows — for counter- 
feiters, though threatened with "death" in staring ca])itals, use 
the means which "lends corruption lighter wings to fly," by push- 
ing their supply also into the market. Behold ! they come even 
from Ireland ! 

The Gazette of 1726 announces a great quantity of counterfeit 
colonial bills, executed in Ireland, as arrived, and the two agents 
being apprehended, are soon after punished. Some of this doubtless 
found its use in the purchase of land for the new-comers, for the 
papers along to the year 1729, often make mention of its being 
occasionally detected in use. 

About this time Governor Gordon, who succeeded Sir William 
Keitli, emitted 4 5,000 J. on land pledged at half its value, and 
subject to redemption. This was increased from time to time till 
the whole amounted to 85,000£. 

In 1729 James Logan, writing to the proprietaries, thus speaks, 
saying, '* I dare not speak one word against it. The popular 
phrcnsy will never stop till their credit will be as bad as they are 
in New England, where an ounce of silver is worth 20 shillings of 
their paper. They already talk of making more, and no man dares 
appear to stem the fury of the popular rage. The notion is, that 



Paper Moneij. G23 

while any man will borrow on good security of land UkOic nioncj 
should be made for tliem witliout tliinking of what value it will be 
wheji made. They aflirm that whilst the security is good, the 
money cannot fall. The Ki?ig's own hand should forbid this mea- 
sure. Yet the last act should not be abrogated (ill as the measure 
is) because the money now out (if anmillcd) would occasion the 
utmost destruction." It may be remarked that although the mea- 
sure pleased the people, as they thought it iiui-eased riches as by 
magic, they knew not how, yet the Crown ofticers were always 
averse to the erection of a paper medium. It may be mentioned 
also as a curious indication of the early times, and tlie actual need 
once felt of some kind of supply for the necessary interchanges re- 
quired in the dealings among men in Society — that there is now in 
the museum of the City Library an original petition of the people, 
of the year 1717, to the Assembly of Pennsylvania, praying them 
to make produce a currency ! 

Considering the present great use of paper currency in our Bank 
notes and the question of their utility being sometimes agitated, it 
may be curious to state here the view of such money as given by 
the Assembly as early as the year 1739, being their preamble to 
the act of that year, to wit : *' Whereas it has been fou)id by ex- 
perience that bills of credit emitted upon land security as a medium 
of commerce have been of great service for carrying on the trade 
and other improvements in this province, and money and gold be- 
ing now become a commodity and generally remitted [exactly as 
now !] to Great Britain, in return for the manufactures of that 
kingdom imported hither." 

Among the emissions of later times w ere the bills for raising 
funds in 1775, for erecting ^'the new jail in Walnut street" and 
the '• light house on Cape Henlopen ;" both of them were decora- 
ted with pictures of the buildings, and the history of the money in 
both cases was, that the bills by reason of the wai*, &c. were never 
'* called in" and the whole sunk in the hands of the holders ! 

To these succeeded the far-famed and much scouted Continental 
Money — an emission so immense in aggregate, so overwhelming to 
the payers and so hopeless to the payees, as to make it in the end 
wholly non-effective to all concerned. The whole emission as 
presented in a detailed official account exhibited in 1828, stated 
the enormous total of 2412 millions of dollars ! — all issued in five 
years from 1775 to 1780. We may well exclaim *'Lo, what it is 
that makes white rags so deare !" 

Many specimens of those continental and colonial bills, now 
rarely seen, may be inspected in my books of MS. Annals both in 
the City Library and with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 

In the course of the rapid depreciation which ensued, 4t was a 
common incident to hear a 100 dollars of it asked for a single yard 
of silk — to see children give a dollar bill for a few cakes, and finally 
to see 300 dollars of continental given for one dollai- of silver. At 



fi24 Faper Money. 

one time 75 dollars of it was exchanged for one dollar of State 
paper. Sometimes the possession of so much nominal money of so 
little worth, gave rise to many occasional freaks for its destruc- 
tion sucli as using it to light a pipe or a candle at a tavern ; and 

even the soldiers sometimes, to show their recklessness of such 
money, or to vaunt of their abundance in it, have been known to 
deck off their recruiting drummers and fifers in an over-jacket form- 
ed entirely of sheets of continental money! 

One of the worst uses of this money was to present it as *' a le- 
gal tender," to pay with almost no value what had been before 
purchased for a bona Jide valuable consideration. Many base men 
so acquired their property, — especially when to "cheat a tory" 
was deemed fair prize with several. Houses still stand in Phila- 
delphia, which, could their walls speak out, would tell of strangely 
inconsiderable values received for them by the sellers. The large 
double house for instance, at the north west corner of Pine and 
Second streets, was once purchased, it was said, with the money 
received for one hogshead of rum ! 



6f5 



THE POST. 



" He comes ! the herald of a noisy world ; 
News from all nations, lumb'ring at his back ? 

THERE is nothing in which the days of << Auld Lang Syne" 
more differs from the present, than in the astonishing facilities now 
afforded for rapid conveyances from place to place, and. of course, 
in the quick delivery of communications by the mail. Before the 
year 1755. five to six weeks were consumed in writing to, and re- 
ceiving an answer from Boston. All the letters were conveyed on 
horseback, at a snail-pace gait — slow, but sure. The first stage 
between Boston and New York commenced on the 24th of June, 
1772, to run once a fortnight, as "a useful, new, and expensive un- 
dertaking ;" "to start on the 13th, and to arrive either to or from 
either of those places on the 25th," — thus making 13 days of tra- 
vel!* Now, it travels the same distance in 36 hours! The first 
stage between New York and Philadelphia, began in 1756, occupi- 
ed three days, and now it accomplishes it in ten hours ! 

Nor are those former prolonged movements peculiar to us. It 
was even so with our British ancestors, not very long before us! 
We have a specimen of tlieir sluggish doings in this matter, as late 
as the year 1712. <'Tlie New Castle Courant" of tliat year con- 
tains a stage advertisement, saying that "all who desire to pass 
from Edinboro' to London, or from London to Edinboro', let 
them repair to Mr. John Baillies, &c. every other Saturday and 
Monday, at both of which places they may be received in a stage 
roach, which performs the whole journey in thirteen days, without 
stoppage, (if God permit) liaving 80 able horses to perform the 
whole stage." Now, the same distance is performed in 46 hours ! 
On the whole, it is manifest the whole civilized world have learn- 
ed to move every where with accelerated motion ! The facts, as 
they were in tiie olden time, are to the following effect, to wit: — 

In 1683, mo. July, Wm. Penn issued an order for the establish- 
ment of a post-office, and granted to Henry Waldy, of Tekonay, 
authority to hold one. and ''to supply passengers with horses from 
Philadelphia to New Castle, or to the Falls." The rates of postage 

* " Madam Knight's Journal," of the year 1704, shows that she was two weeks in riding 

with the postman, as her guide, from Boston to New York. In most of the towns, she saw 

Indians. She often saw wampum passing as money among the people ; but M. a meal, nt 

innsv &C; Tobacco was used and sold under the name of black juDk, 

4 M 



C2G The Post. 

were, to wit: — "Letters from the Fulls to Philadelphia, 3(1. — to 
Cliester, 5il. — to New Castle, 7d. — to Maryland. 9d. — and Iroin 
Piiiladelphia to Chester, 2d. — to New Castle, 4d — and to Mary- 
land, Gd." This post went once a week, and it w as to he carefully 
pnhlished "on tiie meeting-house door, and otlier public places." 
These facts I found in the MSS. of the Pemberton family. A regu- 
lar Act for a post-office at Philadelphia, wast first enacted in the 
year 1700. 

Col. John Hamilton, of New Jersey, and son of Governor An- 
(hT\^ Hamilton, first devised tlie post-office scheme for Biitish 
America, for which he obtained a patent, and the profits accruing. 
Afterwards, he sold it to the Crown, and a member of parliament 
was appointed for the whole, with a right to have his substitute 
reside in New York. 

In 1717, mo. Dec. — Jonathan Dickinson writes to his corres- 
pondent, saying, "We have a settled post from Virginia and Ma- 
ryland unto us, and goes through all our northern colonies, where- 
by advices from Boston unto Williamsburgh. in Virginia, is com- 
pleted in four weeks, from March to December, and in double that 
time in the other months of the year.'' 

In 1722, the Gazette says, — " We have been these three days ex- 
pecting the New York Post, as usual, but he is not yet arrived,'" al- 
though three days over his time ! 

In 1727, the mail to Annajtolis is opened this year to go once a 
fortnight in summer, and once a month in winter, via New Castle, 
ike. to tlae Western Shore, aiul back by the Eastern Shore ; man- 
aged by Wm. Bradford in Philadelpiiia, and by Wm. Parks in 
Annapolis. 

In 1729, Dec. the Gazette announces, that while the New York 
post continues his fortnight stage, we shall publish but once a 
week, as in former times." In summer, it went once a week. 

In 1738. Henry Pratt is made riding Postmaster for all tlie 
stages between Philadelphia and Newport, in Virginia ; to set out 
in the beginning of each month, and to return in 24 days. To him, 
all merchants, &c. may confide their letters and other business, he 
having given security to the Postmaster General. In this day we 
can haAC little conception of his lonely rides through imperfect 
roads; of has laying out at times all night, and giving his horse a 
range of rope to brow se, while he should make his letter-pack his 
pillow, on the ground ! 

In 1744, it is announced in the Gazette, that the "northern post 
begins his fortnight stages on Tuesday next, for the winter season." 

In 1745, Jolin Bailey, surveyor, states that he has just made 
survey of tlie road from Trenton to Amboy, and hath setup marks 
at every two miles, to guide the traveller. It was done by private 
subscriptions, and he proposes to do the w hole road from Philadel- 
phia to New York, in the same way, if a sum can be made up ! 

In 1748, when professor Kalm arrived at Philadelphia from 



Tlie Post. 627 

London, many of the inhabitants came on board his vessel for let- 
tci's. Sucli as were not so called for, were taken to the Coffee- 
house, where every body could make irniuiry for them, thus show- 
ing, that then, the post-otlice did not seem to claim a right to dis- 
tribute them as now. 

In 1753. the delivery of letters by the penny-post was first began. 
At the same time, began the practice of advertising remaining let- 
ters in the ollice. The letters for all the neighbouring counties 
went to Philadelphia, and lay tliere till called for — thus, letters for 
Newtown, Bristol, Chester, New Castle, &.c. are to be called for 
in Philadelphia. 

Even at that late period, the northern mail goes and returns but 
once a week in summer, and once a fortnight in winter, just as it 
did 25 years before. 

But in 1754. mo. of October, a new impulse is given, so as to 
start for New York, tliereafter, on Monday, Wednesday, and Fri- 
day ; and in the winter, once a week. This, therefore, marks the 
period of a new era in the mail establishment of our country. It 
owed this impulse, extending also to Boston, to the management of 
our Franklin, made Postmaster General. 

In 1755, the Postmaster General, Benjamin Franklin, publish- 
es, that to aid trade, ^c. he gives notice, that thereafter, the win- 
ter northern mail from Philadelphia to New England, which used 
to set out but once a fortnight, shall start once a week all the year 
round. — "whereby answers maybe obtained to letters between 
Philadelphia and Boston, in three weeks, which used to require six 
weeks !" 

In 1758, newspapers which aforetime were carried post free per 
mail, will, by the reason of their great increase, be changed there- 
after to the small price of 9d. a year, for 50 miles, and Is. 6d. for 
100 miles. This was, most probably, the private emolument of the 
rider ; the papers themselves not having been mailed at all, it is 
probable. 

Finally, in 1774, which brings colonial things nearly to its final 
close, by the war of Independence, soon after, we read that "John 
Perkins engages to ride post to carry the mail once a week to Bal- 
timore, and will take along or bring back led liorses or any par- 
(?els." 



628 



GAZETTES. 



" These mark the every -day affairs of life." 

THE early newspapers are by no means such miscellaneous and 
amusing tilings as our modern use of them might lead us to con- 
ceive. They are very tame, and the news, which is generally 
foreign, is told in very dull prose: very little like jest or mirth 
appear in any of them. Fruitful as Franklin was in amusing wTi- 
tings, it is really surprising how very devoid of Spectator-like ar- 
ticles his paper is ; hut very little has been furnished by his pen. 
He must have deemed it out of place for liis paper, and therefore 
confined his essays to his '' Poor Richard's Almanac,'' which was so 
favourably received as to call for three editions in the same year. 
Reflections on men and manners of that day, to which he was so 
very competent, would have been very interestirjg and judicious ; 
but I have found nothing. Probably ''the even tenor of their way," 
in the days of his chief residence among us, excited no cause of re- 
marks, and that it was chiefly since the Revolution that we began 
to deserve remarks on the changing character of the times and the 
people. 

But after every omission and neglect in such editors, old news- 
papers are still unavoidably a kind of mirror of their age, for 
they bring up the very age with all its bustle and every day oc- 
currence, and mark its genius and its spirit, more tiian the most 
laboured description of the historian. Sometimes a single adver- 
tisement incidentally " prolongs the dubious tale." An old paper 
must make us thoughtful, for we also shall make our exit; thei-e 
every name we read of in print is already cut upon tombstones. 
The names of doctors have followed their patients ; the merchants 
have gone after their perished ships, and the celebrated actor fur- 
nishes his own scull for his successor*in Hamlet. 

''The American Weekly Mercury" was begun by Andrew 
Bradford, son of William, in Philadelphia, 1719, in company with 
John Copson. This was the first gazette ever published in our 
city. It was begun the 22d of December, 1719, at 10 shillings 
per annum. The general object of the paper is said to be '* to en- 
courage trade." It does not seem to be the spirit of the paper to 
give the local news, or rather, they did not seem to deem it worth 
their mention. It might have been but "a tale twice told" for 
which they were unwilling to pay, while they thought every man 



&axeUes. Gi29 

fDuld know his domestic news without an advertiser. Foreign 
news and Custom-house entries inwards and outwards, including 
equally the ports of New York and Boston, constituted thcgcncrpl 
contents of every Mercury. 

In November, 1742, the publisher, Andrew Bradford, died, and 
•fhe paper was set in mournijjg columns, kc. for six weeks. After 
this it continued by the widow until 1746, when it was discontinued, 
probably from the cause of William Bradford, the former partner 
of Andrew, having soon after his death set up a new paper called 
the Pennsylvania Journal. 

In 1727, Benjamin B'ranklin projected the scheme of publishing 
a second, or rival paper ; but his project being exposed to Keimer, 
he supplanted Franklin by hastily jjublishing his prospectus — a 
strange vapouring composition — and fell to getting subscribers. 
By this means he w<as enabled to start, and even to continue for 
Jiinc short months, '' the Pennsylvania Gazette." He had got 
only ninety subscribers, when Fj-anklin and Joseph Brcintnal, un- 
der the title of the " Busy Body," contributed to write him down 
in Bradford's Mercury. Thus won by conquest, Franklin soon 
managed to buy it for a trifle, as his own. 

The Pennsylvania Gazette began in 1728. The braggart style 
of Keimer's prospectus is a little curious. His eccentric mind led 
him to throw it into an alphabetical order, and to embrace in ency- 
clopedia form, the whole circle of the arts and sciences ! This ar- 
rangement was abandoned as soon as Franklin became editor. 
Some specimens of his braggart manner is tluis displayed, to wit : 
''Whereas many have encouraged me to publish a paper of intel- 
ligence; and whereas the late Mercury has been so wrctciiedly 
performed as to be a scandal to the name of printing, as to be truly 
styled nonsense in folio, this is therefore to notify that I shall be- 
gin, in November next, a most useful paper, to be eiitilled the 
Pennsylvania Gazette or Universal Instructer. The proposer, he 
says, having dwelt at the fountain of intelligence in Europe, will 
be able to give a paper to please all and to offend none, at the rea- 
sonable expense of 10 shillings per annum, prodantation money. 
So far, it possessed Dr. Johnson's character of a good advertise- 
ment : it having '* that promise which is the soul of a good adver- 
tisement !" 

But he transcends even the superlative degree ! It will, says he, 
exceed all others that ever were in America, and will possess in 
fine the most complete body of history and philosophy ever yet 
published since the creation ! Possibly lie meant this extravagant 
praise for his intended extracts from Ciiambers' groat Dictionary, 
for he adds, that a work of the selfsame design has been going on 
in England, by no less than seven Dukes, two Viscounts, eigiitcen 
Earls, twenty-two Lords, and some lanidreds of Knights, Estiuires, 
&c. and withal approved and honoured by the wisest King — even 
the very darling of heaven — King George the first ! Such adver- 



GSO Bazettes. 

tisemcnts could not Secure patronage now, and as he eked out liis> 
great work for less tlian one year, it is presumed liis gins did not 
ensnare the wary of that day. Aias ! liis visions of hope ended in 
a prison before the year had filled its term. 

In October. 1729, tlte Gazette was assumed by B. Franklin and 
H. Meredith, and they promptly state in their prospectus their in- 
tention to discontinue the alphabetical extracts from Chambers' 
Dictionary and from the Religious Courtsliip — subjects surely in- 
compatible enough for newspaper readers. Soon after commencing 
they advertise that because of their increase of patronage they will 
print twice a week. — delivering half a sheet at a time on the old 
subscription price of 10 shillings. 

The Gazette un(!er their management gained reputation, but un- 
til Franklin obtained the appointment of Postmaster. Bradford's 
Mercury had tiie largest circulation. After this event, the Gazette 
had a full j)roportion of subscribers and advertising custom, and 
became profitable. 

Meredith and Fianklin separated in May, 1732. Franklin continued 
the Gazette, but published it only once a week. In 1733, he printed it on 
a crown halt" sheet quarto. — Price 10 shillings a year. In 1741, he en- 
larged the size to a demy quarto half sheet. In 1745, he reverted to 
foolscap folio. In 1747-8, the Gazette was published " by B, Franklin, 
Postmaster, and D Hall," and was enlarged to a whole sheet crown 
folio, and afterward by a great increase of advertisements to a sheet, and 
often to a sheet and a half demy. On the 9th of May, 1754, the device 
of a snake, divided into eight parts, (the number of the then colonies uni- 
ted against the French and Indians) was affixed, Avith the motto " Join 
or die." 

In May, 1766, it was published by Hall and Sellers, who continued it 
until 1777, but suspended at the visit of the British army. Afterwards 
it was published once a week until the death of Sellers, in 1804. After- 
wards by others. 

The Fennsiflvania Journal and the Weekly Advertiser. 

This paper was first published on Tuesday, December 2d, 1742. It 
was printed on a foolscap sheet. The day of publication was changed 
to Wednesday. Printed by William Bradford. 

About the year 1766, the imprint was changed to William and Thomas 
Bradford. This paper was devoted to the cause of the country, but it 
was suspended during the possession of the city by the British. 

William Bradford died in 1791. Then the Journal was continued by 
his surviving partner subsequent to 1800. It was finally superseded by 
" the True American." 

The Pennsylvania Chronicle and Universal Advertiser — Contain- 
ing the freshest advices, ^c. 

The Chronicle was published weekly on Monday. The first number 
appeared January 6, 1767, by William Goddard, at 10 shillings pel* 



Qaxctfcs. 031 

annum. This was the fourth newspaper in the English language estab- 
lished at Philadelphia, and the first with four columns lo a page, in the 
colonics. The second and third years it was printed in quarto, and t[>c 
fourth year again in folio. It was ably edited — having the celebrated 
Joseph Galloway, Esq. and Thomas Wharton, Esq. as secret partners. 
It gained great circulation. It became at last too tory in its bias to stand 
the times. It continued till February, 1773, 

The Pennsylvania Packet, or Ihe General Advertiser. 

This was issued from the press, in November, 1771, by John Dun- 
lap, once a week. In 1783, he sold out to D. C. Claypole, who printed 
it 3 times a week, for about a year, and afterwards, daily, making it the 
Jirst daily paper in all the United States. 

Mr. Claypole having been enriched by its publication, sold out his 
right to the present Zachariah Poulson, by whom it is now continued in 
very great patronage, under the name of the " Amei'ican Daily Adver- 
tiser." 

Of this paper, we have a few words of special notice. It is more pro- 
perly municipal and domestic than any other which we know. It seems 
composed to suit the family hearth and fire-side comforts of good and 
sober citizens, never flaunting in the gaudy gUire of party allurements ; 
never stained with the ribaldry and virulence of party recrimination. It 
is patriarchal, — looking alike to the wants and benefits of a// our citizens, 
as common children of the same city family. It is, in short, a paper like 
the good old times from which it has descended, and like the people ol 
the former days, its present most numerous readers, it carries with ii 
something grave, discriminative, useful, and considerate. 

The Pennsylvania Ledger, and Weekly Advertiser. 

This Ledger was first published January 28, 1775, by James Hum- 
phreys, jun. at 10 shillings a year. He started to act impartially, but af- 
ter the British got possession of the city, it was turned to their interest. 
The last number was published May 23, 1778. 

The Pennsylvania Evening Post, 

Was first published Jan. 24, 1775, by Benjamin Towne, in 4to, three 
times a week ; price 3 shillings per quarter. This was the third even- 
ing paper in the colonies. It continued to be published till the year 1782. 

Story and Humphrey's Pennsylvania Mercury , and Universal 
Advertiser. 

The Mercury came before the public in April, 1775, and was publish- 
ed weekly, on Fridays, on a demy sheet, folio, with home-made types. 
It was short-lived, for the whole establishment was destroyed by fire in 
December, 1775. 



6S'2 Gux^ettes, 

Tlie German Mic simpers printed previously to the year 177i>, 
were these : — 

As early as May, 1743, a German newspaper was started in Philadel 
phia, by Joseph Crellius, entitled the « High Dutch Pennsylvania Jour- 
nal." 

By an advertisement in the Pennsylvania Gazette, of September, 1751, 
I find there was at that time " A Dutch and English Gazette, in both 
languages, adapted to those who incline to learn either. — Price 5 shillings 
per annum." 

Another German paper was established about the year 1759, by Mil- 
ler and Weiss, conveyancers, — the former ones being discontinued. It 
was printed for them about two years by Gotthan Armbruster. 

Anlhony Armbruster, in 1762, began a new German paper, which he 
published weekly for several years. 

H. Miller's German newspaper was began in 1762 ; and for some time 
there were two German and two English newspapers publishing in the 
city. 

Der TFochentliche Philadelphische Staatsbothe. 

This newspaper was first published in the German language in 1762.. 
by Henry Miller, weekly — afterwards twice a week, on demy size. 

In 1768, the title was changed to " Pennsylvanische Staatsbothe," i. e, 
the Pennsylvania Post Boy. It thus continued until May, 1779, when 
the paper ended. 

A public Journal was printed at Germantown, in the German language, 
as early as the summer of 1739, by Christopher Sower. Its name, Eng- 
lished, read — The Pennsylvania German Recorder of Events. In 1744, 
it was continued by C. Sower, jun. under the name of the Germantauner 
Zeitung ; this continued till the year of the war of 1777. 

It results from the foregoing notices of our newspapers, (the facts 
being chiefly derived from Thomas' History of Printing,) thai 
fifty years ago there were only three newspapers published in the 
city, viz. — two in English and one in German. In contrast witk 
tlie present numerous Sentinels, w^atching the public weal, and 
their own, how diminutive the two weekly affairs of that day ap- 
pear ! At the present day the greatest innovation in these *' folios 
and maps of busy life," which meet the eye, as a change for the 
worse, are the numerous wood-cut signs hung out from the colum- 
ner lines, like signs from their street-posts, and like them inter- 
rupting and disfiguring the whole perspective view. It is an in- 
considerate as well as annoying display ; for in the very nature of 
things it ceases to arrest attention whenever it becomes so common 
as to be like a wooden block set at every man's door. 



OLDX2Br TXMS 
AFFECTIOIVS & RESEIARCHES. 

" I'll note 'em in my book of memory." 

IN writing these memorials of the times by-gone, I have often 
felt the suggestion pressed upon my mind, whetlier I am indeed 
pursuing inquiries and preserving facts \^ilich will have the sym- 
pathies and countenance of others, or am I so peculiar, as to be 
only amusing myself. I have thought the contemplation of time 
pasty has something inherently attractive ; not indeed in the notice 
of our personal waste of years, wlien sufficiently old to see our sun 
declining, but in the recollections of the exhilarating sunsliine beams 
of our youth. Not that, when the past was the present, we were 
all satisfied with our situations and ourselves, but that vexations 
have been forgotten in the lapse of years, and we remember plea- 
sures alone ; as in looking back on the landscape we have passed 
over, the rude hills become softened by distance, and tlie cliffs that 
were so difficult to surmount, seem dissolving in the purple sky. 
For this reason, the recollections of childhood are so captivating to 
every unperverted mind, though to him whose soul is stained with 
crimes, they are fraugiit witli pain and remorse. 

The causes which operated to induce me to form the present mu- 
seum of incidents of ^"men and manners** once, are curious even to 
myself. The resolution to execute them, was only a passion of a few 
years ; but the love to such objects in general, was as early as my 
childhood, and has indeed " grown with my growth, and strengthen- 
ed with my strength." I may now say, I feel gratified that my mind 
has been thus led to chronicle incidents. Many of them ought to 
be preserved as the eventful facts of a land peculiarly favoured of 
Heaven, and as destined, perchance, to future renown. fFe should 
not forget these things ; and the record of them, in such manner as 
I have adopted, should be deemed a generous service to all those, 
who, with grateful hearts, love to consider tlie causes of their bles- 
sings. Piety and patriotism, equally cherish such sentiments. 

I have had frequent occasions to lament that these kind of inqui- 
ries were not instituted sooner, even by myself: tliey might have 
been advantageouslv begun much earlier, bv still older persons. 
' 4 N 



d34 Olden Time Affections and Researches. 

In now recollecting the aged of my early days, of whom I might 
have inquired, how many are remembered from whom nothing was 
attempted ! To illustrate these ideas, what a ti'easure might Dr. 
Franklin have imparted of all he had seen or knew, from the years 
17£3 to 1790, when he died ! He was remarkably qualified to have 
given us t!ie materials for such a history as I have attempted in 
these pages. He must have been familiar with the traditions of the 
primitive settlers ; must have seen many who saw Penn, &c. But 
his mind appeals never to have been drawn to the consideration of 
their value to us, their posterity. The truth is, very few minds 
arc so abstracted from the daily concerns of life, as to perceive that 
the things which at any given moment every man knows, may, 
thereafter, become highly interesting. Another reason may be, 
that Franklin never saw, at any particular period, any such aston- 
ishing improvements, as, since his death, every where arrest at- 
tention. Colonial things were too uniform and tame to arouse the 
mind. All tilings, in his day, were regularly progressive, gliding 
lo its end with the smootliness of a stream. But if a person of my 
inquiring mind had had opportunities of drawing from such an ob- 
serving mind as Franklin's, what a fund of entertainment and in- 
formation could have been derived for posterity ! 

For reasons like the above, I, who am but middle-aged, am bet- 
ter qualified to ask various questions which would never occur to 
the mind of much older men. To me, the field was all new and 
unexplored, and therefore, with the eagerness of a child which asks 
questions about every thing, I felt constantly awake to inquiries 
on to])ics which would not affect the minds of old persons ; things 
in w hicli they had long ceased to be curious. Owing to this facul- 
ty of the mind, the most interesting travels, like Silliman's, are 
those which record every new thing which most surprises or pleases 
it. Then such a writer must si^eak feelingly enongh for those who, 
like himself, have never seen what he so discovers to them. And 
even to those who have, he refreshes their memories in a way most 
grateful. 

It is probably 17 or 18 years ago, that I desired to see some such 
work as the present, effected. Not thinking to attempt it myself, 
I suggested some such scheme to a friend. It met the approbation of 
the late Mr. Delaplaine, who set upon it with great ardour. My 
ideas were expressed in the form of a prospectus, which procured a 
subscription list, it was said, of 4000 subscribers, before the book 
was even written. With such a patronage, there was a defect of 
labour or enterprise in procuring the materials, and Dr. Mease was 
resorted to as composuist, to bring out something to answer the 
claims of the subscribers. It received the name of "' The Picture 
of Philadelphia," — but how far like my present result, the reader 
must judge. The doctor has managed his materials unexceptiona- 
bly; but the defect was, that he had not the proper staple to weave 
into hii fabric. Had he succeeded better in what were my aims, I 



Olden Time affections and Researches. OS 5 

should ncvci'havc made this attempt; but untouched as my scheme 
had been, I Jiave ma(k^ at last, though thus late, my own efforts, 
although subject to the disadvantage of residing six miles from the 
city, about which my inquiries and observations are employed. — 
and being withal, fettered with daily official duties, and cares of 
paramount consideration. From reasons like these, those who know 
me best, will be readiest to excuse iinpert'ections, whether of style 
or selection,— and critics, if tliey deign to notice such labours, did 
they know the irregular hours and intervals in which fragments of 
time were seized for the purjiose, might rather wondei' it has been 
so well, than that it should have been so illy executed. To judge be- 
yond this, may savour of ill-nature, 

« which taught them still to say, 

Whate'er was done, jnight have been better done 1" 

To such, I need only say,— ''What is writ, is writ,— would it 
were worthier." 

Many of my selections of local facts were abstracted from a very 
great mass of court papers, and had to be hunted out among files 
of petitions, recognizances, special presentments for assaults, bat- 
teries, felonies, tippling and disorderly houses, kc. being thewswa^ 
accompaniments of '' quarter Sessions,'' as is well known to those 
in any degree acquainted with the criminal docket. Most proba- 
bly, such a search they have not before had, since packed away as 
the lumber of otUce, and such another, I presume, they will never 
have again ! Some local notices may appear too ti-ivial for notice : 
but who knows what future discoveries may be made, in digging 
into some of the former ^' fillings up?'* as, for instance, the late 
discovery of sub-terrene logs, in Chesnut street, by Hudson's al- 
ley, (the remains of the old bridge, kc.) which no living persons 
could explain from memory ! If a jewel, or some pieces ot coin, 
(as may occur !) should hereafter be dug out of some of the " breach- 
es" of Front street, (afterwards filled up) some of t'.ie foregoing 
facts may tend to elucidate the cause of their deposit there. As 
Boswell said, in an apology for his minute mention of the ''oak 
cu(/?e^,"— it was because it might afterwards become the hero of a 
good tale, in the hands of so interesting a character as Johnson I 
Johnson's Rambler, too, justly remarks, "nor can it be always 
safely determined, which should be rejected or retained; for they 
may sometimes u)iexpectedly contribute to tiie illustration of his- 
tory, and to the knowledge of the natural commodities of the coun- 
try, or of the genius and customs of its inhabitants." 

Poulson's paper of March 6, 1821, contains an article by me, 
entitled " Old Times" of 1769, &c. It requests others to cominu- 
nicate similar facts. I thus tried to set others at this kuid ot 
sfervice, and to exempt myself ;— but none heeded my counsel,— and 



636 Olden Time Jffections and Researches. 

afterwards I made my own attempt. Fame or reward never ert- 
tered into my motives. Like quaint Joluj Bunyan, 
" 'Twas mine own self to gratify !" 

The service was sufficiently pleasing in itself, to be a positive 
recreation and amusement, furnishing its own reward by the 
May, — 

" For having my method by the end, 

Still as I pull'd, it came ; 

Till at length it came to be, 

For size, the bigness which you see 1" 

I have deemed it my duty, in many cases, to support my facts 
with the names of the credible relators. Not that they alone men- 
tioned tliem to me, for it was my practice to confirm surprising 
facts by concurrent testimony, so far as the things told, were sus- 
ceptible of being known to others. Several authorities too, deem- 
ed awkward or indelicate to introduce into the printed text, may 
be found in their connexion, in the original MS. Annals, in the Ci- 
ty Library, and in the Historical Society. 

There is another remark concerning names which might be ap- 
propriately mentioned here, as showing that I was aware that 
names and personalities are sometimes too sensitive to bear the 
toiioii. Yet I found it needful to retain them in general, and 
espf^cially in my MS. as my necessary proofs and vouchers, in case 
of dispute or reference. Some that I designed only in initials, the 
inadvertency of the printer sometimes retained. In other cases, 
tlie names were sanctioned by the informants or persons them- 
selves, — and finally, as an imposing reason, some names occasion- 
ally became a necessary appendage of the story. 

In searching for some of these facts, was like seeking for the 
*' living among the dead." Only a few of the very aged, as by ac- 
cident, had preserved their memory. And very often, persons 
equally old, or even older, dwelling on the spot of interest or in- 
quiry, knew nothing, or nearly nothing, about it. The compara- 
tive intelligence of different men of equal ages, was often very dis- 
similar. To exemplify this, I have only to say, that not one aged 
man in fifty now in Philadelphia, could tell me where was ♦* Guest's 
Blue Anchor tavern, in Budd's long row," — nor the "Barbados 
lot," — nor the *' Swamp,"— nor the adjoining " Society Hill," — 
nor " Bathsheba's bath and bower," — the ''Schuylkill Baptiste- 
rion," — the ' ' old hospital," — " Hudson's orchard," — "Penny-pot 
landing," — "Penn's cottage," — the Swedes' house," — and many 
other things spoken of in these pages. / came at them by reading 
ancient papers, and then by re-calling forgotten things to their me- 
mories, their minds were enabled to seize on long forgotten facts. 
Sometimes, when I have asked ancient persons to tell me what 
they knew of antiquity, such would seem to have nothing to relate : 



Olden Time Jffections and Researches. 637 

all scorned a blank to them. But when I have traiisported myself 
back to the cotcmporancous occurrences of tlieir youth, and warned 
their imagination with recitals, with which they were once familiar. 
I have been rewarded, by receiving many of the lively images of 
things which my conversation liad g(Mierated. Without vanity I 
may say it. I iiave often made my company agreeable to tlie aged, 
and have seen them ({uickencd to many emotions younger tlian 
their common fcelijigs or their years. On other occasions I have 
visited such as were past sensibility, — the body enfeebled and the 
memory decayed : I laboured in vain to revive the expiring spark 
of life. They were looking for their "appointed change," and 
this not unwisely engrossed all their thoughts. Finally, earlier 
questions might iiave been more successful, and any thing later 
than my attempt, " wcnild have been absolutely fatal ! What I res- 
cued was trembling on the lips of narrative old age" or ''tumb- 
ling piece meal into the tomb." My regret is, that some of those 
of whom, or from whom, 1 write, will scarcely stay to have the 
chance of reading some of these pages. I might perhaps perti- 
nently hint at my being fully aware of occasional repetition of facts 
in substance, though not in language,— this necessarily occurred 
occasionally from the design of making given chapters more com- 
plete on given subjects. 

With some I shall doubtless need an apology for the little esti- 
mation in which they may regard some of my collections ; I am 
content to say, I have only written for kindred minds. The dis- 
tinguished Montesquieu once pressed this question upon an English 
nobleman, " Pray, my Lord, does the great Newton eat, drink and 
sleep, as other men ?" Such affections as mine have had prece- 
dents enough in feeling minds — for instance, "tlic oak," immor- 
talized by Cowper's muse, became so precious that the owner, the 
Marquis of Northampton, to keep it from its frequent pious thefts, 
was obliged to enclose it by a strong fence, and to affix to it a no- 
tice of prohibition. The chair in which the poet Thomson compo- 
sed, is exhibited at his commemorative festivals. How many pious 
thefts have been made upon Shakespeare's mulberry tree ; and 
cups made from that, and from the "royal oak," have sold at 
great prices. Learned doctors still deem it an honour to shroud 
themselves in Rabelais' old cloak at Montpelier. The taking of 
the sword of Frederick the Great by Bonaparte, from Berlin to 
Paris, while it shows his estimate of relics, is treated by Scott 
and the world, as a heinous offence to all other men. Of all such 
things, says Edgeworth, and truly too, "we contemplate such 
with deep curiosity, because they are full of local impressions, and 
by the aid of these we create the ideal presence." They conned 
the heart and the imagination with the past. 

Among the encouragements to such reminiscences, I may men- 
tion such evidence as results from public celebrations of feats in- 
tended to revive and cherish such recollections. They prove to 



63 8 Olden Time ^9ffectwns and Researches. 

mo. that my anticipations from such records as the present, have 
not been vain. 

Already has the semi-historical sketches of Erving's muse in 
this way, given rise to a drama in which is portrayed the costumes 
and manners of the primitive Knickerbockers. The prologue to 
his "Rip Van Winkle" has some sentiments to my taste and to 
my future expectations of what may be hereafter set forth in poetry, 
painting, or romance, to arrest the attention of modern Philadel- 
pliians, to what were the primitive manners of their forefathers. 
Tlie poet thus speaks, to wit : 

"• In scenes of yore endear'd by classic tales 
The comic muse with smiles of rapture hails ; 
'Tis when we view those days of Auld Lang Sayncy 
Their charms with Home— that majic name combines. 
Shades of the Dutch ! how seldom rhyme hath shown 
Your ruddy beauty, and your charms full blown ! 
How long neglected have your merits lain ! 
But Irving's genius bids them rise again." 

Our country has been described abroad, and perhaps conceived 
of at home, says Flint, as sterile of moral interest. *' We have, it is 
said, no monuments, no ruins, none of the colossal remains of tem- 
ples, and baronical castles and monkish towers, nothing to connect 
the heart and the imagination with tlie past, none of the dim recol- 
lections of the gone-by, to associate the past with the future." 
But althougli \ve have not the solemn and sombre remains of the 
past, as the remains of the handy work of man, we have every 
thing in the contemplation of the future. For when our thoughts 
have traversed rivers a thousand leagues in length, when we have 
seen the ascending steam boat breasting the mantling surge, or seen 
her along our opening canals, gleaming through the verdure of the 
trees, we have imagined the happy multitudes that from those 
shores shall contemplate their scenery in ages to come, in times 
when we shall have "strutted through life's poor play," and 
"been no more !" 



re:markable: incidents. 



" A book wherein wc read strange matters." 

THE present chapter is intended to embrace a variety of mis- 
cellanea of such peculiarity or variety in their occurrence as to af- 
ford some surprise, to wit : 

jrUd Pigeons. — Tlic present aged Thomas Bradford, Esq. told 
me of hearing his ancestors say they once saw a flock fly over the 
city which obscured the sun for tw o or three hours, and were killed 
by hundreds, by people using sticks on the tops of the liouses. Mr. 
Bradford himself used to see them brought to tlie Pliiladelphia mar- 
ket by cart-loads. The aged T. Matlack informed me he once saw 
a full wagon-load knocked down. A Captain Davy who was in 
Philadelphia at that time, (described above) went afterwards to Ire- 
land, and tliere describing what he had seen, and giving the data for 
their numbers by giving breadth and time of passing, kc. some of 
the calculators declared they could not find numerals whereby to 
estimate their aggregate ! They therefore declared it was a w Jjap- 
ping lie, and ever after they gave to Captain Davy, the name of 
Captain Pigeon. 

Thomas Makin's poetic description of Pennsylvania in 1729, 
in Latin verse, says, 

" Here in the fall, large flocks of pigeons fly 
So numerous, that they darken all the sky." 

In 1782, Hector St. John, of Carlisle, describing the country 
scenes he had before witnessed there, says, twice a year they en- 
snared numerous wild pigeons. They were so numerous in their 
flight as to obscure the sun. He has caught 14 dozen at a time in 
nets, and lias seen as many sold for a penny as a man could carry 
home. At every farmer's house they kept a tamed wild pigeon in 
a cage at the door, to be ready to be used at any time to allure the 
wild ones when they approached. 

In 1793, Just before the time of the yellow fever, like flocks flew 
daily over Philadelphia, and were shot from numerous high houses. 
The markets were crammed with them. They generally had 
nothing in their craws besides a single acorn. The superstitious 
soon found out they presaged some evil : and sure enough sickness 
and death came ! 



640 Remarkable Incidents* 

Fire Flies The first settlers and all subsequent European set- 
tlers have been much surprised with our night illuminations by our 
numerous phosphorescent summer flies. Makin thus spoke of them 
in his day — 

" Here insects are which many much admire, 
Whose plumes in summer ev'nings shine like fire " 

Bees. — These in the time of Kalm, who wrote of them in 1748, 
says they were numerous and must liavebeen imported, because the 
Indians treated them as new-comers, and called them significantly 
English flies. Hector St. John, at Carlisle, at and before 1782, 
speaks of the bees being numerous in the woods in that neiglibour- 
hood, and gives some humorous stories of their manner of find- 
ing the place of the cells and the means of procuring the honey 
from hollow trees. 

Rarities sent to Peiin — Among the presents sent to William Penn, 
by his request of the year 1686, were these, to wit : he saying, 
"Pray send us some two or three smoked haunches of venison and 
pork. Get also some smoked shad and beef. The old priest at 
Philadelphia had rare shad. Send also some pease and beans of 
the country. People concerned ask much to see something of the 
place. Send also shrubs aiul sarcafras," &c. In another letter he 
asks for tame foxes and Indian ornaments. In another he calls 
for furs, for coverlets and petticoats, and also some cranberries. 

Flies and Martins. — I have often heard it remarked by aged 
people that the flies in Philadelphia were much more numerous and 
troublesome in houses in their early days than since, especially in 
Market street. The difference now is imputed to the much greater 
cleanliness of our streets and the speedier removal of offals, &c. 
It is said too, that the flies and flees were excessive in the summer 
in which the British occupied Philadelphia, caused then by the ap- 
pendages of the army. 

Mr. Thomas Bradford, who has been now 80 years a curious ob- 
server of the martins, has noticed their great diminution in the city, 
which he imputes to the decrease of flies, their proper food. In for- 
mer years they came annually in vast numbers, and so clamorously 
as in many cases to drive out the pigeons from their proper resorts. 
Now he sees boxes whicli are never occupied. A late author in 
Europe has said martins decrease there as flies and musquitoes 
diminish. 

Hector St. John, in 1782, speaks of his means of ridding his 
bouse of flies, in a manner sufficiently alarming to others. He 
brings a hornet's nest filled with hornets from the woods, and sus- 
pends it in lieu of an ornamental chandelier or glass globe, from 
the centre of his parlour ceiling ! Here, being unmolested, they 
do no harm to any of the family, but pleased with their warm and 
dry abode, they catch and subsist on numerous troublesome flies. 



RmiarliaUe Incldcnls. Q^i 

These they constantly catch on the persons and even the faces of 
his children ! 

Locusts. — ^749, June Ist — Great quantities then noticed — again 
in 1766, in 1783 and in 1800 — in this last year they appeared 'first 
on the 25th of May. 

Sturgeon — were a fish remarkahly ahundant in the Delaware and 
Schuylkill river, and were formerly much more valtiod as diet among 
us, and esjiecially hy foreigners. 'I'he old newspapers olleii adver- 
tised it for sale by tlie city agent of one Richards, wlio pickled them 
in a rare manner at Trenton. We know from liistory that Sir Samuel 
Argal, the Deputy Governor of Virginia, first visited that colony 
in 1609, to trade and fish for sturgeon to he conveyed to Europe. 
Formerly there were hut few families in the country hut what put 
up one or two sturgeons every year at tiie shad time. In Penn's 
time they could he counted hy dozens at a time leaping into the 
air and endangering the boats ! 

JS'hxious Insects. — Several of these have appeared among us as 
new-comers — such as destroyed perpetually the leaves of our fin(^ 
elms once in tiie State-house yard, made their passage to this 
country about the year 1791, and began their wasteful career on 
like trees near the cornei' of Pine and Front streets. They were 
supposed to have got their passage in some foreign vessel making 
her discharge of cargo in that neighbourhood. They since destroy 
like trees at Chew's place in Gcrmantown — 

" There filthily beway and sore disgrace 

The boughs on which are bred ih' unseemly race." 

Kalm, in 1748, speaks then of the pease being so destroyed by 
tlie bug that they then abandoned the cultivation of them, although 
they had before had them without such molestation in great abun- 
dance. They had to send to Albany for their annual seed, who 
would still use them, because tlie insect which also overspread 
New York neighbourhood, had hitherto exempted those at Albany* 

It is curious, that while the worm to the peach trees, now so 
annoying and destructive to our trees, were formerly unknown 
here, they were in Kalm's time making general ravages on the 
peaches at Albany. Now Albany is again, I believe, in j)ossession 
of good fruit. In tlie summer of 1750, a certain kind of worms, 
(so says the gazettes) cut off almost all tiie leaves of tiie trees in 
Pennsylvania, avoiding only the laurel hush ; the leaves of which 
are poisonous to some animals. 

Mr. Kalm made frequent mention of the excessive anrioyance of 
the wood-lice every where abounding in the woods. They were 
constantly brushed upon the clothes, and if you sat down upon a 
stump or a fallen ti'ee, oi- upon the ground, you were speedily covered 
by a host of them, insinuating themselves under as well as above 
your clothes. 

He speaks of locusts coming, as now, in everv 17 vfars. Cater- 
'40 



64i: liemarkahle Incidents. 

pillars too came occasionally in such numbers as to dcstioy entire 
forests. Some such places he saw, where trees were growing up 
amidst the bare stalks of the old dead ones, destroyed by tiic worms. 

J\'\)xious Weeds. — It occurs to me to mention some facts respect- 
ing some very ])revalent weeds which have been introduced among 
us, to our prejudice, from foreign countries. The " Ranstead weed," 
or Anterriiium Lincria, now excessively numerous in some fields 
around Philadelphia. It came first fi'om Wales, being sent as a 
garden flower for Mr. Ranstead of Philadelphia, an upholsterer 
and a Welshman. 

The yellow and white daisy, or Chrisanthemum Lucanthemum, 
also the day-w akers and night-sleepers, or star-hyacinth, botani- 
cally called Ornytlicgelum Umbalatum. These also originally 
came out as garden flowers, where they multiplied, and their seed 
afterwards getting abi'oad in manure, produced a general diffusion 
of tlmse pernicious plants. On one occasion, they came out in 
some straw packing to old Mr. Wister, and from inoculating his 
farm, proceeded to others. The late introduction of the Merino 
wool, has introduced the seed of another weed, which is multiply- 
ing rapidly among us. 

Rare Jloods and ebbs. — In 1687, Phineas Pemberton, in his let- 
ter, speaks of the great land flood and ru])ture, at or near the Falls 
of Delaware. It occasioned much mortality afterwai'ds. 

In 1692, 27th of 2d mo. he speaks of the great flood at the Dela- 
ware Falls, wliich rose 12 feet above usual high water mark, ow- 
ing to the sudden melting of the snow. The water reached the up- 
per stories of some of the houses, built on low lands. 

1731, Feb. 16. — Last week we had the greatest fresh in the Del- 
aware, ever known since the great flood at Delaware Falls, 30 
years ago, in 1692. 

In 1733, month of February, " the ice in Schuylkill broke up 
W'ith a fresh, and came down in cakes of great thickness, in a terri- 
ble manner, breaking great trees where the flood came near the 
low land. It carried off the flats of two ferries, and the water was 
two and a half feet high on the ground floor of Joseph Gray's mid- 
dle ferry, which is much higher than any fresh is known to have 
been belbre in that river." 

1737, February 3. — Sunday night last the ice, thick and strong, 
broke up with tiie fiesh occasioned by rains and melting of the 
snow. The water rose near six feet on the floor of Joseph Gray's 
house at the middle ferry, which is three feet higher than before 
in 1733. 

March 17. — On Wednesday and Thursday last a south-east 
storm raised the tide higher than known for many years, which did 
great damage. 

1738, April 6, a great storm, at east and north-east, damaged 
the wharves and much raised the creeks. 



Remarhahle Incidents. 643 

1754, January 2,-2, an uuusiially low tide, owing to a gale from 
uorlh-west. 

1767, January 8 — From the great and unexpected thaw since 
Saturday last, tlic ice on Monilay broke up, and at the middle 
ferry carried away all the boats, i)i'oke the ropes, toie the wliarf, 
swept off some of the out-houses, bcc. 

1769. March 1 6. — Saturday last, a remarkable low tide, owing 
to tlie north-west winds. It is said to be two and a half feet lower 
than common low-water mark in the Delaware; and in the Schuyl- 
kill it was so low tliat the ferry boats could not get to the fast land 
on either side. 

1775, September 3. — The highest tide ever known. 

1784, January 13. — Great damage was done by the sudden and 
exti'aordinary rise of water occasioned by the thaw and great rain 
of Thursday last. 

March 15. — This morning (Sunday) about two o'clock the ice 
in the Schuylkill gave way, but soon after it lodged, and formed a 
dam, wliich overflowed suddenly the grounds about the middle 
ferry, and carried off eveiy thing but the brick house — drowning 
several horses and cattle, and forced the family to secure them- 
selves in tlie second story till daylight, whitlier they were followed 
by a h«)rse, that had sougiit refuge in the house. The waters did 
not subside till 4 o'clock on Monday afternoon.* In the I'ennsyl- 
vania Gazette of the 27th of March, 1784, the particulars of this 
event are related in the form of two chapters in Cluonicles — in 
Scripture style. 

1796, March 18. — A lower tide than recollected for many yeare 
— [say since the 26th of December, 1759, when it was lower] 
it was owing to a hard gale tlie night of the 16th instant, and since 
eontinued at north-west. The flood tide was two feet lower than 
a common ebb — the bar visible nearly across — several chimnics 
blown down. 

1804, April 22 and 23. — A very great fresii in the Delaware 
and Scliuylkill, attended with very high tides occasioned by very 
heavy rains. 

1804, March 20. — The ice gorged above the city, on coming down 
Schuylkill in a heavy fresh, whicli occasioned the water to rise to 
so gr« at a height, that a man on horseback, with a common riding 
whip, from tlie Market sti-eet wharf on this side the river, could 
but just reach the top of the ice piled on said wharf. The ice and 
water found its way round the permanent bridge on the west side, 
overflowing the causewjiy between the road and the bridge, to a 
depth that required boating for passengei's for some hours. 

1805 — This summer Schuylkill lower by three inches than had 
been known for 70 years — caused by the long and great drought. 

1810, January 19. — Lowest tide for 14 years. 

1822, February, 21. — The ice and water came over Fairmount 
dam to a depth of nine feet, and brought with it the Falls bridge en« 

* There were 21 persons in the house at the time, of whom only two are now livingi 



644 ^Remarkable Incidents. 

tire, ^vlli^h passed over the dam witliout injuring it, and went be- 
tween the piers of tlie Market sti'eet bridge. At this Ircsh, tiie gen- 
eral body oi' water lar exceeded the fresh in 1804 ; as tlie rising 
so much then, was owing to the ice gorging above. The fresh of 
1822, from Reading down, is considered to have possessed the 
greatest body of water and ice ever known ; at tliat place the river 
rose twelve feet high. 

1824, Ajjri! 7. — During the last four months twenty freshets 
have occnired in Schuylkill. 

In 1824, the 29th of July, a very great and sudden land flood was 
experienced in and around Philadelphia, — the effect of a great dis- 
charge of rain, to w it : — 

It commenced with light showers about nine o'clock, and from 
that time there were some intermissions until half after eleven, when 
tlie rain re-commerkced, and continued, with thunder and lightning, 
for the period of three hours, to pour down such powerful torrents 
of w ater, as to deluge all the low lands in the city and neighbour- 
ing districts. In these situations many cellars were filled, in some 
of which, sugars and other perishable articles were destroyed, and 
other goods were damaged. The enibanked meadows on the bor- 
ders of tiie Delaware and Schuylkill were much injured, and some 
of the cattle were drow ned. Two bridges between Ilohnesburg and 
Frankford, and the floating bridge at Gray's Ferr> , on Schu} Ikiil, 
were carried away. The bridge at the Flat Rock on Schuylkill, 
and Poole's bridge in Front street, were considerably damaged, 
and several mill-dams, and bridges across turnpike and other roads, 
were either calTied away or considerably injured. A large quan- 
tity of lumber and drift wood w as carried down the stream from 
tlie borders of the Schuylkill, and a man who was endeavouring to 
collect a portion of it, was unfortunately drowned yesterday morn- 
ing, below^ Fairmount dam. The loss to the county of Philadelphia, 
and to individuals, must be considerable. The rain which fell, mea- 
sured, by the gage, four and a quar-ter inches. In Germantown, 
it fell eleven inches. 

The water rose in Cohocksink creek, four feet higher than is re- 
collected by the oldest inhabitants in the neighbourhood. It w as 
nine inches deep on the lower floor of a house occupied by a Mr. 
W hite, and his family was apprized of the circumstance by the 
neighbours early this morning, having rested in confidence of their 
being secured from the flood. The honse is an ancient one, having 
been built before the war of the Revolution, and during the conflict, 
was fired by the English ; it was afterwards repaired, as many 
others in the vicinity of our city have been, which were burnt by 
order of the British. 

We measured the height of the water mark left on the w all in 
the lower room of Messrs. Craig & Co's. cotton factory, and found 
it four feet above the floor. The machinery was nearly covered 
w ith it, and about 40 bales of cotton goods were damaged ; the dye 



Remarkahle Incidents. G45 

house belonging to the factory was huiridated, and most ol the dye- 
stutfs destroyed ; niurli of the fencing along the creek was swept 
awav. 

At the bridge over the creek on Second sti-ect, the water rose to 
about four feet above the crown of tlie arcli, and from a liasty view, 
tliere appeared to be about eight or ten cart-loads of lumber across 
tiie stream at that point. It is generally believed, that the insuiti- 
ciency of the tunnel of that bridge to discharge the water, was the 
principal cause of the damage sustained : and from our own knowl- 
edge, within the last 25 years, the bed of the creek at Second street 
lias been raised 5 or 6 feet,, thereby lessening the tunnel nearly one 
lialf in its capacity. 

At the bridge over St. John street there were fifteen or twenty 
loads of lumber, casks, privies, ^c. together witii the plank work 
of the bridge, swept from its pier at Beaver street. A family re- 
siding in a small brick house near Beaver and Third streets, were 
taken from the window of their bed-chamber at about two o'clock 
this morning, at which time the fresh was at its height. 

When the extreme lo^vest tides have occurred in the Delawai'e, 
at the city, there have been some rocks exposed near Cooper's up- 
per ferry, which are never seen, even in part, at other times. The} 
were first observed bare in 17G9,— then again, in 179G,— and 
at last, again in 1810, generally on the 17th of March. These low 
ebbs have usually occurred in March, and have been much pro- 
moted by strong and continued north-west winds. Those rocks 
have been seen as much as seven or eight feet out of the water ;— - 
on such occasions they Ijave always been ])ermanently marked with 
the initials and dates of visiters, kc The rocks, in 1810, were 
but tw o feet out of the w ater. 

1827, October. — Unusually high tides about full moon. 

November 14. — Lowest tide recollected for many years — 

rocks on Jersey channel exposed to view. 

1829, March 6 The ice and fresh came over Fairmount dam 

five feet six inches in depth, w ith a \ev\ po\\ ei-ful flow of water, and 
perhaps owing to the addition of a very sti-ong north-west wind, 
the awful rushing of the waters over the dam, appeared to an ob- 
server of both freshes, much more terrifically sublime than that in 
1822, although at that time the depth was 3 feet six inches more 
than the recent one, flowing over the dam. It is most gratifying 
to know that the Schuylkill navigation and canals, and the Union 
canal, with their locks and dams, sustained both these freshes, 
which have occurred since these valuable works were formed, with- 
out any injury of importance. 

Storms. — 1745, March 26. — Friday last a violent gust occurred, 
which damaged houses and cast down trees. 

1747, April 30. — A violent north-east storm did much damage. 
1750, December 25. — A violent north-east storm last Thurs- 
day ; it damaged the wharves and sunk some small crgift. 



646 Remarkable Incidents. 

1755, November 14. — A violent gale from the cast overflowed 
the wharves, and water lodged in most of the stores. 

1786, April 1. — A north -cast gale, with hail and snow, did much 
damage. 

1788, November 10th and 11th, a violent storm from south-east 
caused a heavy swell in the river: many vessels were injured. 

1796, January 7. — A violent storm last night did considerable 
damage. 

1805, December 28th and 29th, a great storm — " a mere hurri- 
cane," by which several vessels were sunk, at the wharves, and 
others broke loose and went to pieces. 

1819. September 28. — The meadows below the city were over- 
flowed by the great rise of the river in the late gale. 

1821, September 3. — A great storm of rain and wind from the 
north-east destroyed matiy trees, blew down chimnies, and unroofed 
the bridge at the upper ferry. The Schuylkill dam rose much. 

Meteors, — 1737, May 7, was seen an Aurora Borealis. 

1743, December 8, a comet visible for five or six nights. 

1748, April 21, a comet visible for eiglit or ten nights past. 

1750, February 16, a very bright Aurora Borealis. 

1756, December 30, people much surprised with the sight of two 
mock suns. 

1807, October 7, a comet visible. 

1811, in November and December a comet is seen. 

In 1749, 17 of 12 mo. — Tiiere was last evening an extraordi- 
nary ajipearance of the Aurora Borealis, which moved from north- 
east to north-west, and back again. 

In 1784, 21 of July. — There was seen at Philadelphia, at seven 
in the evening, a great fiery meteor, about 50 degrees above the 
horizon, of bigger apparent diameter than the sun, which exploded 
in sight of the city with a report like springing of a mine, when 
were seen thousands of pieces of fire to divei'ge. 

Transit of Vemis. — In 1769, month of June, the observation was 
made at Philadelphia of an event not again to occur for a century. 
Preparation vvas previously made at the suggestion of the Philo- 
sophical Society. James Dickinson, Esq. who made the proposition 
to the Assembly, was granted 1 00£. sterling to purchase a tele- 
scope for the occasion. The whole marked an attention to science 
creditable to the rulers of that day. 

Earthquakes.— In October, 1727, shocks of earthquake were lelt 
at night at Philadelphia and at New York and Boston, which set 
the clocks to running down, and shook off" china from the shelves. 
The 7th December, 1737, at night, a smart shock was felt at Phil- 
adelphia, and at Conestogoe, New Castle, &c. When John Penn 
first arrived, on a Sunday, a strong earthquake was felt as he stept 
ashore at High street wharf. It raised some superstition, and it 
was therefore long remembered, and besides that, when he went 
home, a dreadful thunder-storm arose, and finally, when he next 



Remurkahle Incidents. 64' 

time returned here as proprietary, a fierce hurricane arose ! 
March 22, 1758, a smart shock was felt hetween 10 and 11 1'. M. 
April 25, 1772, a slight shock felt ahout 8 A. M. November 30, 
1783. an eartlupiakeVelt in tiie city, and again on 1st December 
a strong one was felt. January 8, 1817, the river was much agi- 
tated by tlie earthquake to the southward, tossing about the vessels 
and raising the water one foot. 

Tjipography. — Philadelphia may claim some peculiarity under 
this article, for Mathew Carey for many years has printed his 
4to edition of the Bible in standing separate types, being tlie first 
and only instance of so great a collection of standing type in the 
world ! Christopher Sower too, at Germantown, printed in Ger- 
man the first 4to Bible ever attempted in the United States. Both 
Sower and B. Franklin were ingenious in their profession, made 
their own ink, and cut their own wood cuts, before either of them 
were attempted by others. Franklin even cast some of his own type 
ornaments. Jacob Bay, and Justice Fox, both made type for C. 
Sower in Germantown. 

See in my MS. Annals in the City Library, page 282, a speci- 
men of R. Aitkin's small Bible of 1781, made of importance enough 
to require the aid of Congress, and by tiiem most formally given. 
It is a curiosity. There arc as many as 425 books and pamphlets^ 
in original works, all printed in Philadelphia before the Revo- 
lution, — a fact in our literary annals but very little known. 

Aged Animals — In 1823, month of June, there died, on the plan- 
tation of Joseph Walmsley of By berry, aliorse whicli was 37 years 
of age. The table of "longevity of animals" states the life of a 
horse at 25 to 30 years only. 

In 1824, the Pittsburg Mercury of January, declares there is a 
horse then working at the brewery there full 31 years of age, of 
full health and vigour. F^or the last 14 years he has been at the 
brewhouse, and hauled 50,000 barrels of beer. One of 31 years of 
age is now in New York city in a cart, can draw 3000lbs. the 
property of John Cornish. 

Two geese are now alive at Greenwich village, town of Horse- 
Neck, 85 years of age each. Tliey were hatched on the same 
place, — arc still laying eggs — J. Mead, owner. 

John Kinseifs strange dea-th, — In the year 1748, died at Phila- 
delphia John Kinsey, a young man, son of Judge Kinsey. His 
death was very singular. He was killed by his own gun whilst 
resting the but of it on the bottom of a boat, in which he and his 
friends, on a shooting party, were crossing the Schuylkill at 
Gray*s ferry, on their return home. Tlie piece. fi"om an unknown 
cause, went off, and shot tlie shot into his cheek, and thence they 
ascended into the brain, and he died without uttering a word. But 
what is peculiarly memorable, is, that he had a remarkable premo- 
nition, the evening before, of his catastrophe : and he was theu 



G48 Remarkable Incidents. 

abroad seeking to dissipate by exercise and novelty of objects, the 
sad impressions whicb tlie occuri'ence had had upon his spirits. 

He dreamed Iiis cousin Peniberton had come to him and told him 
to prepare to cliange worlds : while he talked he thought he heard 
an explosion like thunder, and a flash of tire struck his cheek ! 
[There was no tiiundcr at the time] and he awoke in great })er- 
turbation. The sense of the shock w as deeply impressed upon 
Ids spirits. He, however, composed himself again to sleej), and 
Mas again, as he tliought, (in dreaming.) visited by many spiritual 
beings, all of whom seemed to liim to intimate his death. The in- 
fluence of all these things upon Ids spirits, was very great the next 
day. He communicated the facts to his family, and endeavosired 
to dissipate the depj'ession of his spirits, and t!ie constant thought 
of the past night, by cheerfulness. His companions were sent for 
to aid !iim in this object ; and it w as soon proposed to take a ram- 
ble in the woods with their guns. The mother endeavoured much 
to dissuade him tVom taking his gun ; but it was overruled. They 
crossed the middle ferry, and in pursuing the game, he sometimes 
said, I hope no accident will befall any of you, or me, — he often 
complained that his spirits were sad. At length, after some miles 
of such exercise, and whenon tiieir return, the fatal accident above 
related terminated his life ! I have seen in the possession of Mrs. 
D. Logan, a letter from John Ross, Esq. of tlie year 1748, [John 
Ross lived in the Iiousc next to tlie Farmers and Mechanics Bank, 
eastward] to his familiar friend Dr. Cadwallader, in which he de- 
tails all the foregoing facts. He asserts he knows all the parties ; 
and although greatly disinclined to superstition, lie is compelled 
to subscribe to the truth of them, as indubitably true. 

Varieties from the Gazettes, cSfc. — 1726 — On the last day of De- 
cember Theophilus Longstreet, of Shrewsbury, of 60 years of age, 
met w ith seven swans flying over a meadow, and shot dow n six of 
Them at the same shot, — a shot never surpassed. 

1728. — We have tije following surprising, though authentic ac- 
count of rum imported into Pennsylvania during the year 1728, 
to wit: — 224,500 gallons. In that day no other kind of spirits 
was used. 

1735. — Some fishermen took a shark 7 feet long, above the city ; 
the same year (March 4,) great quantities of codfish were taken 
off" the capes. 

1753 In this year the citizens of Philadelphia employed Cap- 
tain Swain to go to Hudson's bay, to endeavour to find a north- 
west passage. He repeats his voyage in next year, — both without 
any important result. 

In 1754. — Month of June, a water spout appeared on the Dela- 
ware, opposite to Kensington, which was carried up Cooper's 
creek, and supposed to break on the shore, where, it is said, con- 
siderable damage was done. A. school-house was beat down, a 



Remarkable Incidents. 649 

roof blown off. ami a new \\ !jci-i-y was lifted up and broke to pieces 
by the r,«.ll, — many trees were toi-ii up by it. 

In 1748, Cliristopber Lehman records that on the 4tli of May 
it rained briuistone ! Soon as I saw this fiict I inferred it must 
have been the floss from the pines in Jersey, and now I lately see 
a similar occuri-ence at Wilmington, North Carolina, from the 
same cause, and exciting much surprise there. 

ir58.— I saw a MS. letter from Hugh Roberts to B. Frank- 
lin, then in London, which states a rare thing— saying " Our 
friend, Philip Syng, has lost his excellent son John, strangely. 
He had been poking a stick into a kitchen sink and liolding a light- 
ed candle in the other hand, when a vapour therefrom took fire and 
so penetrated liim that he lost his senses and died in a few days. 

Ruinous ^])cc?i/flfio??s.— Philadelphia in common with her sister 
cities has been occasionally tlic victim of speculating mania. Six 
memorable instances have already occm-rcd among us since the 
establishment of our Independence. The facts concerning them 
severally, too long for the present objects, have been preserved in 
my MS. Annals in the City Library, pages 94 to 97. Suffice it 
here briefly to say— speculation first began soon after the peace, in 
soldiers' certificates— changing hands several times in a week and 
constantly gaining ! The scrip of the Bank of the United States 
was a memorable event. It changed hands hourly and went up 
from 25 dollars to 140 dollars and then fell suddenly: "It went 
up like a rocket and fell like its stick !" 

The great land speculation of Morris and Nicholson in the in- 
terior lands of our State— it was a most engrossing scheme of ag- 
grandizement ; very few gained any thing, and many fortunes 
were ruined. They themselves were desperately ruined, and for 
the great financier himself it provided him a jail. 

After the peace of 1783, deep speculation and great losses were 
sustained by excessive importations of British goods beyond the 
means of the country to consume them, prompted by an unparal- 
leled success in sales in a preceding year. 

A deep and general speculation occurred in 1813-14. It was 
begun among the grocers, and, finally, influenced most other 
branches of business,— finally recoiling, as it was all artificially 
excited, on all concerned. 

In 1825, occurred deep speculations, and ruinous losses eventually, 
in the purchase of cotton intended for the Ejigiish market. The 
wounds theii inflicted will long be remembered by some. It was 
an excited mania of gambling in the article, not at all warranted 
by the real want or deficiency of the article thus speculated upon. 
" How oft has speculation, dreadful foe ! 
Swept o'er the country, laid our cities low — 
The bold projector, restless of delay, 
Leaves with contempt, the old and beaten way 
Of patient labour — slow and certain gain, 
4 P 



050 Remarkable Incidenis. 

The fruit of care, economy and pain : 
But soon, reverses this conclusion brin^-, 
Credit and ruin are the selfsame thing !" 

^iimising Facts. — Some items partaking of singulai-ity and some- 
times of amusement in the contemplation, are here set down, to wit; 

In 1720, Edward Home, by advertisement, offers English saffron, 
'^by retail, for its weight in silver !" 

Same year is advertised '*best Virginia tobacco cut and sold by 
James Allen, goldsmith. This union of two such dissimilar pur- 
suits of business strikes one as so incongruous now ! 

Tobacco pipes of " long tavern size," are advertised as sold at 
four shillings per gross, by Richard Warder, pipe-maker, where 
foul pipes are burnt for eight pence per gross ! 

1722. — I meet with a strange ex])ression — ^^ For sale btj inch of 
candle, on Monday next, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, at the Cof- 
fee-house, a lot on Society Hill, &c. 

1723 — Josiah Quinby, of West Chester. New York, a Friend, 
advertises that he has discovered perpetual motion, and to be 
moved by tlie influence of the North star, &c. ! ! and to be com- 
bined with the influence of a well of water over which his machi- 
nery should w ork ! 

1724. — Andrew Bradford, printer, offers a reward of 15£. for 
apprehending John Jones, a tall, slender lad of 18 years of age, 
who stole five or six sheets of the 5 shilling and 20 shilling bills, 
which said Bradford w as printing. He escaped after capture from 
the constable, by slipping out of his coat, and leaving it in the con- 
stable's hand. He wore a light bob wig. 

In 1728, some wicked fellows in a neighbouring Presbyterian 
church, in lieu of another functionary, set up a large sturgeon in 
the pulpit in the hot days, and tlie church being shut up, it was 
not known until it became so putrid as to compel the congregation 
to leave the house and worship in a neighbouring orchard. 

1729 -The Welsh having formed themselves into a fellowship, 

appointed Dr. Wayman to preach them a sermon in their own 
language, and to give them a Welsh psalm on the organ — then a 
novelty. But their crowning rarity was. that after sermon, on 
the Lord's day, they went to drinking healths and firing cannon, 
to Davis' inn, at the Queen's Head in Water street, — each man 
wearing at church and in the procession leeks in his hat, kc — . 
'' So did not St. Paul !" 

1731. — A certain stonecutter was in a fair way of dying the 
death of a nobleman, for being found napping with bis neighbour's 
wife ; the husband took the advantage of his being asleep to make 
an attempt to cut off his head. The wit which follows in the re- 
flections on the case, though showing the coarse taste of tlie readers 
then, is harmlessly left for the curious on page 118 of my MS. 
Annals in the City Library. 

1734. — A widow of Philadelphia was married in her shift, with- 



RemarUahlc Incidents. 651 

out am ollu-i- apparel uiM)n lier, from a supposition prevalent tlioi, 
that siich a procedure would secure her husband in the law from 
being sued for any debts of his predecessor. Kalm, in 1748, con- 
firms this fact as a common occunence when her husband dies in 
debt. She thus affects to leave all to his creditors. He tells of a 
woman ffoing from her former home to the house of lier intended 
husband in her shift only, and he meets her by t!ic way and clothes 
her before witnesses, — saying '• he has lent them !" 

1737 A curious writer gives a long list of tavern expressions 

used to express drunkenness among the tipplers— some arc: He 
has taken Hippocrate's elixir— he's as dizzy as a goose— his head 
is filled with bees— he's atHicted— he's made an Indian feast— he s 
sore footed— he clips his English— he sees two moons— has eat his 
opium— he walks by starlight— has sold his senses— has lost his 

rudder. „,. ^^ ,, , ,^ ^ j^ • 

1754._I,s advertised as just published " The louths Entertain- 
in^ Amusement, or a Plain Guide to Psalmody, being a choice 
collection of tunes sung in tiic English Protestant congregation in 
Philadelphia, with rules for learning, by W. Dawson." I give 
this title as a curious inadvertency, whicli expresses with much 
.simplicity of judgment an unwary fact— that the youth and too 
many of their abettors too often resort to psalmody (which should 
be worship and adoration if any thing) for mere ''entertainment 
and amusement !" ^ ., x- i. n 

1765.— There died this year in the Northern Liberties, at the 
age of sixty, Margaret Gray, remarkable for having had nine 
husbands ! 

I sometimes hear anecdotes which I choose to suppress because 
of their connexion witli living names. I think of one which con- 
tains much piquancy and spirit, which I shall put down here as 
illustrating a fact which often occurred in the sudden transitions 
of men's conditions in the Revolution, from obscurity to elevation 
and renown, where accompanied with valour and ambition. A 
celebrated Friend, a preacher, met an old acquaintance in the 
streets of Philadelphia, wlio had been of Friends' principles, with 
a sword girt on his side— Why, friend, said he, what is this thou 
hast bedecked thyself with !— not a rapier ! \es, was the reply; 
for ''liberty or death" is now the watchword of every man who 
means to defend his property. Why, indeed, rejoined the other, 
thou art altered throughout, thy mind has become as fierce as iliy 
sword ; I had not expected such high feelings in thee ; as to pro- 
perty, I thought thee had none, and as to thy liberty, I thoiight 
thee already enjoyed that by the kindness of thy creditors ! The 
patriot alluded to was conspicuous in the public measures ot the 
war, and although he never used his sword in actual combat, he 
directed those who did ; and from that day has been a successhil 
candidate to public offices; and, finally, has raised himselt u 
respectable name and estate. 



t)52 Remarkable Incidents. 

I notice in the old MSS. that they originally called a portman- 
teau (as we now call it) a portmantle, — certainly an appropriate 
name, as it was originally used as an intended cover for the neces- 
sary cloak or mantle in travelling on horseback. The present 
word knapsack, I also found was originally spelled snapsack — an ex- 
pressive name when we consider it, as it was. a sack which fastened 
with a snap-spring or lock. As it was in itself a convenient pillow 
for the traveller when obliged to sleep abroad in the woods, it must 
have received the nick-name of nap among the soldiers. The words 
portmantle and snap-sack may be found used in Madame Knight's 
Journal of 1704. I think I have discovered the cause of the name 
of '* Blue-stockings" to literary ladies ;* I find that a century 
ago it was a mark of lady-like distinction to wear coloured stock- 
ings with great clocks — blue and green colours were preferred. 
The ladies then who formed literary clubs, being of course the best 
educated, and coming from the upper class in society, were those 
chiefly who could afford the blue stockings. A pair of those stock- 
ings of green silk and broad red clocks, I have lately seen in pos- 
session of Samuel Coates, Esq. They were the wedding ones of 
his grandmother, in Philadelphia, and are double the weight of the 
present silk hose. 

* Lady Montague's story seems too modern to account for it, and looks like a forced 
explanation. 



CURIOSITIES & DISCOVERIES. 



THE following facts, for want of a better designation, arc ar- 
ranged under the present head, altho' their value, as discoveries or 
curiosities, may have but little claim to future renown, to wit : — 

Kalm, the Swedish traveller, when here, in the year 1743, speaks 
of numerous instances of finding fragments of trees deeply embed- 
ded in the earth at Philadelphia and elsewliere. He had himself got 
a piece of petrified hickory, on the north west side of the town, in 
in the clay pits, then filled with water from a brook, wliere were 
many muscle shells, — Mytili Anatini. Boys gathered them and 
brought them to town for sale, where they were considered a dain- 
ty. Pieces of trees, roots, and leaves of oak, were often dug up 
from the well pits, dug in Philadelphia at the depth of eighteen feet. 
They also found in some places a slime like that which the sea 
throws on the shore. This slime was often full of trees, branches, 
reed, charcoal, &c. He relates similar facts from several of the 
Swedes at Swedesboro' — then called Raccoon, to wit : One King, 
a man of fifty years of age, had got a well dug on a hill near a riv- 
ulet, and at the depth of forty feet, found a quantity of shells of 
oysters and muscles, besides much reed and pieces of broken branch- 
es. Peter Rambo, about sixty years of age, said tliat in several 
places at Raccoon, where they had dug deep in the ground, they 
had found quantities of muscle shells and other marine animals. 
Sometimes, at twenty feet depth, they discovered logs of wood petri- 
fied, and others were charred, probably by some mineral vapour. 
On making a dike several years before this relation, along the 
creek on which the Swedish church at Raccoon stood, they found, 
in cutting through a bank, that it was filled with oyster sliells, al- 
though it was 120 miles from the nearest sea shore. Often in dig- 
ging wells they found clams. Similar relations were confirmed 
by special declarations of Mauns Keen, Iven Lock, Wm. Cobb, 
Aoke Helm, &c. They related that on one occasion they found, at 
a depth of twenty to thirty feet, a whole bundle of flax in good con- 
dition. It excited great surprise how it could get there. Mr. 
Kalm imagines it may have been the wiM Virginia flax — Liuum 
Virginianum. Or it may have been what the Swedes themselves 
called Indian hemp — Apocynum Cannabinum — a plant which for- 



G54 Cmiosities and Discoxeries. 

merly grew ])]cntifiilly in old corn ground, in woods and on hilljs. 
From this, the liuiians m.-vdc their ropes and fishing tackle, kc. I 
have been thus piirticular in this detail, because t have myself a 
specimen ol" a "hank of liomp." as the discoverers called it, dug 
up fioin a well in the new prison, western yard, near Centre Square, 
from the bottom of a pit or privy, at 12 feet deep. 

Old Mauiis Keen, a respectable Swede, told Mr. Kalm, in 1748, 
that on their making a first settlement at Helsrnburg, on the Dela- 
ware below Salem, th.ey found in diggirig to the depth of twenty 
feet, some wells enclosed with brick walls. Tlie wells were at 
that time on the land, but in such places as are sometimes under 
water and so^netimcs dry. But since tliat time, the ground has 
been so Vv asised away (of course old Helsinburg also !) that the 
wells are entirely covered by the river, and the water is seldom low 
enough to sliow tiie wells. As the Swedes afterwards made new 
wells at sonie distance from the former, they discovered in the 
ground some broken carthern vessels and some entire good bricks, 
ami they often got them out of the ground by ploughing. These 
facts Mr. Kahn said he often heard repeated by the aged Swedes. 
Their own belief was that tlie land, before their settlement there, 
had hem possessed by some otiier race of Europeans, even possibly as 
the fVindanil te» wiiich the old Norwegians went. The Indians, too, 
spoke of those wells as being a tradition, that they had been made 
by another race of people some centuries before. We shall, how- 
ever, see in these pages, that the Indians themselves had some rude 
construction of pottery, but never like the idea of real bricks. 
The whole suggestion and facts are curious and may afford some 
speculation. 

In digging a well for the house of the late David Rittenhouse, 
at tlie nortli west corner of Seventh and Arch street, they found 
the i-emains of a pine tree, at a depth of eighteen feet below ground. 
On the ground of Mr. Powell, within the same square, another like 
remains was also found ; one of them was laying horizontal from 
the other, which seemed to be standing ; they were obliged to cut 
off a limb to proceed with their work. 

In digging a well for a pump at Bingham's stable, back of the 
Mansion House, the well-digger found, at the depth of twenty-one 
feet, tiic appearance of a former surface and several hickory nuts 
thei'eon. 

In some part of Spruce street, some distance below the surface, 
the street commissioner, who told of it to Thomas Bradford, found 
there a pile of cord wood standing on its end. 

The triuik of a buttonwood was found near Arch and Seventh 
street, at a great depth beneath its present surface. It was em- 
bedded in black mud, and liad many leaves and acorns about it. 

Mr. John Moore, a brick-mason of the city, told me a fact which 
strongly illustrates the rapid rise of Philadelphia,— to wit : that 
altho' he is but sixty years of age, he has built five hundred build- 



Curiosities and IHscGveries 655 

iiigs. He gave mc the following facts, viz. About tliii-ty years ago^ 
in digging a well thiity feet at the south west corniM" of Eiglitli inid 
Cherry street for P. Waglnni, tliey ( ame to a pine tree laying hoj-i- 
zontal, which they cut througlu oi" great dimensions. Air. Monro 
has seven houses in Cherry t^ti-eet, on soutii side, between eighth 
and ninth streets. In digging his front well in Cherry street, at 
thirty feet, they came to inai-sh mud, and found acoi-iis and oak 
leaves in abundance, and a little below them they came to fine pol- 
ished coarse gravel, from the .size of pease to filberts. Afterwai'ds 
he dug two wells back, 140 feet southwai-d on said ground, and at 
same depth came to precisely the same discoveries of acorns, leaves, 
and gravel. All the earth, save the fiist 4 to 4h feet of made 
groiind, appeared to be the natural strata of loam and sand. Wlieii 
he was building Mr, Gii-ard's stores in north Water street, about 
twenty-five years ago, they dug out of the cellar ground wine and 
beer, about ojie dozen bottles each, which still retained strength, 
supposed to have been buried there 100 years. 

Mr. Graff, the city agent for t!ie water pipes, informed me of his 
having found in digging, to lay them "near the bank of Peiuisyl- 
vania," in Second street, as I understood him, at twelve feet below 
the present surface, a regular pebble pavement. I should expect 
this to be the case in Walnut street, v/estward of Second street. 

The late aged Timothy Matlack, Esq, told me of his having seeji 
apatterdocks, fresh and green, dug up at eighteen feet dcj)th, at the 
place called Clarke & Moore's brewhouse, on Sixth street a little 
below Arch street. This occurred in the year 1760, and the spe- 
cimens were used by Dr. Kinnersly, in the college before ids class. 

At the corner of Fourth and Greenleaf alley he saw, at four feet 
beneath the jjresent surface, the top of a white oak rail post, and 
they had to dig ten feet more for a fast foundation for a house. 

Colonel James Morris, now ninety years of age, told me of his 
seeing turf dug up at the time of sinking the foundation of Second 
street bridge over Dock creek. It was a congeries of black fibrous 
roots. Turf also was seen in digging seventeen feet for a gravel 
foundation to B>ancis West's store, in Dock street. The turf was 
found at twelve feet depth. 

The late Jacob Shoemaker said he saw coal taken from a vein 
found in digging a well at a place on Turner's lane, about a quar- 
ter of a mile eastw ard of the Ridge road. It was, however, more 
probable it w as such charred wood as is now found in the river 
bank at Bordentown. 

Kensington has its foundation on quicksand, so'that none of 
their wells will hold any depth of water. 

Governor Dennie's daughter was buried in the Friends' burying 
ground near the coi'ner of Third and Arch sti*eets. What is curi- 
ous, is, that after she had been buried thirty years, she was dug up 
and found entire, but perished when exposed to the air. Her hair 
had grown as long as the grave-digger could extend his hands. 



o5G Curiosities and Discoveries* 

Her broad riband was entire and was worn afterwards by the dig 
ger's daughter ! Her nails were grown too. Tliis relation is well 
established and fully agrees with some other facts of the enduring 
quality of silk — for instance, on disinterring the leaden coffins of 
Lord and Lady Bellemont at New York in 1787, the lead was 
found corroded, but the silk velvet on the lid was entire. At Bos- 
ton, in 1824, they disinterred a British officer ; the body and clothes 
were perished, but the silk military sash was sound in matenal and 
colour. 

Thomas Dixey, a pump-maker and well-digger, a man of seventy 
years of age. intelligent and respectable, a chief undertaker, in his 
way. for forty years in the city, having been requested to tell me 
all he had ever' met with as curious under ground, told me, that he 
has often, in several places, at considerable depths, come across 
acorns, oyster shells, &c. He told me that in the neighbourhood of 
Carter's alley and Go-forth alley he dug twenty feet, and came to 
oyster shells and acorns. He found a great and excellent spring at 
twenty-eight feet depth, at the corner of Go-forth alley and Dock 
creek. 

When the house No. 72, south Fourth street, a little above W al- 
nut sti'eet, west side, was built, they dug nine feet for their cellar, 
and there came to an old post and rail fence. 

Mr. Dixey in digging for a well on the north side of South street, 
near Third street, on the premises of Mr. Reed, silk dyer, he came, 
at the depth of 25 feet, across a pine limb of 3 inches thickness, 
having its bark on it. It had petrified, and he actually ground it 
into a good hone, and gave it to the said Mr. Reed. 

At No. 13, Dock street, the house of Thomas Shields, was found, 
in digging his cellar, a regular fire hearth, one and a half feet below 
the present springtide mark. 

Christian Witmeek, an old digger of wells in the Northern Li- 
berties, mentioned some discoveries about Peggs run. In Lowber's 
tanyard at 13 feet depth cut across a small fallen tree— dug 38 feet; 
at 34 feet they came to wood ; full as much as 24 feet w as of black 
mud. In digging a well near there for Thomas Steel, No. 81, St. 
John street, he came, at 21 feet depth, to real turf of 10 feet thick- 
ness ; at 26 feet depth they came to a crotch of a pine tree. 

The clay in the vicinity of the new prison in Arch street, by 
Centre Square, is the deepest in the city, being 28 feet deep. In 
digging 28 feet on Singer's lot near there, Mr. Groves came to 
o-ravel and dug up a limb of an oak tree of 5 inches thickness, and 
fonger than the well across which it lay. Some oak leaves, and 
the impressions of several were marked on the clay. Mr. Grove 
found an Indian tomahawk at 5 feet depth in M^Crea's lot, m 
Chesnut street, vis a vis Dorsey's Gothic mansion. 

In digging a well for Thatcher, in Front near to Noble street, 
they came, at the depth of 28 feet, to an oak log of 18 inches thick- 
ness, quite across the pit. The whole was alluvial deposit in that 



Guriostties Qiid Uiscoveries. 657 

neighbourhood. Turf was dug out and burnt. — in diggini^ for the 
drain wells of 28 feet depth under the present Sansoin's row iii 
Second street, north of l*cgg's rtui. 

In Racp street, between Front and Second sti'cets, in digging the 
foundation of the engine house now there, they dug up an Indian 
grave and found the bones. 

At the corner of Eighth and Cherry streets, in digging a well at 
the depth of 40 feet, (says Joseph Sansom) they found a lallon log. 

Other facts of sub-terrene discoveries will be found in other 
parts of this work connected with certain localities spoken of 
severally. 

In 170r-8, there was much expectation, through the suggestions 
of Governor Evans, of a great discovery of valuable minerals in 
Pennsylvania. William Penn on hearing of it begged an explana- 
tion, and hoped it might relieve him from his embarrassments ! It 
proved, however, to be a deceit of one Mitchel, who had been a 
miner in England. He pretended he was led to the discovery by 
a Shawncse king. Some of the "black sand," &c. was sent to 
Penn to assay it. 

In 1722, Mine land is spoken of as having been taken up for 
Sir William Keith, at a place beyond Susquehanna. 

In 1728, James Logan writes of there being tiicn four furnaces 
in the colony, in blast. 

About the year 1790, John Nancarro, a Scotchman, had a fur- 
nace under ground for couA^rting iron into steel. It stood at the 
north west corner of Ninth and Walnut streets. There a curious 
fact occurred which but for this record might puzzle the cognoscenti 
and antiquaries, at some future day, — such as whether the abori- 
gines had not understood the art of fusing ii*on, (Sec. The fact was 
this : The great mass of five tons of iron bars which were in the 
furnace, was suddenly converted into a great rock of steel, by rea- 
son of a fissure in the furnace which let in the air, and consumed 
the charcoal, whereby the wliole run into steel, equal to 4 to 5 tons. 
Some houses of very shallow cellars have been since erected over 
the place, and all are quite unconscious of the treasure wliich rests 
beneath them. It was an open lot when so used by Nancarro. 

There is a curious and unaccountable vault far under ground, 
in the back premises of Messrs. John and C. J. Wister, — say, No. 
139, High street, north side, and between Third and Fourth streets. 
At 14 feet depth is a regular arched work of stone, of 16 feet long, 
and without any visible outlet. In breaking into its top to know 
its contents, they found nothing therein, save a log laying along 
the whole length. Tliey sealed it up again, and the privy wall now 
rests upon it. There is no conjecture formed concerning what it 
may have been constructed for, nor at what time it may have been 
made. Dr. Franklin once lived in the adjoining house. No. 141 ; 
(both houses belonged to Wister) whether the vault could have had 
any connection witii his philosophy, may be a question, 
4 Q 



Q58 (hiriosities and Discoveries. 

In 1738, it is announced in the Gazette, that they have the 
pleasure to acquaint the world, that the famous Chinese plant 
Gill Seng, is now discovered in the province, near Susquehanna. 
It apwars from the specimens sent home that it agrees with 
Du Haldes' account, and with Chambers' Dictionary exactly. 



659 



STATISTIC FACTS. 



AN attention to the following facts may serve to show the 
jirogress of society, by marking its increase in population, houses, 
exports, &c, at successive periods, to wit : 

1683, — William Penn's letter of that year, says, ''I mentioned 
in my last account, that from my arrival in 1682 to the date 
hereof, being ten months, we liave got up fourscore houses at our 
town, and that some villages were settled about it. From that 
time to my coming away, which was a year within a few weeks, 
the town advanced to 357 houses, divers of them large, well built, 
with gooil cellars, three stories, and some balconies." Tims sett- 
ling the fact that they built 357 houses in the first year ! 

1685. — Robert Turner, in liis letter to William Penn of this year, 
says, "The town goes on in planting and building to admiration, 
both in tlie front and backward, and there are about 600 houses in 
three years time." 

17oV.— Isaac Norris. in a letter to William Penn. says, " The 
province consumes annually of produce and merchandize of Eng- 
land, 14 to I5,000je. sterling. The direct returns were in tobac- 
co, furs and skins ; the indirect in provisions and produce, via 
the West Indies, and southei-n colonies. In 1 706, about 800 hhds. 
tobacco went from Philadelphia, and about 25 to 30 tons of skins 
and furs." 

1720. — The taxables arc stated by Proud at 1195 persons, in 
city and county. 

1723. — The imports from England was 15,992£. sterling. 

1728-9. — There were frozen uj) in the docks this winter, about 
the city, 14 ships, 3 snows, 8 brigantines. 9 sloops, 2 schooners 
besides shallops, &c. The whole number of churches then were 
but six. 

1730. — The imports from England was 4S,595je. sterling. 

1727 to '39. — From an .account of the highest and lowest number 
of votes given at the elections, and known by the return of mem- 
bers of Assembly, we ascertain the votes foi* the county of Phila- 
delphia to have been as follows, to wit : 
Election— 1727— highest number, 787, — lowest number, 432 
1728, do. 971, do. 487 

1730, tlo. 622, do. 3615 





Statistic Fads. 






1732,- 


— hiffliest number, 904,- 


—lowest number, 


559 


1734, 


do. 


821, 


do. 


441 


1735, 


do. 


1097, 


do. 


517 


1736, 


do. 


719, 


do. 


439 


1737, 


do. 


904, 


do. 


497 


1738, 


do. 


1306, 


do. 


736 


1739, 


do. 


555, 


do. 


332 



Election- 



1737. — The imports from England was, thisyear 58,690£, ster- 
fing. — Vide Proud. 

1740 — The taxables are stated by Proud at 4850 persons, in 
city and county. 

1741. — We are indebted to a friend for the subsequent statement 
of the number of taxable inhabitants of the city and county of Phil- 
adelphia, for this year. They have been copied from tiie books of 
liis venerable ancestor, wlio was Assessor, &c. for several years. 

Statement of the numher of Taxable Inhabitants of the City and 
County of Philadelphia, in the year 1741. 

[Tlie city was then divided into ten wards, and the county then 
extended to the southern limits of Berks county, and embraced" 
the whole of the county of Montgomery.] 

JYumber of Taxables in the City in 1741. 



1. Dock Ward, - 


183 


Brought orver, 


880 


2. Lower Delaware, 


- 115 


7. U})per Delaware, 


- 99 


3. Walnut, 


98 


8. High Street, - 


151 


4. South. 


- 105 


9. Mulberry, 


- 309 


5. Middle, 


236 


10. North, 


182 


6. Chesnut, - 


- 143 










City Total 


1621 


Carried over, 


880 







J^umber of Taxable Inhabitants in the County in 1741 
[The County then contained 47 Townships.] 



Amity, 


70 


Brought over, - 


657 


Abington, 


- 92 


Dublin, Lower, - 


125 


Allamingle, 


37 


Dublin, Upper, 


77 


Biberry, 


- 52 


Exeter, 


76 


Bristol, 


64 


Franconia, 


- 59 


Blockley, 


- 72 


Frankfordand") 
N. Hanover, J 


87 


Creesham, - 


60 


Cheltenham, - 


- 67 


Frederick, 


- 76 


Colebrook Dale, 


85 


Germantown, 


168 


Douglass, 


- 58 


Gwyned, 


93 


Carried over, 


657 


Carried over, - 


- 1418 





Statistic Facts. 


661 


liroiii^hi over 


- 1418 


Brmight over, 


2543 


Hanover, Upper, - 


97 


Providence, 


146 


Horsham, - 


80 


Perkionien and \ 
Skipake, J 


73 


Kingsess, 


- 59 




Limerick, - 


59 


Passyunk and 1 
Moyamensing, * J 


78 


Moreland Manor, 


- 125 




Montgomery, 


- 54 


Plymouth, 


- 46 


Maiden Creek, - 


75 


Roxborough, 


38 


Merion, Upper, 


52 


Sulford, 


- 174 


Merion, Lower, 


101 


Springfield, 


29 


Menatauny, - 


- Ill 


Towamcnsin, 


- 55 


Northern Liberties, 


151 


Whippan, - 


56 


Norrington, - 


- 25 


White Marsli, 


- 89 


Oxford, 


78 


Worcester, 


70 


Ouley, - 


- 58 


Wayamesing, 


- 25 


Tarried over, 


- 2543 


County Total, 


3422 




Comparative Statement. 






In 1741. In 1826. 


Increase: 


City Taxables. 


1,6 
to wit, in 


21 11,120 


9,499 


County Taxables, 






Biberry, 


52 190 


138 


Bristol, 


64 272 


208 


Blockley, 


72 512 


440 


Lower Dublin, 


125 488 


363 


Germantown, 


168 881 


713 


Kingsessing, 


59 162 


103 


Moreland,! 


125 89 


— 


Northern Liberties, 151 7,996 


7845 


Oxford, 


78 484 


406 


Passyunk ami "j 


216-) 




Moyaniensing, y 


78 729 \ 


3,327 


Southwark, J 


2,460j 




Roxborough, 


38 448 


410 


Totals, - 


1,010 14,927 


13,953 


Decrease in Moreland, - 


- 


36 



13,917 

• The -whole of that portion of land, south of the city, now called " The District of 
Southwark," was included in the township of Moyamensing, until the year 176'2, when 
the Legislature of Pennsylvania passed a law creating it a sepai-ate district, to be thereaf- 
ter known as the" District'of Smthivark." 

t The Act of the Legislature, creating the county of Montgoniei^-, cut off so large a por- 
tion of the original township of Moreland, (adding it to the county of Montgomery) as to 
leave but a small number of the taxable inhabitants withm the present limits o< that town- 
ship, which accounts for their number having decreased from 125 to 89. 



I€i2 Statistic Facts. 

In that portion of tlicH 
then county of | 
PhiladeJpliia. now j> 2,412 7,959 5,547 

forming the county j 

of Montgomery. J 

RECAPITULATION. 

Taxahles in the In 1741. 
City of Philadelphia, 1,621 

Counly of Philadelphia, 1,010 

County of Montgomery, 2,412 



Totals, - - - 5,043 



In 1826. 


Increase. 


11,120 


9,499 


14,927 


13,917 


7,959 


5,547 


34,006 


28,963 



1742. — The imports from England this year was 75,295^2. ster- 
ling. 

17-44. — A letter fi'om Secretary Peters to the proprietaries, 
states the populatuMi of the city as estimated at 13,000 people and 
1500 houses. The same is confirmed in the same year, by the 
minutes of the City Council. 

1747. — The imports from England this year were 82,404£. 
sterling. 

1749. — This spring the houses in the several wards were counted 
by the following named gentlemen, and amounted to 2076 in num- 
ber, to wit : 

~ '" ■ 8, by Dr. Franklin, 

Joseph Shippcn,. 
William Allen, 
T. Ho])kinson, 
Edward Shippen, 
T. Lawrence, jun. 
James Humphries, 
J. Turner, 
William Shippen, 
William Coleman, 



Edward Shippen, 
William Shippen, 

2076 houses. 
At the same time (1749) the places of worship were these, tu 
wit : 

1 Episcopalian, 2 Presbyterian, 

2 Friends, 1 Baptist, 

1 Swedish, 1 Dutch Lutheran, 

1 Dutch Calvinist, 1 Moravian, 

1 Roman Catholic. 



In Mulberry Ward, 


488, 


Dock Waril, 


. 245, 


Lower Delaware, 


110, 


Upper Delaware, 


. 109, 


South, . 


117, 


High Street Ward, 


. 147, 


Wafnut, . 


104, 


Chesnut, 


. 110, 


North, . . 


196, 


Middle, 


.^^238, 




1864, 


South suburbs, 


150, 


North do. 


62, 



Stalistk Fads. G63 

Tlie same year (1749) Pi-oud states that 25 large ships arrived 
with Germans, hriiiging 600 persons each, making together 12,000 
souls in one year, and that Jiearly as many came annually Irom 
Ireland; so as to people whole counties of those two nations. 

1751. —The imports I'rom England this year were 190,917^6. 
sterling.— Vide Proud. 

1752.— Dr. Franklin stated hefore the House of Commons, that 
10,000 hogsheads of flaxseed had heen in that year exported trouj 
Philadelphia— making 70.000 hushels, and that all the tlax that 
grew with it they manufactured into coarse linen. On (jeorge 
Heap's map the exports are detailed thus, viz. 125.960 barrels ot 
flour. 86,500 hushels of wheat, 90,740 bushels of corn, 249 tons ot 
bread, 3431 barrels of beef, and 4812 barrels of pork. 

1753.— There w^re ascertained by the assessor to be 2300 houses, 
including the city and suburbs. 

1760.— There were ascertained by the same assessor to have 
been in the city and suburbs 2969 houses, and 8321 taxables m 
the city and county. It was also officially reported tliat there 
were then 5687 taxable inhabitants in the whole county of 1 hila- 
delnhia, and their county tax was laid at 5653£. 19s. 6(1. Ihe 
citv tax was hiid at 5633£. 13s. on 2634 {axai)les. At tlic same 
time were reported as within the county, the tollowing mills, to 
wit :— 33 gristmills. 40 sawmills, 6 papermills, 1 oilmill, 12 ful- 
lingmills, 1 horsemill. 1 wintlmill, and 6 forges. 

1766. Dr. Franklin, when examined this year before a com- 
mittee of the House of Commons, respecting the repeal of the Stamp 
Act, stated the following facts, to wit : 

He supposed there were in Pennsylvania about 160,000 white 
inhabitants, of whom one-third were Quakers, and one-tlurd were 
Germans. , ^ , 

The taxes were then laid on all estates, real and personal— a 
poll tax— a tax on offices and professions, trades and businesses, 
according to their profit— an excise on all wine, rum. and other 
spirits, and 10£. duty per head on all negroes imported. 

The tax on all estates, real and personal, was 18d. in the pound, 
fully rated, and the tax on the profits of trades and professions, kc. 
made about 2s. 6d. in the pound. The poll tax on unmarried men 
was 15s. per head. All the taxes in Pennsylvania then produced 
about 20,000£. per annum. . ,:, , i 

He said he thought our people inci-ease faster than in England, 
because they marry younger and more generally, and this they did 
because they may easily obtain land by which to raise their tami- 
lies. He said the people had by general agreement disused all 
goods fashionable in mournings. 

The imports from Great Britain he presumed to be above 
500,000£. per annum, and the exports to Britain he supposed did 
not exceed 40,000je. per annum. 

1767 The exports of Philadelphia for one year were thus otti- 



664 Statistic Facts. 

cially stated, to wit: 367,500 bushels of wfieat, 198,516 barrels ol 
flour, 34,736 barrels of bread, 60,206 bushels of corn, 6645 barrels 
of pork, 609 barrels of beef, 882 tons of bar iron, 813 tons of pig- 
iron, 12094 hogsheads of flaxseed, 1288 barrels of beer. 

1 769. — In December of this year the assessor gave in the follow- 
ing list of houses then ascertained, to wit : 

In Mulberry Ward, . . 920 
Upper Delaware, . .234 
North, . . . .417 
High street, . . .166 
Middle, .... 358 
Chesnut, . . . .112 
South, .... 147 
Walnut, . . . .105 
Lower Delaware, . . 120 
Dock, . . . .739 

3318 
In the Northern Liberties or Northern suburbs to Second street 
bridge, over Stacy's run, (Cohocksinc) 553 — and in Southwark or 
southern suburbs to the north side of Love lane 608 — making to- 
gether 4474 in the city and suburbs, of dwellinghouses exclusively. 
1770. — This year the number of houses were ascertained to have 
been — 

Within the city bounds, . . 3318 
In the Northern Liberties, . 553 
In Soutliwark, . . .603 

4474 — estimated to 
contain 25 to 30,000 souls. 

At the same time the number of churches were ascertained to 
have been 16, to wit : 

3 Episcopalians, 1 Methodist, 

4 Presbyterians, 2 German Lutheran, 
I Baptist, 1 German Calvinist, 

1 Moravian, 1 Swedish Lutheran, 

2 Papists. 

1771. — The taxable inhabitants are stated by Proud as being 
10,455 in number for the city and county, of whom 3751 were of 
the city. The exports of Philadelphia, in the same year, were 
conveyed in 361 square-rigged vessels, and 391 sloops and schoo- 
ners — making in all 46,654 tons, of which there were 252,744 bar- 
rels of flour, 259,441 bushels of corn, and 110,412 bushels of flax- 
seed. 

1772. — The following comparative facts of several years, down 
to this year, have been given by R. Proud, and may serve still 
further to illustrate the statistics oS those e^rly days, t» wit : 



statistic Facts. C65 

Of Exports. 

fn ir;n, whpn wheat was at 2s. fid. ai.d fla.xsecd 4s. 8d. tliey amounted to C2,584i.. 
1749, do. 5s. 3d. do. 10s. 8d. do. 148,104 

ir50, do. 48. do. 10s. do. l.'>5,174 

ir.il, do. Ss. lOd. do. Cs. Gd. do. 187,457 

1765, do. 5s. M. do. <Js. 3d. do. 422,614 

1772, do. 5s. 6d. do. 8s, do. 571,050 

I have before noted the amounts of several annual imports from 
England, under their several years. The last which I stated, iu 
the year 1751, made the amount to be 190,9ir£. sterling; but 
from and after the year 1701, they sunk greatly. No cause is as- 
signed by Proud, who states the following annual amounts, to wit: 
Imports of 1761, 3ft,099£. sterling. 



1762, 


38,-228 


do. 


1763, 


36.258 


do. 


1764, 


25.148 


do. 


1765, 


26,851 


do. 



As the war with France began in 1756, and ended in 1763, the 
trade may have been so embarrassed as to have diminished much, 
both the ability and the safety of importation. After the peace, 
we know that the agitated question of *' taxing America," made 
the people of set purpose use domestic fabrics in lieu of foreign 
supplies, so as by all means to diminish the trade of England 
with us. 

1777 In October of this year, General Howe being then in 

possession of Philadelphia, and many of the inhabitants gone off 
because of the war, or the dread of the British, an accurate census 
was taken by order of General Cornvvallis, to wit : 

Houses in the city, . . 3508 

in South wark, . 781 

in the Northern Liberties, 1170 

5470 

Five hundred and eighty-seven of the houses were found un^ 
tenanted. There were 287 stores ; there w ere also found to be 21, 
767 inhabitants, exclusive of the army and strangers. 

Years. City contained N. Liberties. South wark. Total. 

In 1790, 28,522 souls 8333 5661 42,516 

1800, 41,223 16,970 9621 67,811 

1810, 53,722 21,558 13,707 88,987 

William Sansom, Esq. who has been for several years a minute 

observer of the progress of the city in its increase of buildings, has 

Burnished the following data, to wit : 

In 1802, new houses erected were 464 -) The detail of Uiose houses, show- 

' I incr m what strppts thpv werp 



1803, 
1804, 


do. 
do. 


OQK I '"& '" ^^^^ sireeis uiey were 
385 S built, may be consulted on p. 518 
273 J ofmyMS. Annals, in Hist, Snc. 


1809, 


do. 


1295 
4 R 



666 Statistic Facts, 

In the next year the total number of buildings was ascertained 
and found to be 20,260— say 8874 in the city, 2998 in the Nortli- 
crn Liberties, and 2301 in Southwark, and their inhabitant* 
88,988. If we should pursue this data, it is deemed reasonable to 
conclude that in the last eighteen years, from 1809 to 1827, the 
new buildings may have averaged 600 in each year, thus produ- 
cing an increase of 10,800 to be added to the former 20.260, and 
thus forming an aggregate of about 3L000 buildings- and a prob- 
able total of 133.000 inhabitants in 1827. I deem this estimate 
high enough, but tlie next census will check it. 

In the year 1823, the churches were ascertained to be 80 in 
number, to wit : 

13 Presbyterian, 5 Friends, 
10 Episcopalian, 4 Papists, 

8 Baptist, 26 of all other denominations. 

14 Methodist, (Vide Poulson's paper of 24th of March.) 
Philadelphia, as a great commercial city, kept a proud pre-emi- 
nence of the cities in the Union, until about the year 1820. In the 
year 1796, the exports of Philadelphia were above one-fourth of the 
whole United States, l)eing then 17,613,866 dollars, but as quickly 
as the year 1820, she became as low as the seventh State in the 
grade of the Union ! The exports of New York, in 1792, was but 
2.930.370 dollars, but in 1820, it was 13,163,244 dollars ! Thus- 
as Philadelphia has been sinking. New York has been rising, and 
her great canal will give her still more decided advantages, until 
we in turn derive our increase from our purposed inland improve- 
ments. Even the exports of Baltimore, in 1820, recent as has 
}}een her grow tli, was, in 1820, 865,825 dollars more than ours ! 

I since find the following facts concerning the number of buriali* 
occurring in the city about a century ago, to wit : 

In 1722. the Gazette began first to record the death and burials 
of the month, to wit : In February, 1722, for one month, it was 
three of the Church of England — Quakers four, and Presbyterians, 
none. 

In 1729 to '30, the interments in one year, from December to 
December, were 227 in number, to wit : In Church ground 81 — in 
Quaker 39— in Presbyterian 18— in Baptist 18, and in strangers* 
ground (the present Washington Square, an adorned grave ground 
now for them !) 41 whites and 30 blacks. In some weeks I per- 
ceived but one and two persons a week, and in one week none. It 
is w^orthy of remark that although the influence of Friends was 
once so ascendant as to show a majority of their population, yet it 
seems from the above, that the churchmen must have been then 
most numerous. In the week ending the 15th of July, 1731. I 
noticed the burials of that week were "none !" 



6.6: 



WHAL.KS AND WHALERY* 



" The huge potentate of the scaly train." 

IT will much surprise a modern Philadelphian, to learn how very 
much the public attention was once engaged in tlic fishery of whales 
along our coast, and to learn withal, tliat they disdained not occa- 
sionally to leave their briny deeps to explore and taste the gust- 
ful fresh waters of our Delaware, — even there, 

" Enormous sails incumbent, an animated Isle, 

And in his way dashes to heaven's blue arch the foamint? wave." 

''The Free Society of Traders" had it as a part of their origi- 
nal scheme of profit, to prosecute extensively the catching of 
whales. To this purpose, they instituted a whalei-y near Lewis- 
town, and as I am inclined to think there was once in s^)me vvay 
connected with the whalery, a place of sale or deposit at the junc- 
tion of '' Whalebone alley" and Chesnutstieet, on the same premi- 
ses now Pritchef s. The old house which formerly stood there, had 
a large whalebone affixed to the wall of the house, and when lately 
digging through the made earth in tlie yard, they dug up several 
fragments of whales, such as tails, fins, kc. Its location there 
originally was by the tide water rajiging in Dock creek. Be 
this as it may, we are certain of the whales and the whaleries, fi-om 
facts like the following, to wit : 

In 1683, William Penn, in writing to the above Society, says, 
*' The whalery hath a sound and fruitful bank, and the town of 
Lewes by it, to help your people." 

In another letter of the same year he says, ''Mighty whales 
roll upon the coast, near the mouth of the bay of the Delaware ; 
eleven caught and worked into oil in one season. We justly hope 
a considerable profit by a whalery, they being so numerous and 
the shore so suitable." 

In another letter of 1683, William Penn again says, "Whales arc 
in great plenty for oil, and two companies, of whalers, and hopes 
of finding plenty of good cod in the bay." 

In 1688, Phineas Pemberton, of Pennsbury, records a singular 
visiter, saying, " a whale was seen in the Delaware as high as 
the Falls !" 

In 1722, deficiency of whales is intimated, saying in the Gazette, 



668 Whales and Whaler ij. 

that there are but four whales killed on Long Island, and but lit- 
tle oil is expected from thence. 

In 1730, a cow-whale of fifty feet length is advertised as going 
ashore to the northward of Cape May, dead. The harpooners are 
requested to go and claim it. Thus showing, I presume, that a 
fishery wa? tlien near there, by the same persons who may have 
harpooned it. 

In 1733, month of April, two whales, supposed to be a cow 
ami a calf, apjieared in the river before the city. They were pur- 
sued and shot at by people in several boats, but escaped notwith- 
standing, Wliat a rare spectacle it must have been to the fresh- 
water cocknies of the city ! 

In 1735, month of July, some fishermen proved their better 
success at this time in capturing an ocean fish, such as a shark 
of seven feet length in a net, a little above the city. The Gazette 
of the day says it is but seldom a shark is found so high in fresh 
water. If that was strange in that day. it was still stranger in 
modern times, when ''a voracious shark" of nine feet long and 
500wt. was caught at Wind Mill Cove, only five miles below 
Philadelphia, in July, 1823. Not long after, say in January, 1824, 
near the same place, was taken a seal of four feet four inches long, 
and 6 libs, weight, near the Repaupa flood gates. 

About the same time another was taken in Elk River. Many 
years ago seals were often seen about Amboy, but to no useful 
purpose. 

In 1736, February, "two whales are killed at Cape May, 
equal to 40 barrels of oil, and several more are expected to be kil- 
led '* by the whalemen on the coast." 

Finally, the last " huge potentate of the scaly train" made his 
visit up the Delaware about the year 1809, — then a whale of pretty 
large dimensions, to the great surprise of our citizens, was caught 
near Chester. He was deemed a rare wanderer, and as such be- 
came a subject of good speculation as an exhibition in Philadelphia 
and elsewhere. Thomas Pryor, who purchased it made money by 
it, and in reference to his gains was called '* Whale Pryor." The 
jaws were so distended as to receive therein an armchair in whick 
visiters sat. 



GRAPES AXD VINEYARDS. 



NUMEROUS incidental intimations and facts evince tlie ex- 
pectations originally entertained for making this a flourishing grape 
and wine country. Before Penn's arrival, the numerous grape- 
vines every where climbing the branches of our forest trees, gave 
some sanction to the idea that ours may have been the ancient 
Wineland so mysteriously spoken of by the Norwegian writers. 
Almost all the navigators, on tlieir several discoveries, stated their 
hopes from the abundance of grapevines with exultation. But 
neglecting these we have substituted whisky ! 

Penn in his letter of 1683, to the Free Society of Traders, says, 
'<■ Here are grapes of divers sorts. Tlic great red grape, now ripe, 
(in August.) called by ignorance the foxgrape. because of the 
rich relisli it hath with unskilful palates, is in itself an extraordi- 
nary grape, and by art, doubtless may be cultivated to an excel- 
lent wine— if not so sweet, yet little inferior to the Frontinac. as 
it is not mucli unlike in taste, ruddiness set aside, which in such 
•things, as well as mankind, differs the case much. There is a 
kind of muscadel, and a little black grape, like the cluster grape 
of England, not yet so ripe as the other, but they tell me, when 
ripe, sweeter ; and that they only want skilful vignerons to make 
good use of them. Then he adds— I intend to venture on it witli 
my Frenchman this season, who shows some knowledge in these 
thino-s. At the same time he questions whether it is best to fall 
to fining the grapes of the country, or to send for foreign stems 
and sets already approved. If God spare his life, he will try both 
means— [a mode of practice recently obtaining favour witli several 
experimenters.] Finally, he says, I would advise you to send for 
some thousands of plants out of France with some able vignerons." 
With such views, Penn, as we shall presently shew, instituted 
several small experiments. He and otliers naturally inferred, that a 
country so fruitful in its spontaneous productions of grapes, must 
have had a peculiai- adaptation for the vine. When the celebrated 
George Fox, the founder of Friends, was a traveller through our 
wooden wilderness, he expressly notices his perpetual embarrass- 
ments in riding, from the numerous entangling grapevines. The 
game too is expressly mentioned by Pastorlous, in his traversing 



670 Grapes and Vineyards. 

tlic original site of Philadelphia. And when Kalm was here in 
1748, he speaks of grapevines in every direction, the moment he 
got without tlie hounds of the city ; and in liis rides to Germantown 
and Chester, &c. he found them all along his way. Thus numerous 
and various as they once were, it may be a question, whether, in 
the general destruction of the vines since, we have not destroyed 
several of peculiar excellence, since modern accidental discoveries 
have l)rought some excellent specimens to ndtice, — such as the 
Orvvigsburg and Susquehanna. 

In 1685, William Pcnn, in speaking of his vineyard to his stew- 
ard, James Harrison, writes : " Although the vineyard be as yet 
of no value, and I might be out of pocket, till I come, be regardful 
to Andrew Dore the FrenchmaH. He is Hot but I think honest. 
This, I presume, refers to the vigneron, and to the vineyard at 
Springetsbury. 

In another letter he writes to recommend Charles de la Noe, a 
French minister, who intends, with his two servants, to try a vine- 
yard, and if he be well used more will follow." 

In 1686, he writes to the same steward, saying, <^ All the vines 
formerly sent and in the vessel (now ) are intended for Andrew, 
(Dore,) at the Schuylkill, for the vineyard. I could have been glad 
of a taste last year, as I hear he made some. Again he says, if 
wine can be made by Andrew Dore, at the vineyard, it \\ill be 
worth to tlie province thousands by the year, — there will be hun- 
dreds of vineyards, if it takes. I ujiderstand he produced ripe 
grapes by the 28th of 5 mo. from shoots of 15 or 16 mos. planting. 
Many French are disheartened by the Carolinas (for vines) as 
not hot enough !" 

About the time William Penn was thus urging the cultivation 
of the vine, his enlightened friend Pastorius, the German and 
scholar, was experimenting, as he expressly says, on his little vine- 
yard in Germantown, 

How tliose vineyards succeeded, or how they failed, we have no 
data on which to found an explanation now. We behold, however, 
now, that Mr. E. H. Bonsall is succeeding with a vineyard among 
rts ; and at Little York the success is quite encouraging. 

The following description of the discovery and character of the 
Susquehanna grape, will probably go far to prove the superiority 
of some natural grapes once among us, or leave grounds to specu- 
late on the possibility of birds conveying off some of Penn's above- 
mentioned imported seeds ! Another new and excellent grape 
has been discovered on the line of the new canal, beyond the Sus- 
quehanna. 

About a year ago, there were obtained some cuttings of a grape- 
vine which was discovered by Mr. Dininger, on an island in the 
SHsquehanna, called Brushy Island. The island upon which this 
vine was found is uninhabited and uncultivated, the soil alluvial, 
and subject to overflo^\^ The vine runs upon a large sycamore, 



Grapes and Vineyanlii. G71 

spreading through the top branches, to the height of forty or fifty 
feet from the ground, and appears to have grown with the tree, 
the root being from 20 to 30 feet from the tr^c. The wood, leal 
and early shoots very much resemble what is called Miller's Bur- 
gundy, also the fruit, in colour and flavour; but in size it is 
much larger. It was observed, that the fi-uit obtained in Septem- 
ber, 1827, was a deep brown: tl)at of Ihe next season, some 
were brown and others a deep black. The difference was accounted 
for by Mr. Dininger, who stated that tlie brown bunches were 
tiiose that were shaded from the sun by the thick foliage of the 
tree: but those exposed to tlie sun were black. Some of the 
bunches procured tliat season were very line, and set closely upon 
the stem— fruit the size of the Powel grape, skin thin, no pulp, a 
sweet water, seed small, flavour equal to the celebrated Black 
Prince, and not inferior to any foreign grape, for the table. 

It is believed to be a truth, that no native grape was previously 
found, that did not possess a secondary skin, enclosing a stringy 
pulp, and most of tiieni possessing a husky flavoui-, proving their 
affinity to the fox. But because this one, found on the Susque- 
hanna, is an excejjtion — because it possesses all the delicate sweet- 
ness, tenderness of skin, and delicious flavour of the most esteemed 
exotics, we are not willing to concede that it is not entitled to be 
classed among the native productions of our soil. 

In favour of its being purely of American origin, we will state, 
that the island on wliich it was found, has never been inhabited, 
that lying immediately below Eshleman's falls the ap[»roach to it 
is difficult, and that it has rarely been visited, except by the pro- 
prietor, an aged man named Fales, lately deceased, who did no^ 
trouble himself about grapes, native or foreign ; and merely used 
it as a place to turn young cattle upon in tlie summer season. TJie 
sycamore, of which it is the parasite, appears to be about 40 years 
old, and the vine is rooted about 30 feet from the stem of the tree, 
under a pile of drift wood, from which it I'uns along the ground, 
in company with tljrec other vines of the fox or chicken variety, 
apparently of the same age, and interwoven climb the tree to- 
gether. From appearances one should judge that the tree is not 
older than the vine — that the young sycamore in its gi-owth car- 
ried the vine with it. 

At the period in which this vine must have taken root, foreign 
grapes were little known in the United States, and then their cul- 
tivation was confined to the neighbourhood of the great Atlantic 
cities. 

None of the foreign varieties we have seen correspond in ap- 
pearance with this fruit, for though the wood and leaf of Miller's 
Burgundy are so similar as scarcely to be distinguished apart, yet 
the bunches and fruit of that of the Susquehanna are much larger. 

Again — we have many stories related through the country, by 
persons worthy of credit, pf the delicious grapes found upon tb^» 



672, Grapes and VineyardS' 

islands of the Susquehanna. Some described as white, some red. 
black, purple, &c. without pulp, and all ripening in August and 
September. It was these reports urged several gentlemen to II »c 
pursuit, which has been so far crowned with success, in the dis- 
covery of the kind above described. Mr. D. was one of several citi- 
zens who visited the Brushy Island in the autumn of 1827, and saw 
the vine, and from the observations then made and facts that have 
since come to his knowledge, says, I have no doubt that there does ex- 
ist in those islands a variety of grapes, equal for the table or for 
wine, to any that have been imported; and that they are purely 
native. 

Of the grape now discovered, we understand there are from two 
to three hundred plants, in the possession of different gentlemen in 
that neighbourhood, in vigorous growth, independent of those in 
the possession of Col. Can* and the Messrs. Landreths, of Phila- 
delphia. 

Charles Thomson used to tell that the most luscious and excel- 
lent wild grape he ever tasted, grew in a meadow on the road to 
Chester. He thought the fruit so fine that he intended at a proper 
season to procure cuttings for its cultivation, but found the stupid 
owner had destroyed it, because it shaded " too much his ground "' 



BEASTS OF PREY, & GAME. 



" The squirrels, rabbits, and the timid deer, 
To beasts of prey are yet exposed here." — [Poem, 1729.J 

THE following notices of the state of wild animals roaming 
through our woody waste in early days, will aid the mind to 
perceive the state o'f cultivation whicli has since banished the most 
of them from oui- territories — to wit : 

Mr. Kalm, the Swedish traveller, who was here in 1748, says 
that all the old Swedes related, that during their childhood, and 
still more in the time of the arrival of their fathers, there were ex- 
cessive numbers of wolves prowling tlirough the coimtry, and howl- 
ing and yelping every night, often destroying their domestic cattle. 

In that early day, a horrible circumstance occurred for the poor 
Indians. They got the smallpox from the new settlers. It killed 
many hundreds of them. The wolves, scenting the dead bodies, de- 
voured them all, and even attacked the poor sick Indian:, m their 
liuts, so that the few wlio were left in health were much busied to 
keep them off. 

The Swedes, he said, had tamed some few wolves. Beavei-s 
they had so tamed, that they were taken to fish with, and bring 
the fish they caught to their keepers. They also tamed wild geese 
and wild turkies. Those wild turkies which he saw in the woods 
were generally larger than those of the domestic race.* The In- 
dians also tamed the turkies and kept them near their huts. 
Minks were very numerous along the waters, f 

In 1721, mo. September, several hears, says the Gazette, were 
seen yesterday near this place, and one was killed atGeraiantown, 
and another near Darby. Last night a very large bear being 
spied by two amazons as he was eating his supper of acorns up a 
tree, they called some inhabitants of this place (the city !) to their 
assistance, and he was soon fctch'd down and despatched by them. 

*Penn sneaks of turkies weighing from 40 to 50 pounds. 

•j- Hector St. John, of Carlisle, in 1780, speaks of it as practised there to "e.jder rattle- 
snakes harmless, and to keep them as matters of curiosity and amusement J ^hej hnd 
such a snake asleep, they put a small forked stick on their necks, by which they ho W them 
firm to the ground, and in that state give them a piece of leather to bite. 1 his tliej ju K 
tack with great force, until they find their two poisonous fangs torn out. ""V^^ '^f. f;; * 
tamed one quite gentle. It was delighted to be stroked with a soft brush, and would turi^ 
oit its back to make it more grateful. It would take to the water and come back »t a oaJh 
4 S 



674 Beasts of Prey, and Game. 

As late as the year 1724 & '29, they gave a premium, by law, of 15 
to 20s. for wolves, ami 2s. for foxes. This was for the purpose of 
destroying them out of the country. 

In 1729, a panther was killed at Conestogoe. It had disturbed 
the swine in their pen at night. The owner ran to the place with 
his dogs, and the beast then ascended a tree. It being very dark, 
the women brought fire and made a ilame near it. It was shot at 
twice. The second fire broke both its legs, when, to their sur- 
prise, it made a desperate leap and engaged with the dogs, until a 
third shot in the head despatched it. 

About the same time, a monstrous panther was killed at Shrews- 
bury, by an Indian. Its legs were thicker than those of a horse, 
and the nails of its claws were longer than a man's finger. The 
Indian was creeping to take aim at a buck in view, when hearing 
something rustling behind him, he perceived the panther about to 
spring upon him. He killed him with four swan shot in tlie head. 
In 1730, a woman in Chester county going to mill, spied a 
deer fast asleep neai* the road. She hit it on the head with a stone 
and killed it. 

The latest mention of buffaloes nearest to our region of country, 
is mentioned in 1730, when a gentleman from the Shanadore, Va. 
saw there a buffalo killed of 1400 pounds, and several others came 
in a drove attlie same time. 

1732. — At Hopewell, in New Jersey, two bucks were seen fight- 
ing near the new meeting-house, in the presence of a black doe. 
Tiiey fastened their horns so closely that they could not separate, 
and were so taken alive ! The doe also was taken. Another brace 
had been before caught in a similar extremity ! 

In 1749, the treasurers of the several counties declared their 
treasuries were exhausted by their premiums paid for squirrels. 
8,000^. was paid in one year (says Kalm) for grey and black 
squirrels at Sd. a head, making the enormous aggregate of 
640,000 ! Tlie premium was then reduced to half price. 

Sanuiel Jefferies, who died near West Cliester in 1823, at the age 
of 87, very well lemembered a time in his early life when deer 
were plenty in his neighboui-hood — and Anthony Johnson, of Ger- 
mantown, tells me of often hearing from his grandfather there, of 
his once killing deer, beavei's, and some bears and wolves in that 
township. 

Mr. Kalm, when here in 1748, says, all then agreed that the 
quantities of birds for eating were then diminished. In their fore- 
fathers' days, they said the waters were covered with all sorts of 
watei--fowl. About 60 to 70 years before, a single person could 
kill eighty ducks of a morning ! An old Swede of 90 years told 
Mr. Kalm he had killed twenty-three ducks atone shot ! The wild 
turkies and the hazel-hens (pheasants) too, were in abundance in 
flocks in the woods. Incredible numbers of cranes visited the coun- 
try every spring. They spoke also of fish being once much more 



Beasts of Prey, and Game. ^75 

ahnn^liuit. At one draught they caught enough to load a horse : and 
eoilfish, since all gone, were numerous at the mouth of the Dela- 

In the year 1751, as I was assured by the late aged Timothy 
Matlack, Esq. there was killed a bear, at the square now open 
eastward and adjoining tlie present poorhouse. nine years before it 
was built, in 1760. He was killed by Reuhen Haines, grandlather 
of the present gentleman of that name. He and live others had 
started him from near Fairmount. and chased him through the woo(fs 
nearly tive miles when he took to a cherry tree at the s<iuare afore- 
said. Thev had no gun, but remaining tlicre till one was pro- 
cured, he \vas shot down. Mr. Matlack declared tins was a tact. 
Peun's woods, we know, were then existing thereabout. 

In 1750, a woman killed a large bear at Point no Point. She 

lived there with Robert Watkins, and while she was at work near 

the kitchen outhouse, he came up to it so near, that she killed him. 

These were of course deemed rare occurrences, even in that day, 

and have been since remembered and told from that cause. 

Old Mr. Garrigues, a respectable Friend, now about cighty-six 
years of age, assured me that when he was a lad and coming home 
on-- niglit late from Coates' woods, then in the Northern Liber- 
ties, he actually encountered a bear as he was passing over the 
path at Pegg's run, then a lonely place. It was moonliglit. and he 
was sure he could not have been deceived, and he fully believed it 
was also a wild one. This may seem sti-angc to our conceptions 
iiow, but as the time is seen to agree with the story preceding it. oi 
Haines and others starting a bear at Fairmount, in 1751, there 
may be more reason for inferring the fact, than would otherwise be 
admitted. If no better reason could be found, it might m botli 
cases be admitted to be a bear escaped from keeping. Those differ- 
ent parties certainly never tliought of comparing their accounts, 
and probably never knew of each other's adventures. Their coin- 
cidence, so far as they accord, furnishes a reason which has not es- 
caped my observation, that an annalist should not reject isolated 
facts, if interesting in themselves, because he could not immediate- 
ly discern their bearing: for other incidents may occur to give 
them their due interpretation at some subsequent period. 

In 1816, January 1st.— A large she wolf was taken in West JNot- 
tingham, Chester county, nearly thi-ee feet liigh, measuring up- 
wards of six feet in length. 

1817, January 7.— A large eagle was shot fifteen miles from 
Philadelphia, in Moreland township, weighing 8 pounds, and its 
wings extending seven feet. About the same time a wild cat was 
killed at Easton, measuring three feet. 

1827, February.— A panther measuring six feet, was killea sev- 
enteen miles from Easton. 



THE STAMP ACT RESISTED.. 



" Society, grown weary of the load, 

Shakes her encumber'd lap — and casts them out." 

THE measures of the Stamp Act in England, and the opposi- 
tions and counteractions which ensued in this couvitry, were all so 
many causes combining to sever those ties of union, before exist- 
ing between the parent and the offspring, and leading the latter to 
self-government and independence. 

Many who tlien fell into measures of resistance had little or n» 
conception of tlie teiniination to which it l»^d — whilst others, as by 
an eye of prescience, seemed to penetrate ail the hidden mysteries 
of the future. Such a mind as the Abbe Ravnal's before the Revo- 
lution commenced, fairly wrote out our destiny, calling "th© 
American provinces the asylum of Ireedom. the cradle of future 
nations, and the refuge of distressed Eui-opeans !" 

In November, 1765, the Stamp Act was to have taken effect at 
Philadelphia. John Hughes, a tradesman of Ptiiladelphia, a friend 
of Dr. B'ranklin's, who procured him the appointnient. and a mem- 
T>er of the Assembly, was made the Stamp-master. He affected to 
decline the office; but was not deemed sinceie. "Wherefore, when 
his commission arrived (some blamed Franklin for it) all the bells 
were muffled, the colours hoisted half-mast, and great appearances 
of mobbing occurred. Hughes' house was guarded and armed by 
his friends, &c. In the meantime the present Thomas Bradford, 
from the *' Committee of Safety," (a self-created Society) with his 
posse, waited on the Stamp-master and compelled him to a volun- 
tary resignation ; that is, he had to say it was sucli.* 

At the same time all the storekeepers in Philadelphia resolved 
to import no British goods, &c. William Smith opens a store for 
the sale of commission domestic goods, where all the patriots are 
invited to make purchases. The community agree to eat no lamb- 
meat, so that the wool might be the sooner increased for home- 
made fabrics. Among other resolves to live in a more frugal man- 
ner suitable to the self-denying times, they determine to restraia 
the usual expenses of funerals, formerly conducted with a censurabl© 

* A long letter of his, opposing the views of his constrainers, to the Commissioners of 
Stamps in England, may be seen with other proceedings in the case, in the Register of 
Peiinsylvanisf, — vol 2, p. 244. 



'Ihe Stamp Jet Jiesistcd. 677 

*'< pomp of wo." In the new mode B. Price, Esq. was buried in an 
oaken coffin and iron handles, and Alderman Plumstcad without 
pall or mourning dresses. 

In the meantime^ feelings of resistance were cherished by some 
so far as to exhibit emblems and devices diminishing the former 
regard to the paient country. A paper was sold about the sti-cets 
called '^the Folly of England and Ruin of America." In fine, tl»e 
measures of resistance were so prompt, energetic and wide diffused 
through the colonics, that every motive of prudence urged the mo- 
ther country to an etpially prompt repeal. In the meantime she 
had granted time and occasion for organizing many civic associa- 
tions called " Sons of Liberty.-' &c. who thus learnt without any 
mishap, the hardihood and practice necessary to conduct future 
social and civic combinations wjjen needful ; in fact, they never 
fully subsided ; and in the end they revived at the period of the 
Revolution with redoubled vigour and skill. 

When the news of " Stamp Act repealed" arrived in 1766, the 
gentlemen at tlie Coffee-house sent a deputation to Captain Wise, 
by whose brig the news came, to invite him up to drink puncii. 
and at the same time to give his whole crew presents. All was 
joy and hilarity. At the Coffee-house tlie punch was made com- 
mon, and a gold laced hat was presented to the Captain as a token 
of their gratitude. The same night every street in t!ic city was 
illuminated. A large quantity of wood was given for bon-fires. 
and many barrels of beer to the populace. Next day the Governor 
and Mayoralty gave a great feast for 300 persons at the State- 
house gallery. At the same place it was unanimously resolved to 
dress themselves at the approaching birthday in new suits of Eng- 
lish manufacture, and to give their homespun and jratriotic gar- 
ments to the poor ! 

In June, 1766, being the King's birthday, and in honour of the 
repeal, a great number of the inhabitants of the Northern Liberties 
and Southwark met on the banks of the Schuylkill, then a place of 
arborescent shade, where 430 persons were dined in a grove. The 
Franklin barge of 40 feet, and tlie White Oak barge of 50 feet — 
both decorated with many flags, were then used with much parade. 
One was rowed up the Schuylkill firing her salutes ; and the other 
was drawn through the streets of the city, also firing her salutes 
en passant. Fireworks were exhibited at night. The w hole scene 
was a joyous occasion, and the crowds were great. They rejoiced 
as well for the supposed concession, as for their personal and na- 
tional interests. 

Dr. Franklin, who was afraid his countrymen would show too 
much exultation and triumph, writes in his letter of the 27th of 
February, 1766, to Charles Thomson, saying, " I trust the be- 
haviour of the Americans on this occasion will be so prudent and 
grateful as that their friends here (in London) will have no reason 
to be ashamed ; and that our enemies who predict that the indul- 



G78 TJie Stamp Ml Resisted. 

geiice will only make us more insolent and ungovernable, may find 
themselves false prophets." 

The proprietary, Penn, in his letter to Secretary Peters, says 
" It was given as the softest medicine to the wound. Our friends 
give it as matter of great favour. Don't exult as at a great vic- 
tory; but send grateful thanks, &c. — else our opposing prophets 
here will verify their assertion that the repeal will cause further 
disobedience." 

Another letter of B. Franklin's to Charles Thomson, of the 1 Itli 
of July, 1765, says, "' I did all I could to oppose the act, but the 
tide was too strong. The nation was provoked by American 
claims of Independence, and all parties joined in resolving by this 
act, to settle the point," &c. The sequel proved how fatal was the 
experiment ; while it helped them to feel our pulse, it also eventua- 
ted in the final dismission of the prescribers ! 

The British authorities then in this country, affected to neutralize 
the apparent exultation and triumphs at the repeal, by joining their 
names and persons in the displays and rejoicings. Thus the Gov- 
ernor joined the feastings in Philadelphia ; and at New York, the 
mansion of General Gage, in Broad street, was gorgeously illumi« 
nated with the royal arms and *' Stamp Act repealed," &c. 



BS&ITISH BUTXHS 
Al^U TEA ACT RESISTED. 



" Touch'd by the Midas finger of the State, 
Seeks gold for ministers to sport away." 

THE feelings which had been excited by the Stann) Act, were 
again much revived in what were deemetl encroachments of the 
British government, in their renewed attempts in 1768, to im- 
pose duties on glass, paper, k.c. 

In September, 1768, the traders of Philadelphia, in concert with 
those of New York and Boston, resolved to import none of the 
usual goods from England, until the Act laying those duties was 
repealed. 

In July, 1769, a load of malt having arrived to Amos Strettell, 
whereupon all the brewers and traders held a meeting at the State- 
house, and there resolved unanimously that they will not purchase 
nor consume the same. 

The papers of the year 1770, are frequent in their resolutions 
and appeals to the people, to adhere to the " non-importation agree- 
ment," — to be persisted in until they effect a change of measures at 
home. The spirit is very general, and effigies are made and burnt 
of any dissenters of note. The spirit of liberty, under the name of 
*' Sons of Liberty,'* is in full effervescence among some. Even as 
the opposition of the Church of Rome to the reformation then, only 
served to strike out new light, and to elicit more system in resist- 
ance — so in politics with us ; the more we made inquiries into Brit- 
ish misrule, the more and more we discovered the benefits of sepa- 
rate interests and the rights of enfranchisement. 

In the year 1 770, the inhabitants of New York, altered for a season, 
in their politics, by a most extraordinary electioneering influence, 
swerved from tlieir "non-importation agreement," the only colo- 
ny in the union which did it ! — in consequence of which the patriots 
of Philadelphia meet, and resolve to make no purchases of any 
thing from New York — calling them at the same time, '' a faction 
unfriendly to redress of grievances." 

All the goods which came out to Philadelphia on commissions, 
were all rejected and had to go back, and especially those which 
were sent to Boston, 



080 British Duties and Tea Jict Resisted, 

The tlesire to encourage domestic fabrics gave rise, idi 17/1, to 
the erection of a flint glass manufactory near Lancaster, by which 
they hoped to save 30,000£. to the province. A china factory too, 
was also erected on Prime street, near the present navy yard, in- 
tended to make china at a saving of 15,000£.* At the same time, 
a piece of the finest broadcloth '^ever made in America." was 
publicly exhibited at the Coffee-house, from the then first and only 
loom existing in the colonies. 

In December, 1776, the tea ships, ''with the detested tea," ar- 
rived in our river as far as Gloucester Point, where they were ar- 
rested from coming nearer to tiie city, by a committee from the 
general town meeting of probably 8,000 people, assembled at the 
State-house yard. They allowed the captain of the ''Polly" to 
come to town, that he might see the prevalent spirit of opposition, 
by which he might determine whether to take the chance of re- 
maining, or of wisely directing his voyage homeward. He chose 
the latter. In the meantime, the committee procured the resigna- 
tions of all the consignees who had the charge to sell them. 

The conclusion of the measure was, "that tliey had closed the 
ini])ortant affair by a glorious exertion of virtue and spirit — by 
which the intended tax lias been effectually broken, and the foun- 
dations of American Liberty (for so they then talked) more deep- 
ly laid than ever !" 

Finally, in July, 1774, the assembly of Pennsylvania, at Phila* 
dolphia. resolved, that in consequence of the long subsisting differ- 
ences w ith Great Britain, that it is absolutely necessary to call a 
Congress, which accordingly met at Philadelphia in September 
following, and held their session in the Carpenter's Hall. A Con- 
gress peculiarly fitted for the juncture. A body of greater mew 
never crowned our annals — of whom Lord Chatham said to Frank- 
lin, they were "the most honourable assembly of men ever 
known !" Their measures, and our subsequent struggles and free- 
dom under their guidance, " Deo Juvante,** are on the imperisha- 
ble pages of our history, and in the hearts and remembrance of 
every instructed American ! 

* This long row of wooden houses afterwards became famous as a sailor's brothel a&d riot 
febuse on a large scale. The former frail ware proved an abortive scheme. 



08l 



occimnzsNCES 

OF THE 

WAR OF IT^DEPENDEXCE. 

« The deeds of our fathers in times that are gone ; 
Their virtues, their prowess, the fie ds they have won, 
The r struggles for freedom, the tods they endured, 
The rights and the blessings for us they procured. 

wtessel , srap icdelmeations, the things they saw and d.d, 
r„d esTec a y of those occur.-ences which transp.i-cd while Ph.la- 
delDKnsllw under the government and con.inest of General 
Se and is army. I had gatliered from the rmmiscences of the 

publisljed f'»cts : such a 7;;'f ii^^^',!:, ,^tio„ „„ this matter. 
?,r;'; Kt" ie!:l «Xsel,VhU^ed to lay it aside fro™ 

£4tad^;r^in.ticrd\:^^^^^^^^^^ 

igT'to 430:1;. mv MS. Annals in the Historical Socety of Penn- 

-Ktir::i:gt^^^^^^^^^ --- ->- 

suffice for the present article, to wit : 

The Entry of the Mmij—as told by Captain J. C. 
The grenadiers with Lord Cornwallis at their head, led the van 

wllnth!7ente^^^^^ 

anrP has left au imprcssion on my mind, tiiat the isritisn greiiduieia 

wei inimitable, is I am relaing the feelings and observations 

prising in our "border war, .a'^'^S °"^ X^'J^a and warm from the heart, with the 
with tory sympathies and fears. 



4 T 



682 Occurrences of the War of Independence. 

of a boy only ten years old, I shall mention many things, iki - 
Imps, not worth relating ; for instance, I went up to the front ran Ic 
ot tlic grenadiers when they had entered Second street, when se\ - 

oral of them addressed me thus,— how do you do young one Iiow 

are you my hoy, in a brotherly tone, that seems still to vibrate on 
my ear: then reached out their hands and severally caught mine, and 
shook it, not with an exulting shake of conquerors, as I thought 
but with a sympathising one for the vanquished. The Hessians 
composed a part of the van-guard, and followed in the rear of the 
grenadiers,— their looks to me were terrific,— their brass caps— 
their mustachios,— their countenances, by nature morose, and th'^ir 
music, that sounded better English than they themselves could 
speak— plunder— idunder— plunder, gave a desponding, heart- 
breaking effect, as I thought, to all ; to me it was dreadful beyond 
expression. 

Recollections of the Entry of the Armij—hj a Lady. 

In answer to my esteemed friend Watson's quei-ies respecting 
Nvhat I can remember of the state of things, facts, and the expres- 
sion ot jntbhc opinion, during the memorable years of 1777 and '78, 
when the hostile army of Great Britain occupied Philadelphia, I 
will give my recollections as briefly and simply as I can. 

1 can well remember the previous gloom spread over the minds 
ot the inhabitants, from the time it was thought the enemy would 
advance through the Jersies ; the very darkest hour of the Revo^ 
lution, ajipearing to me to be that preceding the capture of the 
Hessians ;it Trenton. The tories who favoured the government at 
home, (as England was then called,) became elated, and the whigs 
dei)ressed. This may account for a good deal of severity that was 
used before the constituted authorities of that time left the city, 
111 visiting the inhabitants and inspecting what stores of provisions 
they had, taking in some instances what they deemed superfluous, 
especially blankets, of m hich our army \\ ere in great need. After 
the public authorities had left the city, it was a very gloomy time 
indeed. We knew the enemy had landed at the head of Elk, but 
ot their procedure and movements we had but vague information; 
for none were left in the city in public employ, to whom expresses 
Avould be addressed. The day of the battle of Brandy wine was one 
ot deep anxiety. We heard the firing, and knew of an engage- 
ment between the armies without expecting immediate information 
ot the result, when towards night a horseman rode at full speed 
down Lhesnut street, and turned round Fourth to the Indian Queen 
public house ; many ran to hear what he had to tell, and as I re- 
member, his account was pretty near the truth. He told of La 
layette being wounded. 

We had for a neighbour and an intimate acquaintance, a very 
amiable English gentleman, (H. Gurney) who had been in the 
British army, and had left the service upon marrying a rich and 



Occurrences of the War of Independence. ^583 

excollcnt lady of Philadelpbia, some years before. He Mas a poi- 
son so much liked and esteemed by the public, tbat be remained un- 
molested at a time when the Committee of Public Safety sent many 
excellent citizens into banishment ^vithout a hearing, upon the most 
va^uc and nnfounded suspicion; but contented themselves ^vlt!. 
only taking his word of honour that he would do nothing itumical 
to the country, nor furnish the enemy witli any inHn-mation. He 
endeavoured to give my motlier confidence that the inhabitants 
would not be ill-treated. He advised that we should be all well 
dressed, and that wc should keep our houses closed. Ihe army 
marched in and took possession of the town in the morning. We 
were np-stairs, and saw them pass to the State-house ; they looked 
well, clean, and well clad, and the contrast between them and our 
own poor barefooted and ragged troops was very great, and caused 
a feeling of despair— it was a solemn and impressnc day— but I 
saw no exultation in the enemy, nor indeed in those who were reck- 
oned favourable to their success. Early in the atternoon. Lord 
Cornwallis' suite arrived, and took i^ssession of my mother s house. 
But mv mother was appalled by the numerous tram which took 
possession of her dwelling, and shrank from having such inmates ; 
for a e:uard was mounted at the door, and tlie yard filled with sol- 
diers Snd baggage of every description ; and I well remember vyhat 
we thought of the haughty looks of Lord Rawdon* and the other 
aid-de-camp, as they traversed the apartments. My mother desired 
to sneak with Lord Cornwallis, and he attended her in tbe front 
parlour. She told him of her situation, and how impossible it 
would be for her to stay in her own house with such a numerous 
train as composed his LoVdship's establishment. He behaved with 
ffreat politeness to her, said he should be sorry to give trouble, and 
would have other quarters looked out for him-they Nwthdrewthat 
very afternoon, and he was accommodated at Peter Reeve s,t in 
Second, near to Spruce street, and we felt very glad at the exemp- 
tion-but it did not last long-for directly the Quarter-masters 
were employed in billeting the troops, and we had to find room tor 
two officers of artillery, and afterwards, in addition, for two gen- 
tlemen, Secretaries of Lord Howe. 

The officers, very generally I believe, behaved with politeness 
to the inhabitants, and many of them upon going away, expressed 
their satisfaction that no injury to the city was contemplated by 
their commander. They said, that living among the inhabitants, 
and speaking the same language, made them uneasy at the tliought 
of acting as enemies. , j x i- 

At fii?t, provisions were scarce and dear, and we had to live 
with much less abundance than we had been accustomed to. Hard 
money was indeed as difficult to come at, as if it had never been 
taken from the mines, except with those who had things to sell lor 

* Since the Marquis of Hastings, and who died at Malta in 1826. 
t Now David Lewis's house, No. 142, south Second street. 



684 Occurrences of the War of Independence. 

tlie use of the army. They had given certificates to the farmers, 
as they came up through Chester county, of the amount of stores 
they had taken, and upon these being presented for payment at 
head-quarters, they were duly honoured. My mother received a 
seasonable supply in this way, from persons who were in her debt, 
and had been paid for what the army had taken. 

Every thing considered, the citizens fared better than could have 
been expected, and though it was extremely disagreeable in many 
place*!, on account of the dirt, yet the city was healthy. The ene- 
my appeared to have a great deal of shipping in the Delaware ; I 
counted sixty vessels, tliat looked of large size, moored so close to 
each other, that it seemed as if you could not pass a hand between 
thenK near to where the navy yard now is — and all tlie wharves 
and places seemed crowded. There was scarce any thing to sell in 
the sliops wSien they came into the town, and the paper money had 
depreciated to nothing. I remember two pieces of silk that I saw 
on sale a little bofore their arrival, at 100 dollars per yard. Tea 
was fifty and sixty dollars per pound. 

The day of the battle of Germantown, we heard the firing all 
day, but knew not the result. Towards evening they brought in 
the wounded. The prisoners were carried to the State-house lob- 
bies, and the street was presently filled with women taking lint 
and bandages, and every refreshment which they thought their suf- 
fering countrymen might want. 

General Howe, during the time he staid in Philadelphia, seized 
and kept for his own use, Mary Pemberton's coach and horses, in 
which he used to ride about the town. The old officers appeared to 
be uneasy at his conduct, and some of th»m freely expressed their 
opinions : they said, that before his promotion to the chief command, 
he sought for the counsels and company of officers of experience 
and merit — but now, his companions were usually a set of boys — 
the most dissipated fellows in the army. 

Lord Howe was much more sedate and dignified than his brother ; 
really dignified, for he did not seem to affisct any pomp or parade. 

They were exceedingly chagrined and surprised at the capture of 
Burgoyne. and at first would not suffer it to be mentioned. We 
had received undoubted intelligence of the fact, in a letter from 
Charles Thomson, and upon communicating this circumstance to 
Henry Gurney, his interrogatories forced an acknowledgment from 
some of the superior officers, that it was, as he said, *' alas ! too 
true !" 

One of my acquaintance, indeed an intimate one, performed the 
part of a "Nymph of tiie blended Rose," in the splendid festival 
of the Meschianza, but I saw no part of the show, not even the 
decorated hall where the knights and ladies supped, amidst the 
*' Grand Salema" of their turbaned attendants; nor even the Ri- 
dott 1 part, which was gazed at from the wharves and warehouses 
by all the uninvited population of the town. 



Occurrences dj the iVar of Independence. 685 

The streets seemed always well iiUcd with hoth officers and sol- 
diers, and I believe they frequently attended <l;ff«^«"t }f .^[^^^^^^^^ 
worship, but Friend's meetings were not much to Jhcii tastts. 
They lad their own chaplains to the different regiments, which ap- 
pealed to us a mere "-ckery of religion. Parson Badg^^^^ 
chaplain to the artillery, and he was billetted at John 1^ u Id s, ^vho, 
with his wife, were very plain Friends, in our neighbourhood. 1 h(^ 
house was very small, and he had the front room up-stan-s, and as 
he was a jolly good-tempered person, he was much liUd by the 
young fellows w'ho used to .all to see him after parades. 

Even whig ladies went to the Meschianza and to balls, but J. 
knew of ^erv few instances of attachments formed-nor, witli the 
exception of'one instance, of any want of propriety in behaviour. 
When they left the city, the officers came to take leave ot their 
acquaintance, and express their good wishes. It seemed to us, that 
a considerable change had taken place in their prospects of success, 
between the time of their entry and departure. I hey often spoke 
freely in conversation on these subjects. ., . , ^ ,,:,,,„,„ 

^'The honourable Cosmo Gordon" staid all night at us qua - 
ters, and lay in bed so long the next morning, that the family 
hough it bift kind to waken him, and tell him '; his friends the reb- 
els," were in town. It was with great difficulty he procured a boat to 
put him over the Delaware. Perhaps he and his man were the last 
that embarked. Many soldiers hid themselves in cellars and o he 
places, and staid behind_(I have heard.) In wo hours after we 
saw the last of them, our own dragoons ga loped down the street 

When our own troops took possession of the city. General Ai- 
nold, then flushed with the recent capture of Burgoyne, ^vas ap- 
pointed to the command of it, and his quarters, (as it we had bee 
Conquered from an enemy) appointed a Henry Gurneys ! Thej 
were appalled at the circumstance, but thought it prudent to make 
'o resistance, when to their agreeable surprise, us politeness ami 
that of his aids. Major Franks and Captain Clarkson, made the 
los tion set light and in a few days he removed to Mrs Mas- 
ter's house in Market street, that had been occupied as liead-quar- 
ters by General Howe, where he entered upon a style of living, 
but ill according with republican simplicity, giving sumptuous en- 
tertairmients thit involved him in expenses and debt, and most pr^^^^ 
ably laid the foundation, in his necessities and pover y, of l»s Mure 
deception and treason to his country. He married our Philadel^ 
phia Miss Shippen. 

Further Facts— by J. P. JV*. Esq. 
I recollect seeing the division march down Second street, when 
LorrConiwallis fook possession of the city-the troops were ga^ 
and well clad. A number of our citizens appeared «^d ^"^ ««;': 
ous. When I saw them, there was no huzzaing. The ai tillerj 
were quartered in Chesnut, between Third and Sixth streets,-the 



686 Occurrence's of the U^ar of Independence. 

State-house yard was made use of as the Park, — the 42d Highlarttf- 
crs occu])ied Chesnut helovv Third street,— the 15th regiment 
Merc in quarters in Market, in and about Fifth street. 

Wlicn the enemy were bombarding Fort Mifflin, we could seethe 
path of the bomb from the top of my old house. The blowing up 
of the Augusta was attended with 'a shock similar to that of an 
earthquake. I immediately started for Schuylkill point, where the 
British had a battery, and saw some firing. The officers appeared 
much chagrined at the events of the day. On our way down, we 
met several wagons with wounded soldiers — many of them in great 
pain — their moans and cries were very distressing. These men 
had been wounded before Red Bank Fort. 

I was present when some of the troops were going off for Ger- 
niantown, the morning of the battle — they were in high spirits, and 
moved in a trot. 

Houses entirely occupied by the soldiery were a good deal in- 
jured — their conduct, however, was quite as good as could be expect- 
ed. The officers of middle age were in general polite — the younger 
ones were more dashing. Some of them had women with them. I 
recollect Col. Birch of the horse, and Major Williams of the ar- 
tillery had. Tliey occupied houses to themselves, and were not 
quartered on families. All the regiments paraded morning and 
evening. 

After the battle of Gerniantown,the officers who were made pris- 
oners in that action, were confined some days in the long room up- 
stairs in the State-house, now Peale's museum. 

During the winter, prisoners and deserters were frequently 
brought in, and carried first to head-quarters. They were easily 
distinguished, as the latter always had their arms, and which they 
were allowed to dispose of; they were almost naked, and general- 
ly without shoes — an old dirty blanket around them, attached by 
a leather belt around the waist. 

Deserters from head-quarters were led off to the superinten- 
dent, (Galloway) and officers of the new corps were generally on 
the look out to get them to enlist. 

The citizens of Philadelphia were once gratified with the full dis- 
play of General Washington's whole army. It was done on the 
occasion of raising the spirits of the whigs, and of proportion ably 
dispiriting the measures of the tories. As it was intended for ef- 
fect, it was, of course, in its best array for our poor means, and had 
indeed tlie effect to convince the tories it was far more formidable 
than they expected ! This martial entre passed down the long 
line of Front street — There, thousands of our citizens beheld nu- 
merous poor fellows, never to be seen more among the sons of men ! 
They were on their march to meet the enemy, landed at the head of 
Elk. They encountered at Brandy wine and at Germantown, and 
besides losing many lives, retained little of all those implements and 
equipages, which constituted their street-display in our city. 



Occurrences of the War of Independence. 6&7 

J add also the localities occupied bij the armxj and officers as some- 
thing wiknoivn to the present generation, to wit: 
General Howe lived in the house in High street, near Sixth street, 
-where was afterwards the residence of President Washington. 
His brother, Lord Howe, resided in Chesnut street, intiie house now 
the Farniers and Mechanics Bank. General Kniphausen lived in 
the Iiouse now General Cadwallader's, in south Second street, 
opposite to Little Dock street. Lord Cornwallis dwelt in the 
house since of David Lewis, in Second above Spruce street. Col- 
onel Abercrombie— afterwards tlie General, who was killed in 
£gypt_dwelt in the house of Whitehead, it» Vine street, second 
door west of Cable Lane. Major Andre dwelt in Dr. Frank- 
lin's mansion in a court back from High street. 

Several of the British troops used to exercise in the large vacant 
lot appurtenant to Bingham's tnansion. 

The British who were wounded at the battle of Brandywine, 
were put in Cuthbert and Hood's stores and houses in Penn street. 
The Americans were put into the lobbies of tlie State-house. The 
British wounded at Germantow^n, were put into the Scotch 
Presbyterian church in Spruce street. 

While the British remained, they held frequent plays at the 
Old Theatre, the performances by their officers. The scenes 
were painted by Major Andre and Captain Delancy ; they had 
also stated balls. 

They had under their control two tory presses,— one the 
" True Royal Gazette," by James Humphreys, the other the 
^' Royal Pennsylvania Gazette," by James Robertson. 

Sir William Howe was a fine figure, full six feet high, and well 
proportioned, — in appearance not unlike his antagonist, General 
Washington. His manners were graceful and dignified, and he 
was much beloved by his officers, for his generosity and affability. 
Sir Henry Clinton, his successor in command, was in a good de- 
gree a different man,— he was short and fat, with a full face and 
prominent nose, in his intercourse was reserved, and not so 
poj)ular as Howe. 

Lord Cornwallis was short and thick set, liis hair somewhat 
grey, his face well formed and agreeable, his manners remarkably 
easy and affiible — much beloved by his men. 

General Knipliausen was much of the German in his appearance, 
always very polite in bowing to respectable citizens in the streets, 
not tall, but slender and straight. His features sharp and martial., 
very honourable in his dealings. 

Colonel Tarleton was rather below the middle size, stout, strong, 
heavily made, large muscular legs, and an uncommonly active 
person,— his complexion dark, and his eye small, black and pier- 
cing. 

Among their greatest feats while at Philadelphia, was that of 



688 Occurrences of the War of Independence. 

the celebrated "Mescliianza," so called. The description of 
which more at length is given in my MS. Annals in the Philadel- 
phia Library, pages 300 to 305, from which I extract the present 
short notice, to wit : 

The Meschiau'&a at Philadelphia. 

This is tlie appellation of the most splendid pageant ever exhib- 
ited in our country, if we except the great "Federal Procession" of 
all trades and professions, through the streets of Pbiladelpliia in 
1788. The Meschianza was chiefly a tilt and tournament with 
other entertainments, as the term implies, and was given on Mon- 
day the ISth of May, 1778, at Wharton's country-seat in South- 
wark, by the officers of General Sir William Howe's army, to that 
officer, on his quitting the command to return to England. A con- 
siderable number of our city belles were present ; which gave con- 
siderable oftence afterwards to the whigs ; and did not fail to mark 
the fair as the "tory ladies." The ill-nature and the reproach 
has long since been forgotten. 

The company began to assemble at tliree to four o'clock, at 
Knight's wliarf.* at the water edge of Green street, in the Nor- 
thern Liberties, and by half past four o'clock in the afternoon the 
whole were embarked, in tlie pleasant month of May, in a " grand 
regatta" of three divisions. In the front of the whole were three 
flat boats, with a band of music in each of them, *• rowed regular 
to harmony." As this assemblage of vessels progressed, barges 
rowedon the flanks, '' light skimming, stretch'd their oary wings,'* 
to keep off" the multitude of boats that crowded from the city as be- 
liolders ; and the houses, balconies and wharves were filled with 
spectators all along the river side. 

At the fort below^ the Swedes' clmrch they formed a line of pro- 
cession, through an avenue of grenadiers, and light-horse in the 
rear. The company were thus conducted to a square lawn of 150 
yards on eacli side, and which was also lined with troops. This 
area formed the ground for a tilt or tournament. On the front 
seat of each pavilion were placed seven of the principal young la- 
dies of the country, dressed in Turkish habits, and wearing in 
their turbans, the articles which they intended to bestow on their 
several gallant knights. Soon the trumpets at a distance announ- 
ced the approach of the seven white knights^ habited in white and 
red silk, and mounted on grey chargers, richly caparisoned in sim- 
ilar colours. These were followed by their several Esquires on 
foot ; besides these there was a herald in his robe. These all made 
the circuit of the square, saluting the ladies as they passed,! and 

* This wharf at that time was the only wharf above Vine street, which ran out to a good 
depth of water. The tickets of admission (one of which I have) were elegant and curious. 
It had a view of the sea, militaiy trophies, the General's crest, Vive Vale. 

1 1 have in my MS. Annals an original drawing by Major Andre, showing the style of 
(his dress. 



Occur rejiccs of the fFar of Independence. 689 

thon they ranged in line with their ladies ; then their !iei'ald, Mr. 
Beamnont after a floui-ish of trumpets, proclaimed their challenge, 
in the name of *' the knights of the blended rose," declaring that tho 
ladies of their order excel in wit, beauty, and accomplisliments, 
those of the whole world, and tliey are ready to enter the lists 
against anv knigiits who will deny the same, according to the laws 
ofancient chivalry; at the third repetition of the challenge, a sound 
of trumpets announced the entrance of another herald, w ith four 
trumpeters dressed in black and oi-ange. The two hei-alds held 
a parley, when the black herald proceeded to proclaim Wxii drfiance 
in the name of ''the knights of the hurnin'j; r.urdulniiu"' I'hen I'c- 
tiring, there soon after ente'red " the blacl: kni-'hl.,,'' witli Iheir 
esquires, preceded by their herald, on whose tuuic was represent- 
ed a mountain sending forth llames, and the r.mt-o "I burn 
forever." 

These seven knights, like the former ones, rode rciind the lists, 
and made their obeisance to t!je ladies, and then drew up fronting the 
white knights, and the chief of these having tiirown down his 
gauntlet, the ciiicf of the black knights directed his esquire to take 
it up. Then the knights received their lances from tlieir esquires, 
fixed their shields on their left arms, ami making a general salute 
to each other by a movement of tlieir lances, turned round to take 
their career, and encountering in full gallop, sliivered their spears. 
In the second and third encounter they discharged their pistols. 
In the fourtli, they fought with their swords. 

From the garden they ascended a fligiit of stejjs, covered with car- 
pets, which led into a spacious hall, the panels of which were prantcd 
in imitation of Sienna marble, enclosing festoons of white marble. 
In this hall and the adjoining apartments, were prepared tea, lemon- 
ade, &c. to which the company seated themselves. At this time the 
knights came in, and on their knee received their favours from 
their respective ladies. From these apartments they went up to 
a ball-room, decorated in a light, elegant style of painting, and 
showing many festoons of flowers. The brilliancy of the whole 
was heightened bv eighty-five mirrors, decked with ribands and 
flowers, and in the intermediate spaces were lhii"t> -four branches. 
On the same floor were four drawing rooms, with sideboards of 
refreshments, decorated and lighted in the style of t!ie ball- 
room. The ball was opened bv the knights and their ladies ; and 
the dances continued till ten o'clock, when the windows were 
thrown open, and a magnificent bouquet of rockets began the fire- 
works. These were planned by Captain Montresor, the chief engi 
neer, and consisted of twenty different displays in great variety 
and beauty, and changing General Howe's arch into a variety of 
shapes and devices. At 12 o'clock, (midnight) supper was an- 
nounced, and large folding doors, before concealed, sprung open, 
and discovered a magnificent saloon of two hundred and ten feet 
by forty feet, and twenty-two feet in height, witii three alcoves on 
4 U 



690 Occurrences of the War of Imlcpeudence, 

facii side, wliiclj senetl for sideboards. The sides \\crc painted 
with vine leaves and testoon flowers, and fifty-six large pier-glas- 
SOS, ornamented with green silk artiHcial flowers and ribands. 
I'here were also one hundred branches trimmed, and eighteen lus- 
tres oC twenty-four lights hung from the ceiling.* There were 
three hundred wax tajjers on t!)C supper tables, four hundred and 
thirty co\ers. and twelve hundred dishes. There were twenty-four 
black shives in oriental dj-esses, with silver collars and bracelets. 
Tow ards the close of the banquet, the herald with his trumpeters 
entered and announced the king and royal family's health, with 
other toasts. Each toast was followed by a flourish of music. Af- 
ter t!ie supper, the company returned to the ball-room, and contin- 
ued to dance until 4 o'clock in the morning. 

I omit to describe the two arclies, but they were greatly embel- 
lislied. They had two ironts, in the Tuscan order. The pediment 
of one was adorned with naral trophies, and the other with milita- 
rij ones. 

Major Andre, who w i-ote a description of it, (altho' his name is 
concealed) calls it "the 7?iosf spimdrrf entertainment ever given by 
an army to their General." The whole expense w as borne by 22 
field otflcers. The managers were Sir John Wrotlesby, Colonel 
O'Hara, Majors Gardinei- and Montresor. This splendid pageant 
blazed oiit in one short night ! Next day the enchaiitnjent was dis- 
solved ; ar.d in exactly one month, all these knights and the whole 
army chose to make their march from the city of Philadelphia ! 

When I think of the few survivoi-s of that gay scene, who now 
exist, (of some whose sprightliness and beauty is gone !) I cannot 
but feel a gloom succeed the recital of the feat. I think, for in- 
stajice, of one w ho was then " the Queen of the Meschianza," since 
Mrs. L. now hlind, and fast waning from the "things that be." 
To her I am indebted for many facts of illustration. She tells me 
that the unfortunate Major Andre was the charm of the company. 
Lieutenant Andre, his esquire, was his brother, a youth of about 
nineteen, possessing the promise of an accomplished gentleman. 
Major Andre and Captain Oliver Delancey painted, themselves, 
the chief of the decorations. The Sienna marble, for instance, on 
the apparent side walls, was on canvass, in the style of stage scene 
painting. Andre also painted the scenes used at the theatre, at 
which the British officers performed. The proceeds were given to 
the w idows and orphans of their soldiers. The w ater-fall scene, 
drawn by him, w as still in the building w hen it lately burnt. She 
assures me, that of all that was borrowed for the entertainment, 
nothing was injured or lost. They desired to j)ay double if 
accidents occurred. The general deportment of the officers was 
very praiseworthy therein. There were no ladies of British offi- 
cers, save Miss Auchmuty, the new bride of Captain Monti-esor. 

• All the mirrors and lustres, kc. were borrowed from the citizens, and were all sev*. 
•Iiome with all their ornaments Httached to them as a compliment for their use. 



irrenccs of the War oj Independence. 



Occurrences of the War of Independence. 691 



rlio American youiii^ ladies present were not iiumern-ri — not e- - 
ceeding fifty. Tiie others were married ladies. Most of onr !;uiirs 
liad gone from tlie city, and what remained, were of course in great 
demand. The American gentlemen i)resent. were aged non-com- 
batants. Our young men were whigs genei-aliy, and were absent. 

No offence was offered to the ladies afterwards, for their accept- 
ance of this instance of an enemy's hospitality. Wlien the Amei-i- 
cans returned, tiiey got up a great ball, to be given to tiie oflicers 
of the French army, and tlie American ollicers of Wasiiington's 
command. Wlien the managers came to invite tlieir guests, it was 
made a question whether the *' Mescliianza ladies" should be in- 
vited. It was found they could not make up their company with- 
out them. They were therefore invited. When tliey came, they 
looked diflerently habited from those who had gone to the country, 
they baving assumed the bigh bead-dress, 6(,c." of the Britisli 
fashion, (Vide a specimen, p. 218, of my MS. Annals, in the City 
Library,) and so the characters, unintentionally, were immediately 
perceived at a glance tijrough the ball. — [It was in the Masonic 
Hall in Lodge alley.] But lots being cast for partners, they were 
soon fully intermixed, and conversation ensued as if nothing of 
jealousy bad ever existed, and all umbrage was forgotten. 

The same lady was also at a splendid supper and dance given by 
Captain Hammond, on board the Roebuck. The ship was fully il- 
luminated, and 172 persons sat down to supper. 

Miss J. C — g, who was also a kniglit's lady, has kindly given 
me her original invitation from Sir Henry Calder, (an oillrer of 
bigh rank) and also an original drawing by Major Andre, (see p. 
242 of my MS. Annals in the City Library.) of the dress for 
that feat. He skctch'd it to give the ladies an idea of the garb t!iey 
should assume. In reality it was this : — for tlic Blended Rose a 
wbite silk, called a Folonese, forming a flowing robe, and open in 
front on the waist — the pink sasb 6 inches wide, and filled witli span- 
gles — the slioes and stockings also spangled — the head-dress more 
towering than the drawing, and filled with a profusion of pearls 
and jewels. The veil was spangled and edged witli silver lace. She 
says the whole scene Vvas like enchantment to her then young mind. 

The ladies of the black knights wore white sashes edged with 
black, and black trimmings to wbite silk polonese gowns. "The 
ticket" (p. 242 of my MS. Annals in the City Library,) is 
surmounted with Sir Wm. Howe's crest, and the shield represents 
the sea, whicli Sir William is about to cross — hence "live J?i/e." 
The setting glory of the sun, and the Latin scroll, seem to indicate 
that altho' their luminary is thus receding from tbcm, it sball ris'C 
again (resurgum) in anotbci' bemispberc. 



6911 



AI.LIA1VCE FKIGATE, 



AS Philadelphia's, we are entitled to some pre-eminence for our 
connexion with this peculiar frigate. After the close of the war of 
Independence she was owned in our city and employed as a merchant 
sliii). When no longer seaworthy, her hull has been stretched 
upon tiie margin of -Petty's Island, to remain for a century to come 
a spectacle to many river-passengers, and qualified to raise numer- 
ous associations of the past connected with lier eventful history in 
the Revolution. 

She was the only one of our first navy, of the class of frigates, 
w hich was so successful as to escape capture or destruction during 
the war ! In tiie year 1781, she and the Deane frigate were the 
only two of all our former frigates, then left to our service. She 
was in many engagements and always victorious — she was a for- 
tunate ship— was a remarkable fast sailer — could always choose 
her combat — she could either fight or run away — beating her ad- 
versary either by fight or flight ! 

Twice she bore the fortunes of La Fayette across the ocean ; 
Be Noailles was also along at one time. When I presented the 
former with a relic of her timber he was delighted with it for the 
mental associations it afforded him. Another relic, which I had 
given to one of our naval ollirers, has been formed into a miniature 
ship and now holds a place at the President's palace. 

Such a vessel deserves some commemoration and some memorial 
to revive her fame. Slie is still a relic visibly uniting the present 
to the former navy, and in her single remains preserving single 
and alone the solitary link of union. She led those naval heroes of 
the infant navy, of which some remained to join their destinies 
with the present. 

Sailors who are fond of the marvellous and like to be supported 
in their perils by the mysteries of luck and charms, should be in- 
dulged to have a relic of the fortunate Alliance, chiseled into the 
future Philadelphia war vessels in which they may place their des- 
tinies. The magic security will be surely as good as that now at- 
tached to "Old Iron Sides." Men who can " whistle for wind," 
love to indulge themselves in such fancies. 

A more sober part of the story is to say a few w ords respecting 
her construction, &c. which may possibly lead to useful imitatiou» 



Mliance FrigaU^ ^^^ 

^h. xvas 1^5 feet keel payable, about 37 feet beam-making her 
tlout 900 tons. She was thought to be long, narrow, shoal and 
sC) ami to be over-sparrc.l T her main topmast was 18 inches 
diam^ei n the cap-nlain yard 84 feet long. 18 inches in tl.e 
tli^-Uer topsail yard was 18 inches in the^slings As slie was 
'^ t up the riler Merrimack, at Salisbury, Massachusetts which 
had a bar at the mouth, it perhaps accounts for a part of her con- 
struction as a shoal vessel. She was first sailed m the spring of 
7 8 "on after her being launched, and --then commanded by 
Cantain Landais. She was tsyo years m building— built by John 
ai'd Willtm Hasket-six of the persons who built her were alive 
at Salisbury three years ago and all above 70 years of age. 

All these facts may be deemed very minute; but wc « -^^^ «"; 
motives. Every nation forms its imaginative legends, and puts it 
self under the auspices of tutelary beings We also are of an age 
now to construct our heroic age, and such a case as the Alliance, 
presents a part of the material. 



694 



THE FEDERAL. PROCESSIOI^. 



" 'Twere worth ten years of peaceful life — 
One glance at their array !" 

THIS great procession took place at Philadelphia, for the pur- 
pose of celebrating the adoption of the Constitution, and it was ap- 
pointed on Friday, the fourth of July, for the double purpose of 
commemorating the Declaration of Indei)endence of the fourth of 
July, 1776. Although we have had several processions since, none 
have ever equalled it in the pomp and expense of the materials en- 
gaged in the pageantry. The soldiery then were not so numerous 
as in the late entry of La Fayette, but the citizens were more nu- 
merous, and their attire more decorative. It was computed that 
5000 walked in the procession; and that as many as 17,000 were 
assembled on the "Union Green," where the procession ended, in 
front of Bush-hill.* The whole expense was borne by the volun- 
tary contributions of the tradesmen, kc. enrolled in the display; 
and what was very remarkable, the whole of the pageantry was 
got up in four days ! 

The parties to the procession all met at and about the intersec- 
tion of Cedar and Third streets, and began their march by nine 
o'clock in the morning. Tliey went up Third street to Callowhill ; 
up tiiat street to Fourth street; down Fourth street to High street; 
and thence out tliat street across the commons to the lawn before 
Bush-hill, where they arrived in three hours. The length of the 
whole line was about one mile and a half. On this lawn were con- 
structed circular tables, leavi)]g an area for its diameter of about 
500 feet. The tables were covered with awnings, and the centre 
was occupied by the " Grand Federal Edifice," drawn there by 10 
white horses, — and by the ship Union, drawn there also by ten 
horses. There an oration on the occasion was delivered by James 
Wilson, Esq. to upwards of 20,000 people. After which, the 
whole members of the procession sat down to the tables to dinner. 
The supplies were abundant ; no wine or ardent spirits were pre- 
sent ; but porter, beer and cider flowed for all who would receive 
them ; and of these liquors, the casks lined all the inner circles of 
the tables. They drank ten toasts in honour of the then ten con- 
federated states ; as the cannon announced these, they were re- 

*This was then Hamilton's elegant country-seat. 



The Federal Procession, 695 

sponded from the sl.ip Rising Sun, ^^^^^V"" r^^^Z. "H 
Hieh street, decorated with numerous flags.* Hie same ship, at 
nighl vas highly illuminated. This great company -'t 'f-v t^ 
thdr homes hy six o'clock in the evening-all sober, but al Ijoylul. 
S occ™ ion vvas the strongest Nvhich could exercise the leel.ngs 
ot the lliaK in an affecting Lnner. It was to -Icbrate a naUon s 
freedom, and a people's system of seU-government-a people le- 
cn'tly made free, by their desperate efforts ; ^Lc remembrance 
which then powerfully possessed every mind. 1 hey then all k i 
Ihe deep imjlortance of the experiment of self-government to ^vh. h 
their hearts and voices were then so imposingly Pl«f f ;»' j''^ 
scene ought not to be forgotten-we should imprint tl't leco lec- 
tions of that day, and of the imposing pageantries, upon the mnub 
of our children, and of our children's children. Ih.s has been 
already too much neglected; so that even now, while 1 endeavoui 
to recapitulate some of ti.e most striking incidents of the da) ,1 
find it is like reviving the circumstances of an al'""^^ "bhteiated 
dream. I did not see the spectacle; but it was the talk ot m} 
youthful days for years after the event. 

The Procession, to wit: 

1. Twelve axe-men in white frocks, preceded as pioneers. 

2. Captain Miles' company of dragoons. 

S. John Nixon, Es(i. on horseback, bearing a liberty cap, and 
under it a flag with the words thereon, 4th oj July, 1776. 

4. A train of artillery-Claypole's corps of infantry-Bingham's 

^?^Several single gentlemen on horseback bore silk flags, highly 
ornamented ; one had the words '' ^'ew Era^ anotlier - \7thoj 
September, i787,"-that being the day the Convention adopted 

^'e. A ?ar,"carred the Constitution, in the form of a large eagle, 
drawn by six white horses, in whicli were Judges M'Kean, Atlee, 
and Rush, in their robes. M'Kean bore a splendid flag. 

7. Ten gentlemen, preceded by Heysham's infantry, bore each 
• a siik flag, bearing the name of each State. 

8. AH the Consuls of foreign States in a car drawn by four 
horses, and each bearing his nation's flag. . ^ , j ^ ,»,«,. 

9. A carriage bearing P. Baynton, Esq and Col. I. Melchor, 
the latter magnificently habited as an Indian Sachem, and botli 
smoking the calamut of peace. 

10. The Montgomery and Bucks county troops of dragoons. 

11 "The New Roof, or Grand Federal Edifice," was a most 
splendid spectacle. It was a dome sustained by thirteen columns, 
but three of these columns were purposely left unfinished. 1 he 

♦Besides this sl.ip, ten other ships lay off the several streets highly decorated, and each 
bearing a lai^e flag with the name thei-eon of the State iu the Un.on wh.ch each thu. 
represented. 



696 The Federal Frocession^ 

names of each State appeared on the pedestals ; a cupola rose ab()\ c 
the dome, on which was a figure of plenty. The carriage and 
superstructure made 36 feet of height. The words " In union the 
fabric stands fir m,^^ were very conspicuous around the pedestal of 
the edifice. Ten white liorses drew tliis elegant pageant.* 

12. After this edifice followed the arcliitects and housccarpenters. 

13. The Cincinnati and militia oflicers, followed by Rose's com- 
pany of infantry. 

14. The Agricultural Society bearing a flag, followed by far- 
mers : these had two ploughs — one drawn by four oxen was directed 
by Ricljard Willing, Esq. — a sower followed, sowing seed. 

15. Tlie Manufacturing Society, with their s])inning and card- 
ing machines, looms, jennies, &c. bearing a flag. Tlie carriage 
which boi'c tliese was 30 feet long, and was diawn by ten bay 
horses ; on this weavers were at woi-k, and Mr. Hewson was 
printing muslin. The Vr'eavers marched behind this, and bore a 
flag of silk. 

16. Robinson's company of light infantry. 

17. Tlie Marine Society, carrying a flag, trumpets, spy-glass- 
es, &c. They preceded the Federal Ship Union. This elegant 
small ship was a spectacle of great interest; she was perfect in 
every respect, and finely decorated with carvings, gildings, &c. 
Such a ship, completed in less tlian four days, was a very surprising 
circumstance ; she was 33 feet in length — had been the barge of 
the Alliance frigate, and had been captured by Paul Jones as the 
barge of the Serapis.f This ship was commanded by Captain 
John Green, and had a crew of 25 men and oflicers. They flung 
the lead, and cried the sourulings, and trimmed the sails to the 
wiiid as they changed their courses. She was drawn by ten horses, 
and under her bottom ])aintcd canvass, representing the sea, con- 
cealed and hung over the wheels of the carriage ; another vessel 
followed her as a pilot, and followed by all the pilots. 

18. A frame drawn by four bay horses, 18 feet long, contained 
the frame of the Union's barge, and men at work at the same. 
The boatbuilders followed with a flag. 

19. The sailmakers, bearing a silk flag, on which was painted 
the inside of a sail-loft. 

20. The shipcarpenters — their silk flag representing a ship on 
the stocks. 

To shorten this article I briefly state that the following profes- 
sions, decorated and bearing emblematic flags, succeeded, to w it : 
Shipjoiners, ropemakers, merchants and traders — one carrying a 

* This was afterttards placed in front of the Slate-house, and it is really strange that 
none of the numerous elegant silken flags should have been preserved to this lime. If 
some of them still exist, they would be very interesting in processions now. As many of 
them as now exist should be collected and preserved by the Penn Association, which is in 
effect our Antiquarian Societ) . 

+ 1 had the pleasure to see this ship laying at anchor in the Schuylkill at Gray's Ferry, 
where she was long preserved as an attraction to that celebrated garden and inn. 



The Federal Procesmn. 69* 

ledger ; cordwainers had a shop, drawn hy four horses, and six 
men in it at work ; coachpainters, cabinet and chairniakers, brick- 
makers, painters, draymen, clock and watchmakers, bricklayers, 
taylors, carvers and gilders,— these had an elegant car, and men 
therein at work ; coopers, planemakers, whip and canemakers — 
these had a carriage, and lads at work therein ; blacksmiths had 
a shop, drawn by nine horsee, and men tlicrein at work, making 
plough-irons out of old swords; coachmakers liad a shop, diawii 
by four horses, and men at work therein ; potters, — a shop and men 
at work ; liattcrs, wheelwriglits, had a stage and men at work ; 
tinplatc workers, glovers, tallowchandlers, victuallers, with two 
fet oxen; printers and bookbinders had a stage, and executed 
printing, and cast out an 'ode among the people. Ten of these odes 
to the States were despatched by carrier pigeons, which issued 
from the Mercury cap worn by the printer, habited as Mercury ; 
fourteen different trades followed : then lawyers, physicians, clergy, 
and a troop of dragoons, concluded the whole. 

F. Hopkinson, Esq. has preserved in his works a minute detail 
of all these things; he having been much engaged in the direc- 
tion of the same. Similar processions were had in New York? 
Boston, and other cities. 



4 X 



69S 



WATERING PLACES. 



" And when too much repose brings on the spleen. 
And the gay city's idle pleasures cloy, 
Swift as my changing wish, I change the scene, 
And now the country,— now the town enjoy." 

THE practice of summer travelling among the gentry and their 
imitators, is quite a modern affair. Our forefathers, when our 
cities were small, and pump water still uncontaminated, found no 
places more healthy than their homes ; and generally they liked 
the country best, "when visited from town." From that cause 
there wei-e very few^ country-seats in existence ; and what there 
were, were so near as to be easily visited on foot, "not for tiie 
good and friendly too remote" to call. Thus the Rev. Gilbert 
Tennant's place, Bedminster, was at the corner of Brewer's alley 
;?»nd Fourth street. Burges' place and Mitchell's place were in 
Campington. Two or three were out in Spring Garden, on the 
northern side of Pegg's run ; Hamilton's place was at Bush-hill ; 
Penn's place was close by at Springetsbury ; and lastly, Kinsey's 
place, where is now the Naval Asylum, and Turner's place, 
Wilton, was down near Girard's farm. All these were rather 
rarities than a common choice. 

As population and wealth increased, new devices of pleasure 
were sought, and some inland watering places began to be visited, 
chiefly, however, at first, for the good they miglit be supposed to 
offer to the infirm. Next in order came sea bathingy most gene- 
rally used at first by the robust, — by those who could rough it, 
— such as could bear to reach the sea shore in a returning "Jersey 
wagon," and who depended on their own supply of " small stores," 
sheets, and blankets, kc. — Increase of such company, in time, af- 
forded sufficient motive to residents on the favourite beaches, ta 
make such provision for transient visiters, as could not conveni- 
ently make their own supply. Thus, yearly, such places of resort 
grew from little to greater, and by degrees to luxury and refine- 
ment. It is still, however, within the memory of several of the aged, 
when the concomitants of sea bathing, before the Revolution, were 
rough as its own surges, and for that very reason, produced better 
evidences of positive benefits to visiters in the increase of robust 
Feelings, than they do now. But last in order, in the progress of 



Watering Places. uy[. 

• u^m'\, > ;ime the last device of pleasure, in travelling excursions, 
Lnow -lioxingthc compass" to every point. Tlie astonislunp; 
increased facilities of communications have diminished distances. 
Steamboats transfer us to far distant places, before wc have fiurly 
tried the varieties of a single day and night of tiieir operation 
Post-coaches, and fleet horses, roll us as easy as on our couches: 
New England and nortliern tours occur,— the graiul canal ami 
Niagara are sought ; westward, we have Mount Carbon, and the 
line of new canals ; and homeward, " round about," we have the 
wonders of Mauch-Chunck, Carbon Dale, the Morris canal, 
Catskill mountain, and the everlasting battlements ot the North 
river. In such excursions much is seen to gratity the eye, and 
much to cheer the heart. 

" The verdant meads, the yellow waving corn, 
The new-mown hay, the melody of birds, ^^ 

The pomp of groves,— the sweets of early mom. 

Scenes like these, ofttimes varied, and sometimes rombincd with 
-ica scenes, are ever grateful. 

« — The music. 

The dash of ocean on the winding bhore ;'* 
« How they cheer the citizen. 
And brace his languid frame !" 

1 proceed now to notice historically the only '' Waterms Places,'- 
known to our forefathers, placing them much in the order in whicl» 
they occurred, to wit : . . -i r 

-The mineral water in the Great Valley," thirty miles from 
Philadelnhia. was first announced, as a valuable discovery, in the 
year 1722. In the same year, great praise is bestowed on the 
newly discovered mineral water at '' Bristol Spring-" 

In 1770, such was the decrea;-:ed fame of the Vellow Springs, in 
Chester county, that it was deplored as a public c^''' ^'^f^^jf^''^'' 
been so deserted ; although its efficacy ot waters and charms of 
scenery and accommodation, were '^tiH umliminished-at tl e be^ 
o-inning-(r.fty years before.) It was stated, that from 100 to 500 
persons, daily, had been accustomed to be found there ,n the sum^ 

""wHhi^ik - Long Beach" and -Tucker's Beach," in point of 
eadiest attraction as a sea-shore resort for P»n>af PJ»^^"J' j;";:^ 
claim the precedence. They had their visiters and distant admi- 
rers long before Squam, or Deal, or even Long Branch itself, had 
got their several fame. To those who chiefly desire to re^ ore - 
guid frames, and to find their nerves new-braced and firmer sti mig, 
Nothing can equal the invigorating surf and gemal au^ And 
what can more aff-ect the eye and touch the best aff-ections ot the 
heart, than there to think of Him who made those g^'^^t ;v aves- 
stalking like so many giants to the shore,-tossin§ then whito 



700 Watering Places. 

crests high against the everlasting strand, and calling to each 
other, in the deep toned moans of imprisoned spirits, struggling 
to he free ! In the beautiful language of our country woman, Mrs. 
Sigourney, \vc may say, — 

" Thou speak'st a God, thou solemn, holy sea ! 
Alone upon thy shore, I rove and count 
The crested billows in their ceaseless play; 
And when dense darkness shrouds thy awful face, 
I listen to thy voice and bow me down. 
In all my nothingness, to Him whose eye 
Beholds thy congregated world of waves 
But as a noteless de%u drop. !" 

<^^ Long Branch," last hut greatest in fame, because the fash- 
ionables, who rule all things, have made it so, is still inferior as a 
surf, to those above named. It was held before the Revolution by 
Colonel White, a British officer and an inhabitant at New York. 
The small iiouse which he owned and occupied as a summer re- 
treat, is still existing in the clump now much enlarged by Renshaw. 
In consequence of the war, the place was confiscated and fell into 
other hands, and finally for the public good. 

That house was fii-st used as a boarding-house by our fellow 
citizen, Elliston Perot, Esq. in 1788. At that time the whole 
premises were in charge of an old woman left there to keep them 
from injury. Of her Mr. Perot begged an asylum for his family, 
which was granted, provided he could hire his beds and bedding 
of others. Being pleased with the place, he repeated his visits tlic 
three succeeding years, taking with him other friends. In 1790-1, 
Mr. M'Night, of Monmouth, witnessing the liking shown to the 
place, deemed it a good speculation to buy it. He bought the 
wiiole premises, containing 100 acres of land, for 700£, and then 
got Mr. Perot and others to loan him 2000 dollars to improve it. 
He then opened it for a public watering place ; and before his 
death it was supposed he had enriched himself by the investment, 
as much as 40,000 dollars. The estate was sold out to Renshaw 
for about 13,000 dollars. 

Tlie table fare of those companies who first occupied the house 
under the old woman's grant, consisted chiefly of fish, and such 
salted meats as the visiters could bring with them. All then, was 
much in the rough style of bachelor's fare. 

Prior to the above period, *♦ Black Point" not far off, was the 
place of bathing. They had no surf there, and were content to 
bathe in a kind of watar-house, covered ; even Bingham's great 
house near there, indulged no idea of surf-bathing. The tavern 
entertainment at Black Point was quite rude, compared with pre- 
sent Long Branch luxuries: cocoanut pudding, and flbating-isl- 
ands, kc. were delicacies, not even known in our cities ! 

Indeed we cannot but see, tliat the most of former summer ex- 



Watering Places. 701 

nnsions were but for tlie men. They were generally deemed too 
distant and rough for female participation. But later improve- 
ments in roads, and a far more easy construction of spring-carria- 
ges, have since brought out their full proportion of ladies, — gladden- 
ing the company along the route by those feminine attractions which 
lessen our cares and double our joys. Thus giving an air of gaiety 
and courtesy to all the steam-boats, stage-coaches, and inns, where 
they enter, and thus alluring us to become the greatest travellers 
in our summer excursions, to be found in the world ! From these 
causes, country-seats, wliich were much resorted to after the year 
1793, are fast falling into disuse, and probably will not again 
recover their former regard. 



STEAM-BOATS. 



" Against the wind, against the tide, 
She breasts the wave with upright keel." 

IX tlie year 1788, tlic bosom of the Delaware was first ruffled 
by a steamboat. The projector at that early day v;as John 
Fitch, a watch and clockmaker by profession, and a resolved infi- 
del in tlicology. He first conceived the design in 1785 ; and being 
but poor in purse and rather limited in education, a multitude of 
ditlicnltics, which he did not sufficiently foresee, occurred to render 
abortive every effort of liis most persevering mind, to construct 
and float a steamboat. 

Applying to Congress for assistance, he was refused ; and then, with- 
out success, offering his invention to the Spanish government for the 
purpose of navigating the Mississippi. He at last succeeded in forming 
a company, by the aid of whose funds he launched his first rude effort as 
a steamboat, in the year 1788. — The idea of wheels had not occurred to 
Mr. Fitch ; but oars, working in a frame, were used in place of them. 
The crude ideas which he entertained, and the want of experience, sub- 
jected this unfortunate man to difficulties of the most humbling charac- 
ter. R egarded by many as a mere visionary, his project was discouraged 
by those whose want of all motive for such a course rendered their op- 
position more barbarous; while those whose station in life placed it in 
their power to assist him, looked coldly on, barely listening to his eluci- 
dations, and receiving them with an indifference that chilled him to the 
heart. By a perseverance as unwearied as it was unrewarded, his darling 
project v.as at length sufficiently matured, and a steamboat was seen 
floating at the wharves of Philadelphia, forty years ago. So far, his suc- 
cess amid the most mortifying discouragements, had been sufficient to 
prove the merit of the scheme. But a reverse awaited him, as dis- 
couraging as it was unexpected. The boat performed a trip to Burling- 
ton ; a distance of twenty miles, when, as she was rounding at the wharf 
her boiler burst. The next tide floated her back to the city ; where, 
after great difficulty, a new boiler was procured. In October, 1788, she 
again performed her trip to Burlington. The boat not only went to Bur- 
lington, but to Trenton, returning the same day — and moving at the rate 
of eight miles an hour. — It is true, she could hardly perform a trip with- 
out something breaking, not from any error in Fitch's designs or concep- 
tions, but, at that time, our mechanics were very ordinary, and it was 
impossible to have machinery, so new and complex, made with exact- 
ness and competent skill. It was on this account that Fitch was obliged 



steamboats. roS 

to abandon the great invention on which the public looked coldly ; from 
these failures, and because what is now so easy, then seemed to bo im- 
practicable, tl\e boat was laid up as useless, rotted silently and unno- 
ticed in the docks of Kensington. Fitch became more embarrassed by 
his creditors than eyer ; and, after producing three manuscript volumes, 
which he deposited in the Philadelphia Library, to be opened thirty years 
after his death, he was carried off" by the yellow fever in 1793. Such 
was the unfortunate termination of this early conceived project of the 
steamboat. Fitch was no doubt an original inventor of the steamboat. 
He was certainly the first that ever applied steam to the propulsion of 
vessels in America. Though it was reserved to Fulton to advance its 
application to a degree of perfection which has made his name immortal ; 
yet to the unfortunate Fitch belongs the honour of completing and navi« 
gating the first American steamboat. 

His three manuscript volumes were opened about three years ago. 
Although they exhibit him an unschooled man, yet they indicate the 
possession of a strong mind, of much mechanical ingenuity. He de- 
•scribes his many difficulties and disappointments with a degree of feeling 
which cannot fail to win the sympathy of every reader, causing him to 
wonder and regret that so much time and talent should have been so 
unprofitably devoted. Though the project failed — and it failed only for 
want of funds — yet he never for a moment doubted its practicability. He 
tells us that in less than a century we shall see our western rivers swarm- 
ing with steamboats ; and that his darling wish is to be buried on the 
margin ol the romantic Ohio, where the song of the boatman may some- 
times penetrate into the stillness of his everlasting resting place, and the 
music of the steam engine echo over the sod that shelters him forever ! 

In one of his journals, there is this touching and prophetic sentiment — 
" the day will come when some more powerful man will get fame and 
riches from my invention ; but nobody will believe that /ioor Jo/m Fitch 
can do any thing worthy of attention 1" I do not know that I have his 
precise words, but the sentiment is what I have given. The truth is, 
that Fitch, like Robert Morris, lived thirty or forty years too soon ; they 
were ahead of the condition of their country ; these great projects of im- 
provements, which we now see consummated, were beyond the means 
of the country to execute them, and were therefore thought visionary 
and extravagant. Public opinion has since become better instructed, 
and the increase of wealth has enabled us to do what was then thought 
impossible. 

On page 296, in my MS. Annals in the Historical Society of 
Pennsylvania, is a picture of his first boat as he invented her in 
the year 1786, showing the propelling paddles on the side. He 
afterwards quite altered its appearance, by placing the paddles be- 
hind the stern. He thus spoke of his first scheme, saying, •' It is 
in several parts similar to the late improved engines in Europe, 
though there are some alterations. Our cylinder is to be horizon- 
tal, and the steam to work with equal force at each end. The mode 
to procure a vacuum is, I believe, entirely new, as is also the method 
of letting the water into it, and throwing it off against the atmo- 
sphere without any friction. The engine is placed about one-third 



704 Steamboats. 

from the stern, and botli the action and reaction turn the wlieel 
the same way. The engine is a twelve inch cylinder, an?l will 
move a clear force of 11 or 12cwt. after the frictions are deiliicted, 
and this force acts against a wheel of 18 inches diameter." 

As remembered to the eye when a boy, when seen in motion she 
was graceful, and <' walked the water like a thing of life." His 
predilections for watchmaking machinery was very manifest, for 
two or three ranges of chains of the same construction as in watches, 
were seen along the outside of his vessel from stem to stern, moving 
with burnished glare, in motion proportioned to the speed of the 
boat ; and ornamenting the waist, not unlike the adornments about 
an Indian bride. 

It is melancholy to contemplate his overwhelming disappoint- 
ments in a case since proved so practicable and so productive to 
those concerned. Some of those thousands so useless to others, 
had they been owned by him, so as to have enabled him to make 
all the experiments and improvements his inventive mind suggest- 
ed, would have set his care-crazed head at rest, and in time have 
rewarded his exertions. But for want of the impulse which money 
affords, all proved ineffective. " Slow rises worth by poverty de- 
pressed !" 

After Fulton and Livingston had proved the practicability of a 
better invention, by their boat on the North river, the waters of 
the Delaware were again agitated by a steam vessel, called the 
Phoenix. SIic was first started in 1809, and being since worn out, 
her remains, with those of Fitch's boat, repose in the mud flats of 
Kensington. The Phoenix, then deemed the ne plus ultra of the art, 
won the admiration of all of her early day; but as ''practice 
makes perfect," it was frequently discovei*ed that better adapta- 
tions of power could be attained, and although she underwent 
many changes in her machinery and geai', she soon saw herself 
rivalled, and finally surpassed, by successive inventions, till now, 
the steamboats can accomplish in two hours what sometimes took 
six to perfomn in her. For instance, the Phoenix has been known 
to take six hours in reaching Burlington against the wind and 
tide. 

Su( h too, was the rapid progress in steam invention, that Mr. 
Latrobe, who wrote a paper for the Piiilosophical Society to demon- 
strate tlic impossibility of a momentum such as we now witness, 
became himself in two years afterwards a proselyte to the new- 
system, and proved his sincerity and conviction, by becoming the 
agent for the steam companies in the West ! 

Most amazing invention ! from a cause now so obvious and fami- 
liar ! It is only by applying the principle seen in every house, 
which lifts the lid of the tea kettle and "boils over," — that ma- 
chines have been devised which can pick up a pin, or rend an oak ; 
which combine the power of many giants with the plasticity that 
belongs to a lady*s fair fingers ; which spin cotton and then weave 



steamboat's. 706 

it into cloth ; which by inim])ing sea water and extracting its steam 
send vessels across the Atlantic in ilttecn days ; and amidst a long 
list of other marvels, "engrave seals, forge anchors, and lift a 
ship of war like a bawble in the air,"— presenting in fact to the 
imagination, the practicability of labour-saving inventions in end- 
less variety, so that in time, man through its aid, sliall half exempt 
himself from ''the curse!" and preachers through steam-press 
printing, shall find an auxiliary effecting more than half their 
work ! 

Much of our steam invention we owe to our own citizen, Oliver 
Evans. He even understood the application of it to wagons— (now 
claimed as so exclusively British.) As early as 1787, the Legis- 
lature of Maryland granted him its exclusive use for 14 years, and 
in 1781, he publicly stated he could by steam drive wagons, 
mills, &c. Finally, he published his bet of 3000 dollars, engaging 
<'to make a carriage to run upon a level road against the swiftest 
horse to be found,"— none took him up ! and Latrobe, as a man of 
science, pronounced the idea as cliimerical ; others said the motion 
would be too slow to be useful, &c. He got no patrons, and others 
now take his fame !— See Emporium of Arts, 1814, p. 5205. 

« Of each wonderful plan 
E'er invented by man, 
This nearest perfection approaches- 
No longer gee-up and gee-ho, 
But fiz — iiz ! — off we goj 
Nine miles to the hour, 
With fifty horse-power, 
By day time and night time 
Arrive at the right time. 
Without rumble of jumble, 
Or chance of a tumble. 
As in chaise, gig, or whiskey^ 
When horses are frisky." 



4 t 



706 



WATERWORKS. 



THE Philadelpliia Waterworks were begun in the spring of 
1799. It had but little encouragement, and to induce monied men 
to adventure their capital, they were offered water free of rent for 
a term of years. As late as 1803, only 960 dollars was the rental 
of the water, although nearly 300,000 dollars had then been ex- 
pended in the enterprise ; at the same time 126 houses were re- 
ceiving the water free of cost. In 1814, there were 2850 dwellings 
receiving the water and paying a rent of eighteen thousand dollars. 
In that year, the cost of raising tlie water was 24,000 dollars. 
In 1818, the steam engine at Fair Mount was set in operation, 
and raised the water at a saving of 8000 dollars, still leaving an 
expense of 16,000 dollars per annum; hut in 1827, such w^as the 
improvements introduced, that the expense of raising the water 
was but 1478 dollars ! wiiile the water rents from the city and 
districts had risen to 33,560 dollars, and this is still rapidly in- 
creasing. In the eventual success of these measures we owe much 
to the skill and perseverance of J. S. Lewis and Frederick Graff — 
names which will always be identified with its origin and renown. 
The unpromising and unassisted beginnings of this establishment, 
and its rapid progress to profit, will be the history in its turn of 
our canal and rail road enterprises. Our great benefactor, Frank- 
lin, early foresaw the need of a fresh supply of water for Philadel- 
phia, and recommended the Wissahiccon creek for that object; but 
that, now in the city's great enlargement, would be drained dry in 
a week ! 

There was little or no desire expressed by the citizens of Phila- 
delphia for any other than their good pump water, till after the 
fever year 1793. Tlicn, when the mind was alive to every sug- 
gested danger of ill health, the idea of pump water being no longer 
good, found its increasing advocates. But after river water was 
introduced many were stUl very slow and reluctant to give up their 
icy-cold well water for the tepid waters of the Schuykill ; but nu- 
merous pits for other purposes, in time, destroyed the former pure 
taste of the pump waters, and led finally to their total abandon- 
ment, and the consequent increased patronage to the waterworks. 



ANTHRACITE COAL.* 



" I sat beside the glowing grate fresh heapM 
With Lehigh r.oal, and as the flanne grew blight— 
The many coloured flame — and played and leap'd, 
I thought of rainbows and the Northern hglit, 
And other brilliant matters of the sort." 

WHEN the anthracite coal up the Schuylkill, at Mount Car- 
bon. &c. was first effectively discovered, since the year 18(10, it 
was deemed of little value, because tbej' could devise no way to ig- 
nite it — a character which its name sufficiently denotes- Ahout 
the year 1810-11, however, a practical chyniist, I believe, an 
Englishman, his name unknown to fivme or me. combining science 
with practice, made such an analysis of the coal as convinced him 
there was inherent in the mass all the properties suited for com- 
bustion. He therefore erected a furnace in a small vacant house 
on the causeway road (Beech street) leading over to Kensington. 
To this he applied three strong bellowses ; these succeeded to give 
out sucli an immense white heat from the coal as to melt platinu 
itself! From this experiment, at which two of my friends were 
present as invited witnesses, was derived such proofs as led to its 
future general use in our city. 

It was in the year 1808, that Judge Fell, at AVyoming, made the 
first experiment to use that coal in a grate of his own construction ; 
a measure in which he succeeded far beyond his expectations. Be- 
fore that time they had used it only for smith-work. It was fii'st 
so used in 1768-9, by Obadiah Gore, (an early settler of >Yyoming) 
and afterwards by all the smiths there. 

The Mount Carbon coal was known to exist in the neighbourhood 
more than forty years ago ; and some search was made, but the coal 
found being so very different from any which was previously known, 
it was not thought to be of any value, and the search was aban(h)Med. 
It is supposed to be forty years since a blacksmitli by the name of 
Whetstone, found coal and used them in his smith-siiop. At a very 
early period. Judge Cooper declared his belief of the existence of 
coal in the district, and the Messrs. Potts explored various j)hices 
along the old Sunbury road, but success did not attend tlieir opera- 
tions. A Mr. William Morris afterwards became the proprietor 
of most of the coal lands at the head of our canal ; he foiuul coal, 



708 Anthracite Coat. 

and took some quantity to Philadelphia, ahoiit the year 1800 ; but 
all his efforts to bring them into use failed, and he abandoned the 
project, and sold his lands to their late proprietor, Mr. Potts. 

It does not appear that much notice was taken of the coal from 
the time of Whetstone, and the search made by the Messrs. Potts, 
until about twenty years ago. when a person by the name of Peter 
Bastrus. a blue-dyer, in building the valley forge, found coal in 
the tailrace. — About tlie same time, a Mr. David Berlin, a black- 
smith in this neighbourhood, permanently commenced and intro- 
duced the use of stone coal in the smith's forge, and continued to 
use and instruct others in its use many years afterwards. But 
few persons, however, could he induced to use them : pro'judice and 
old habits again became victorious, and appear to have held undis- 
puted sway until about the year 1812, when Mr. George Shoema- 
ker, a present innkeeper at Pottsville, and Nicho Allen, discovered 
coai on a piece of land they had purchased, now called Centreville. 
Allen soon became disheartened, and gave up the concern to Shoe- 
maker, who, receiving encouragement from some gentlemen in 
Philadelphia, got out a quantity of coal, and took nine wagonloads 
to Piiihideli)liia. Here again, our coal met with a host of opposi- 
tion. On two wagonloads Mr. S. got the carriage paid ; tlie others 
he gave away to persons who would attempt to use them. The re- 
sult was against the coal ; those who tried them, pi'onounced them 
stone and not coal, good for nothing, and Shoemaker an impostor! 
At length, after a multitude of disappointments, and when Shoe- 
maker was about to abandon the coal and return home, Messrs. 
Mellon ami Bishop, of Delaware county, made an experiment with 
some of the coal in their rolling mill, and found them to succeed 
beyond expectation, and to be a highly valuable and useful fueL 
The result of their experiments was published at the time in the 
Philadelphia j>apcrs. Some experiments with the coal were made 
in the woi'ks at the falls of Schuylkill, but without success. Mr. 
Wernwag, the manager at the Phoenix works at French creek also 
made trial of the coal, and found them eminently useful. From 
that time forward, the use of the coal spread rapidly, and now bids 
lair to become a most important and valuable branch of trade, and 
to produce results highly beneficial to the interests of Pennsylvania 
gerjerally. 

The foregoing statement may appear minute, but it is due to the 
individuals who laboured to force upon us the great benefits which 
coal is and will be to our State. We are aware that the credit o* 
pointing out the use, and perhaps of discovering the anthracite, 
has been claimed by and awarded to individuals in another part of 
our State ; but it is within the knowledge of many, that those in- 
dividuals joined in pronouncing the coal good for nothing. We 
have abundant testimony also for the facts and dates we have 
given ; from wliich it appears, that to Mr. David Berlin, Geoi'ge 
Shoemaker, Messrs. Mellon and Bishop, we are indebted for the 



Anthracite Coal. 709 

fliscovery of the use and introduction of our anthracite or stone 

coal. 

" Dark Anthracite ! that rcddenest on my hearth, 
Thou in those inland mines didst slutnber long, 
But now thou art come forth to move the earth 
And put to shame the men that mean the wrong ; 
Thou shalt be coals of fire to those that hate thee 
And warm the shins of all that underrate thee. 

Yea, they did wrong thee foully — they, who mock'd 
Thy honest face, and .?a/rf thou would»t not biirn^ 
Of hewing thee to chimney-pieces talked. 
And grew profane — and swore in bitter scorn, 
That men might to thy inner caves retire, 
And there, unsinged, abide the day of fire. 

Yet is thy greatness nigh. Thou too shalt be 
Great in thy turn — and wide shall spread thy fame 
And swiftly — farthest Maine shall hear of thee. 
And cold New Brunswick gladden at thy name. 
And, faintly through its sleets, the weeping isle. 
That sends the Boston folks their cod, shall smile. 

For thou shalt forge vast rail-ways, and shalt heat 
The hissing rivers into steam, and drive 
Huge masses from thy mines, on iron feet 
Walking their steady way, as if alive. 
Northward, till everlasting ice besets thee. 
And south as far as the grim Spaniard lets thee. 

Thou shalt make mighty engines swim the sea. 
Like its own monsters — boats that for a guinea 
Will take a man to Havre — and shall be 
The moving soul of many a spinning jenny, 
And ply thy shuttles, till a bard can wear 
As good a suit of broadcloth as the May'r. 

Then we will laugh at winter, when we hear 
The grim old churl about our dwellings rave ; 
Thou from that " ruler of th' inverted year," 
Shall pluck the knotty sceptre Cowper gave. 
And pull him from his sledge, and drag him in, 
And melt the icicles from off his chin. 

Heat will be cheap — a small consideration 
Will put one in a way to raise his punch. 
Set lemon trees, and have a cane plantation— 
'Twill be a pretty saving to the Limch, 
Then the West India negroes may go play^ 
The banjo, and keep endless holiday." 



LOTTERIES. 



• It must be told ; 



These from thy Lottery Wheels are sold ; 
Sold, — and thy children dearly tax'd, 
That few may win — — 

IT must be told, that fearful as is the waste of treasure and 
morals by the present infatuation of niany for lotteries, they were, 
at an <?arly period of our city, the fi-equently adopted measures of 
'• raising ways and means.'* It is true they were then fairly conduct- 
ed — had public benefit in design — and tickets were generally vended 
by disinterested citizens without reward, for the sake of advancing 
the public weal. It was their way when the mass of the people was 
comparatively poor, and direct taxes were onerous and unpopular, 
to jJius bringout the aid of the abler ])art to pay willingly for expen- 
-.ive public improvements, &c. The facts in the case are to the 
lollowing cft'ect, to wit : 

The earliest mention of a lottery in Philadelphia, occurs in 17:20, 
wlicn Charles Reed advertises "to sell his brick house in Third 
street by lottery." That house, if now known, should bethehead- 
(piarters of lotteries now, as the proper ''head and front of their 
oiTcnding." 

In 1728, the city council, averse to all private projects in lotte- 
ries, interfere and frustrate the design of Samuel Keimer, printer, 
a)id once a partner of Franklin's. He had advertised his pur- 
pose to make a lottery at the approaching fair, and the council 
having sent for him and heard his case, gave orders that no such 
lottery should he attempted, and thus the affair dropped. 

In 1748, began the first occasion of a sanctioned public lottery. 
It was altogether patriotic. It was in time of war, when great ap- 
pi'chension existed that the plunder of the city might be attempted 
by aimed vessels. Individual subscriptions and a lottery were re- 
sorted to as means for raising *' the Association Battery," then con- 
structed near the present navy yard. On this occasion, the BViends 
put forth their strength to discourage lotteries, and read a rule 
against them in their Meeting. Some controversy ensued. 

Christ church steeple was the next subject of public interest, 
awakening general regard as an intended ornament and clock-tow- 
er. A lottery for this object was first instituted in Novemher, 



Lotteries. 711 

1752, and the drawing finished in March, 1753, of which further 
particulars may be seen in the article — " Christ Cliurch." 

In the same sjjirit, the citizens, in March, 1753, encouraj^ed the 
institution of another lottery for another steeple, viz : " for raising 
830£. towards finishing a steeple to the new Presbyterian church," 
at the north west corner of Third and Arch streets. The lottery 
was drawn in May following. 

The facilities of lotteries must then have been very encouraging, 
as we find about this time, that the lottery exjjedients are nume-^ 
rous. On such occasions, they invited citizens of Philadelphia and 
other places to contribute for (piite distant places. Thus, to raise 
500 dollars to build a long wharf in Baltimore, a lottery is sold oft* 
in Philadelphia, and so to builda church in Brunswick, another is 
sold in Philadelphia. In Connecticut I see, in 1754, that 13,332£. 
is raised by lottery there, to aid the building of the Princeton col- 
lege, and tickets are sold in Philadelphia. 

In 1754, they form a lottery of 5.000 tickets at 4 dollars each, 
to raise a fund to coniplete the City Academy inP'ourth street, then 
lately purchased of Whitfield's congregation ; and in the next year, 
a further lottery of 4 classes is made to raise 75,000 dollars, and 
neat 9,375 dollars for the general objects of the academy, and to 
endow pi'ofessoi'ships. &c. 

In 1760, St. Paul's cluirch is helped to a finish by a lottery. 
The bare walls were at first set up by subscription. First, a lot- 
tery of 5,000 tickets, at 4 dollars, is formed, by which to clear 
3000 dollars, and the next year another lottery of 30,000 dollars is 
formed, to clear enough to buy off the ground-rent. 6cc. 

In 1761, the zeal for lotteries began to show itself as an evil. 
In this mattei", " every man did as seemed right in his own eyes." 
Thus, one man makes it for his store of books and jewellery, and 
Alexander Alexander so disposes of his 46 acres of land on the south 
west end of Petty's island, in lots, for 10,500 dollars. There are 
lotteries too, announced for all the neighbouring churclies — one 
for Bordentown — one for Lancaster — one for Middletown — one 
for Brunswick — one for Carlisle — Newtown — Forks of Brandy- 
wine — Oxford — and even Baltimore. Some too are for schools. It 
is even proposed to erect by lottery a great bath and pleasure gar- 
den. On this occasion, all the ministers combine to address the 
Governor to resist it as a place of vice. 

Lotteries are also granted for raising funds for paving the streets. 
In 1761, 12,500 tickets, at 4 dollars, making 50,000 dollars, are 
sold for raising 7,500 dollars to that purpose. 

In the same year, (1761) a lottery is made to pay off a company 
of rangers at Tulpehaukin, for services against the Indians in 1755 ! 
on a scheme of 5,000 tickets, at 2 dollars each ! Another lottery 
is made to erect the light-house at CapeHenlopen. to raise 20,000£. 
and the house itself was begun in 1762. The bridge over the Con 
estogoe is erected by a lottery, and also the bridge at Skippack. 



712 Lotteries. 

As a necessary sequel to the whole, the Legislature had to inter- 
fere to prevent so many calls upon the purses of their citizens, and 
soon after those lotteries, an Act was ])assed to restrain lotteries ! 

It would strike us as a strange location for drawing of lotteries now 
to name them as in stores on the wharves ! but the lottery for St. 
Paul's church was drawn at a store on Gardner's wharf above Race 
street. And a subsequent lottery for the Presbyterian steeple, (cor- 
ner of Third and Arch streets) was drawn in April, 1761, in Mas- 
ters' store on Market sti-eet wharf. 

Lotteries having so received their quietus, none appear to have 
been suggested till the lonely case of 1768, when a lottery was 
granted by the Legislature in four .classes, for raising the sum of 
5,250£. for purchasing a public landing in the Northern Liberties, 
and for additional paving of the streets. 

Tlie history of lotteries, since our Independence and self-govern- 
ment, and its lately pervading evil in all our cities, is too notorious 
and too generally lamented by the prudent and considerate, to need 
any further notice in this co'nnexion. In the hands of the wily 
traffickers in these unstable wares, legal enactments have been but 
« ropes of sand," without power to fetter them. 



MISCEL.LAJVEOUS FACTS. 



'.' Made of odd ends and patches." 

THE following facts have no proper connexiofi,' and have here 
been brought together, because they had no proper affinity with 
any otiver subjects treated of severally under appropriate heads. 
They are shreds and patches and odd ends, here wove into a Mosaic 
pattern — to wit : 

Miscellanea, 

1683, Jan. 28. — The Speaker of the Assembly ordered, that each 
member absenting himself without good cause, should pay a fine of 12d- 
sterling each time. 

1685, March 16. — Nicholas Moore, (former Speaker) for contempt 
of the authority of the House, was expelled. 

1689, March 13. — John White, a member in prison in New Castle, 
was ordered to be set free and to take his seat, but he was again 
seized by the sheriff, John Claypole, and borne off 1 

169 5.— The judges were allowed 10s. a day for their services. John 
Claypole alone was declared a man of ill-fame, and the Governor was 
requested to remove him. 

170 1. — Juries were to be paid 8d. a day, and witnesses 2s. each. Mem- 
bers of Assembly in after years, received 4s. 6d. a day. 

1704, August 16. — The violence of the wind and rain prevented the 
members of Assembly, out of town, from attendance. Such members 
usually brought their dinners with them. 

, October 15. — The Assembly was required to meet on Sunday. 

They organized, and adjourned to Monday. 

1705. — Solomon Cresson, going his round at night, entered a tavern 
to suppress a riotous assembly, and found there John Evans, Esq. the 
Governor, who fell to beating Cresson. 

1706. — The wolves had increased so greatly near to Philadelphia, as 
to endanger the sheep, 

1721 — Sundry persons in Philadelphia agree to receive, in payment 
of goods, 8cc. the dollars called Lion dollars at the rate of 5s. the 
English crown at 7s. 6d. the English shilling at Is. 6d. &c. proclama- 
tion money. 

Four brick tenements on the west side of Front street, and with lots 
extending through to Second street, fronting on which are two tenements, 
all rent for 70^. per annum, and pay 15^. ground rent, bounded on the 
4 Z 



714 Miscellaneous Facts. 

north by Clement Plumstead, who lived at the north wesc corner of 
Union and Front street. 

172-2. — The mineral water in the Great Valley, 30 miles from Phila- 
delphia, is discovered this year ; and great praise is bestowed on the 
Bristol spring. 

A public paper of the merchants at Jamaica, of July, 1722, states 
"that the reputation of a, place, (Philadelphia) once famed for the best 
flour in America, has become so corrupted, that housekeepers arc 
scarcely persuaded to look on Pennsylvania flour." In consequence oi 
this and other representations, an Act for better inspection was'passed. 

The names of the Grand jurors empannelled, gives one a good idea of 
the first inhabitants ; and their original signatures to recommendations' 
to tavern licenses, might now help many a descendant to a means of 
knowing the writing of their first progenitors in Philadelphia. These are 
still on file in the Mayor's court. 

In 1722 8c 3, interest was reduced in Pennsylvania from 8 to 6 per 
cent. 

When blackbirds and crows were numerous and destructive, they 
gave premiums for their heads— by the Act of 1704, they gave 3d. per 
dozen for blackbirds and 3d. for crows. 

By an Act of 1719, they compelled all paupers in Philadelphia to wear 
a letter P upon their right shoulder, to prevent them from street beg- 
ging, Sec. 

The Act for establishing a ferry to Daniel Cooper's land, was passed 
in 1717. 

1726. — There are advertised two grey stallions suitable for a coach. 

1727. — Lord De la Warr, after ^vhom Delaware is named, so spells 
his name in signing, with the other lords, the declaration of King George's 
death. 

A lion, the king of beasts, is exhibited in Water street at Is. a sight. 

The king's birth-day was celebrated this year, (1727) at the house of 
Wm. Chanceller, sail-maker, in whose ^gardens twenty-one pieces oi 
cannon were placed and fired. Some incidental circutnstances have 
shown that he was the friend of Sir Wm. Keith, the Governor, and had 
from him the first grant of keeping gunpowder stored for safety. 

The first loan office was opened in 1728. 

1729. — J. Kempster and J. Coals were compelled to kneel at the bar 
of the House of Assembly, and to ask pardon for offence. 

1730, Nov, 5. — Monday night, one Bradley going home alone, in li- 
quor, fell into a ditch at the upper end of Market street, where he was 
found dead the next morning, having been drowned in six inches of 
water. 

It is worthy of remark, that in this early day so few co-partnerships 
should occur in business. In a list of 120 chief houses in trade, only 
two instances occur of signatures by firms. 

1730. — The House of Assembly ordered that a flag should be hoisted 
on proper days upon Society Hill — such as Sundays and holidays, &c.— 
and that Edward Carter be paid 18^. for such hoisting, Sec. 

1736.— An ox is announced as to be roasted whole, for public enter- 
tainment, in the Northern Liberties — at J. Stennards. 

Mr. Dering, dancing-master, advertises for scholars. John Salomen, 
Latin and French teacher, advertises in Latin for pupils. 



Jliscellaneous Facts. ri5 

17.lt'.. — A servant man going into the river, " under Society Hill," to 
wash, slipped beyond his depth and was drowned. 

At the same place a man, attended by his wife, came to drown himself 
to get rid of her : but after casting himself in, at which sight she was a 
calm spectator, some officious persons near there rescued him, and com- 
pelled him and his wife to go home together I 

1738^^ — Peter Poole, of Manatawna, hearing a noise in the brook near 
his house, supposed it was a deer in the water, and shooting at it, killed 
his own mother, Anna S. Poole ! This was probably of the family giving 
name to Poole's ship-yard and bridge. 

1738. — The Mayor acquainted the City Council that several of the 
barbers of the city had applied to him to take proper measures to pre- 
vent persons exercising that trade on the first day of the week, called 
Sunday, and the Mayor desired the opinion of the board what measures 
to adopt, — whereupon the board orders that they be notified to abstain 
from so working on that day, according to the law of the province before 
existing, and preventing working on that day. 

1739.— One of the houses at the corner of Front and Walnut streets, 
(held by Edward Bridges as a dry-goods store} is said to be " common- 
ly called the Scales." 

A camel is this year exhibited, the first ever shown here. 

17'46— " Firms" in trade, now first begin to appear — say Hamilton, 
Wallace, 8c Co." — " Stedman, Robertson, 8c Co." 

A storekeeper in Wilmington — say Joseph Peters — advertises his list 
of store goods in the Philadelphia paper. He does this often in several 
years, even till his death, and then his successor does the same. 

In 1746, Thomas Kinnett advertises to teach the noble art of defence 
with the small sword, and also dancing. 

In consequence of that advertisement, an article soon after appeared, 
signed Samuel Foulke, in which he says, " I was indeed surprised at his 
audacity and brazen impudence in giving those detestable vices those 
high encomiums. They may be proved so far from "accomplishments," 
that they are diabolical. This is a freedom of assault by friend Foulke, 
not now practised with other men's advertisements ! The other doe^ 
nut appear to have made any defence, altho' so accomplished to defend 
himself 1 

1748. — "The coin of the day is called pieces^of-eight — pistoles — and 
cob-dollars. 

1749. — A proclamation of Charles Willings, Esq. the Mayor, com- 
mands all barbers and peruke-makers from working at their trades on 
the sabbath- day. 

This year wood was determined, by an ordinance, that it should mea- 
sure four feet in length or be forfeited to the poor, and any person re- 
fusing to submit it to measurement, should forfeit 5s. per cord. 

1751.— -The pilot boats used to be all dock'd in a dock where is now 
Girard's stores, above High street. They were of small dimensions 
then. I perceive they were pink'd stern, but 27 feet keel, and 1 1 feet 
beam. 

1754. — By far the greatest collection of books that I have seen adver- 
tised by catalogue, even by Franklin and other printers, were published 
by Tench Francis, jr. in connexion with his assortment of European and 
East India goods. There were then no exclusive book- stores. 



ri6 JUscelianeoiis Facts. 

William Taylorj who came from England in 1 726, and settled at Darby, 
Avas the first man who ever made a pair of smith's bellows in our country. 

There was great perplexities in our markets at the time of changing 
the computation of money from pounds, shillings, and pence, to dollars 
and cents, and considerable in keeping accounts, &c. It was a long 
time before people could get out of their old habits. 

Philadelphia has long enjoyed the reputation of a peculiar cake called 
the a/iee. Thousands who partake of them have no conception of the 
origin of their name. Ann Page, still alive, under another name and 
business, first made them, many years ago, under the common name of 
cakes. The aged may remember her small frame house in Second 
street, tAVo doors north of Carter's alley. On her cakes she impressed 
the letters A. P. the letters of her name, and from this cause, ever since 
the initials have been disused on them, the cakes have continued to be 
called afiees. 

Our Philadelphia butchers are said to cut up and display their beef in 
a manner superior to the sister cities. At New York they leave the 
lean on the chuck, which our butchers leave on the hide; and we cut the 
plate and brisket more sightly than they do at New York or Baltimore. 

In the year 1779, the Spanish Ambassador, then living in Chew's large 
house in south Third street above the Mansion house, gave ^ grand gala 
The gardens there were superbly decorated with variegated lamps, and 
the edifice itself was like a blaze of light. 

I saw an ancient deed in the possession of Samuel Richards, which 
was written on very fine linen cambric, and faced on both sides with pa- 
per. It made it firm and to the eye like vellum. 

The mile-stones from Philadelphia to Trenton, were set up by the 
Directors of the Company for the Insurance of Houses — done in 1764, 
out of the funds raised by their fines. They cost 33^. The particulars, 
as reported by the committee, may be seen at length on page 198 of my 
MS. Annals in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 

I have been well assured that the stones set tip along the Gulph road 
are marked with Penn's Arms. Some still remain and were seen lately. 
Along the Chester road, too, were once mile-stones, having some en- 
signia of the Queen's Arms. 

The War and Navy office of the United States, and General Post 
Office, when in Philadelphia, before 1800, was at the corner of Fifth and 
Chesnut streets, and the Secretary of State's office was adjoining on 
Fifth street — all belonged to Simmons. 

Great quantities of wood used to be brought to the city on sleds in the 
winter, and often sold very high ; sometimes 15 to 16 dollars a cord. 
Since the practice of laying up wood in yards has prevailed, the winter 
prices are much moderated. 

A city directoiy, and the numbering of all the houses is a great con- 
venience which did not exist till about the year 1790- 

A letter of James Logan's, of the year 1718, states that Colonel Spots- 
wood, the Governor of Virginia, had happily discovered passes in the 
Allegheny mountains, by ivhich to conduct military enterprises, &c. 

Tobacco Cultivated. 

In 1701, the tobacco field is spoken of, on the land of John Sta- 
cey, by the long bridge over the Cohocksinc creek. 



Miscellaneous Fads. 717 

In 1719, Jonathan Dickinson, in his letter, speaks of "several 
around Philadelphia who planted and raised tohacco with sucrcss." 

Much of Penn's rents was paid to J. Logan in tobacco. It was 
cultivated at an early period on Logan's farm ; also at Ilarriton, 
where Charles Thomson afterwards lived and died. 
Grass and Clover Cultivation. 

In 1685. William Penn in liis letter to his steward says, ^' Ha> 
dust (meaning grass seed, I presume) from Long Island, such as 
I sowed in my court yard is best for our fields. I will send divers 
seeds for gardens and fieMs, &c." In anotlier letter he says, " 1 
am glad t!ie Indian field bore so well. Lay as much down as you 
can with hay dust." 

Professor Kalm, who was here in 1748, says an old Swede, 
whose father came out with Governor Printz, said his father used 
to say the grass grew every where two feet higli in the woods ; but 
in Kalm's time it was much diminished. He imputes the decrease 
to the practice of the annual burning of the leaves. 

From the letters of Jonathan Dickinson it appears he had much 
desire to import grass seeds ; two or tliree times tlicy arrived in- 
jured by the heat of the hold. In 1721, he proposes to hang it 
over the vessel's quarter, sewed up in tarpaulins ; but before the 
experiment could be niade he announces himself happy to find a 
very simple means used by another. The seed was sealed in jars 
and kept air tight. 

The same Jonathan Dickinson, I found in 1719, speaks of having , 
bought up 500 pounds of red clover seed in Rhode Island for his 
cultivation here — saying the white clover already tinges the roads 
as a natural production. Kalm afterwards, in 1748, spoke of the 
white clover as abundant here; and red and white as both abun- 
dant about Albany, and some about New York. 

The cultivation of red clover, which proved eventually a great 
restorer of our impoverished lands, did not get into successful in- 
troduction and use, until it was first successfully used and publicly 
recommended by Mr. James Vaux, of Fatland Ford, in Mont- 
gomery county, about the year 1785. John Bartram, however, 
the botanist, had fields of red clover in cultivation before the war 
of Independence. 

Plaster of Paris. 

When our forefathers began to work this virgin soil, they found 
it very productive. For the first 60 or 70 years the land sustained 
itself against the exhausting manner of husbandry — producing an 
average of from 25 to 30 or 35 bushels of wheat to the acre, as 1 
have learned. But after the year 1750, and down to the time oi 
the peace, frequently the former good lands could produce but an 
average crop of six or seven bushels to the acre. At this crisis the 
public became greatly indebted to the intelligence and public spir- 



riSf Miscellaneom Facts. 

itedness of tlie late venerable Judge Peters. To his perseverance 
and recommendation we are indebted, in good measure, for the 
introduction and use of that incalculahle renovater of our soil the 
gypsum or plaister of Paris. 

Vegetable Productions Introduced. 

Gardening, as an exclusive branch of business, is quite a modern 
concern. If any existed before the year 1793, they were without 
notice or emolument. But since, by introducing many new table 
luxuries, they have acquired reputation and profit, and this iiuluce- 
ment has allured several to the same employment. We shall here 
notice a few of the more remarkable vegetables introduced among 
us. 

As late as my mother's childhood, potatoes were then in much 
less esteem and use than now. The earliest potatoes, like the ori- 
ginals now discovered from South America, were very small, com- 
pared with the present improved stock. They were small bright 
yellow ones, called kidney potatoes ; and probably about 65 years 
ago, they then first introduced a larger kind, more like the present 
in use, whicli were called, in New England, the bilboa. They 
were, however, of slow use into families, and the story ran that 
they were pernicious to health ; and a lover of bilboas was said to 
die in five years ! In Pennsylvania the same kind of potatoes were 
called Spanish potatoes. 

In accordance with those facts, the present Colonel A. J. Mor- 
ris, now in his 90th year, told me that the potatoes used in his 
early life were very inferior to the present. They were called 
Spanish potatoes, and vvei-e very sharp and pungent in the thi'oai 
and smell. They sent occasionally a better sort from Liverpool. 
He said Tench Francis first imported our improved stock, which 
by frequent cultivation he much improved. 

In 1748, Professor Kalni speaks of nightshade and privet as 
growing wild in our fields; of the latter several hedges were made. 
The squash he deemed an indigenous plant, much used by the In- 
dians before the Europeans came. The Indians too, had always a 
kind of cultivated pease. He much expressed his surprise to see 
our cultivated lands abounding with purslain, a vegetable which 
required a gardener's care in his country ! He often saw, he 
said, asparagus growing Avild in loose soils on uncultivated sandy 
hills. The misletoe (Viscum Album) grew upon the sweet gum, 
the oak, and lime tree, so much so that their whole summits were 
quite green in winter. I believe none witness these things in our 
region now. 

Charles Thomson, the Secretary of Congress, said he well re- 
membered the circumstance of the first introduction of broom corn 
into our country. Dr. B. Franklin chanced to see an imported 
corn whisk in the possession of a lady, and while examining it as 
a novelty he espied a grain of it still attached to the stalk. This 



Misccltayieous Facts. 719 

tooK and planted, and so we at length have got it in abundance 
rnong us. 

The yellow willow among us were introduced from a similar ac- 
>:ident, as told me by T. Matlack, Mrs. D. Logan, and Samuel 
Coates, AU in our State came originally from some wicker-work 
found ppr outing in a br»:iket-state in Dock creek. It was seen by 
Dr. Fiiiiklin, w^ho took it out and gave the cuttings to Charles 
Norri'^ of that day, who reared them at the grounds now the site 
of the Bank of the United States, where they grew to great stature. 

riie first e eping willows were introduced into the city by Gov- 
ernor John Ponn for his garden, in south Third street, next adjoin- 
ing to Wijlijig's place. 

The manner of Mr. Ranstead, the upholsterer from Wales, in- 
troducing as a iiower, the plant since known in abundance as the 
Raust'^ad weed, I have told elsewhere; also in like manner, that 
of the day-waker, asid the daisy, once deemed flowers, and now 
nniltiplied so as to be regarded as annoying weeds. 

City Charter. 

1684, the 26th of 5 mo. Thomas Lloyd, Thomas Holmes, and 
William Haignes were appointed to draw up a charter for Phila- 
delphia to be made a borough consisting of a INIayor and six Alder- 
men, and to call to their assistance any of the Council. Tlie char- 
ter as a city, was obtained in 1691. For I find by an act of 
Council of June, 1691, that Humphrey Murray is recognised *'as 
present Mayor of the city of Philadelphia." It appears, however, 
that in later periods the city was generally spoken of as obtaining 
its first charter as a city under date of the 25th of October, 1701, 
that being the time of Penn's second arrival, when he granted 
"'the charter of the city of Philadelphia." 

The Northern Liberties part, was incorporated in 18jg3, and the 
South wark district, in 1794. 

Several attempts, after the Revolution, were made to procure an 
act of incorporation for the city, before it was obtained. It was 
much opposed by some. Fourteen hundred citizens, in September, 
1783, signed and presented a memorial against it. The subject 
was again revived in 1786, but no act was passed until the month 
of March, 1789. The whole objections contained in the memorial 
may be read in Hazard's ** Pennsylvania Register," vol. 2, p. 327. 
They complain that if the act contemplated should pass they should 
be *' subjected to an aristocratic police," — " that tlie act of incor- 
poration is in itself unnecessary," — " tliat many eastern well regu- 
lated towns prosper well w ithout incorporation," — '< on the contrary 
English example affords instructive facts of the mischievous effects 
of incorporating." — " They object to the large powers of Oyer and 
Terminer." — "They deem the incorporation unnecessary because 
the Legislature, in which several gentlemen of the city are a part, 
will always be possessed of sufficient information respecting the 



720' Miscellaneous Facts. 

provisions necessary to be made for the convenience and order of 
the city," &c. 

Port Entries — Inward and Outward. 

In the earliest newspapers, the eni. ance and clearance of vessels 
are as regularly printed for New York and Amhoy, as they are at 
Philadelphia. Down to about the year 1730, they are about two 
or three a week inward, ajid two or three outward — but from and 
after the year 1736, they are increased to about twelve each way, 
in a week — being certainly a quick increase. 
Funeral Pomp restrained. 

In 1 727, Robert Ashton, Esq. Recorder and Prothonotary, died, 
aged 58 > and was buried in pomp by torch lights at night, in Christ 
church ground. 

About that time, funeral cards of invitation were sent out among 
fashionable people, as has been lately revived. They were printed 
in London, having deep mourning borders and funeral devices. 
Such a one is preserved in Peals's museum, filled up in Maryland, 
in 1723. This ceremony was of rare occurrence. 

We have some intimation of the *'pomp and circumstance" of 
an old-fashioned funeral, in the death of Jlquila Rose at Philadel- 
phia, in 1723. He was young — a printer — poet — and clerk of the 
Assembly, and was honoured more for his merit than his wealth. 
His culogium, in elegiac verse, was done by S. Keimer, "city 
printer," and quondam friend of Franklin — to wit : 

" His corps attended was, by Friends so soon, 
From seven at morn, till one o'clock at noon. 
By master-printers carried toward his grave, 
Our city printer such an honour gave. 
A worthy merchant did the widow lead, 
And then both mounted on a stately steed. 
Next preachers, common council, aldermen, 
A Judge and Sheriff grac'd the solemn train, 
Nor fail'd our Treasurer in respect to come, 
Nor staid the Keeper of the Rolls at home. 
With merchants, shopkeepers, the yoVmg and old- 
A numerous throng, not very easy told. 
And what still adds a lustre to it. 
Some rode well mounted, others walkM afoot. 

Thus "died and was buried" in distant olden time,— 

" A lovely poet, whose sweet fragrant name. 
Will last till circling years shall cease to be." 

It is not a little curious, that the original printed paper from 
which the above is taken, is still in existence, embellished with the 
usual symbols of death — the head, bones, hourglass, &c. 

In 1765, it was resolved by the best families in New York, Bos- 



Miscellaneous Facts. . th 1 

ton, and some attempts were made at Pliiladeli)hia to diminisli the 
expenses of funerals — and at Philadelphia, on the occasion of the 
death of Alderman W. Plumstead, it is said, " he was buried at St. 
Peter's church in the plainest manner according to the new mode — 
having no pall over his coffin, nor any of bis relatives (by his re- 
quest) appearing in mourning." B. Price, Esq. also, according 
to his will, was buried in an oak collin and iron handles. 

The Bloody Election 

Was an incident of the year 1742, and of frequent mention in tho 
early annals as an affair of mucli scandal. Secretary Peters, in 
his letter to Pi^tiprietaries, tluis describes it, saying, — Young Jo- 
seph Turner gathered the sailors, to the number of forty to fifty per- 
sons, with clubs, at an open lot over against the Christ cliuirh. 
Tlience they made an assault at the court-house, on some of the 
electors there. Thence went to Chesnut sti-eet, and by a back way 
[for open ground seemed common then !] to the Indian King inn in 
High street, where, being refused any drink by Peter and Jonathan 
Robeson, they went back enraged to the election grounds. There 
they fell heavily with their clubs upon the Germans and others, — 
beating of!' the former as many as 500. The fight became " shock- 
ing to the sight," — ''a truly mad scene and uproar," — but the 
sailors were made to retreat. There was a great trial for the 
stairs by which the voters ascended and descended, then occupied, 
as formerly for several years, by Isaac Norris and his party.* The 
ship-carpenters clubbed together to make it tlieir own, which they 
accomplished. As it produced much public feeling, it became quick- 
ly a matter of court cognizance, and even the Assembly itself, as 
if anticipating the courts, made it a matter of debate and business 
for three weeks, passing at length a bill for a Riot Act, &c. 

Insurance. 

In 1721, John Copson, the printer of the Mercury Gazette, opens 
'^ an insurance office at his office, where he will provide competent 
underwriters to assure any sum applied for." Tiiis was the fii'st 
attempt at insurance in Philadelphia. In the former times, all in- 
surance for sea risks, &c. were effected in London. 

In 1752, was founded the Philadelphia Contributionship for in- 
suring of houses from loss by fire. It was incorporated in 1768, 
as a mutual assurance, and was much promoted by Dr. Franklin. 
In March, 1823, the capital amounted to S228,850. The number 
of policies out, were 2273, and the sum insured, §3,620,450. What 
is curious respecting this ancient institution, is that they never had 
but one law-suit, and that they gained ! Another curious fact re- 
specting this association is, tliat at an early period they insured a 
house which was soon after burnt, and this single loss much dis- 
tressed tlie concerned to make it good. The annual election for di- 

' Norris's election was always supported hv the Geimans. 
5 A 



•;o^; Miscellaneoiis Facts. 

rectors being near at hand, at an upper room in the old court-house, 
no one attended but Hugh Roberts, who having waited until the 
time of choosing had nearly expired, he alone proceeded to elect 
twelve directors and a treasurer, all of whom he notifii'd i!i due 
form ! But for tliat circumstance, this institution now so iiistin- 
guished and beneficial, would have expired ! 
Aboriginal Trees. 
For want of a better term I have chosen so to name those primi- 
tive trees of the forest race as still remain among us, from days 
cotemporary with the foundation of tlie city. Those now standing 
on the northern extremity nearest to the city are nigh the first gate 
on tlie Germantown turnpike, — on Wager's field or lot. There 
are two of them tliere of sweet gum about 20 feet apart, and having 
a circumference of about 14 feet. Between those trees there was 
once deposited in the ground a quantity of stolen treasure— after- 
wards confessed and recovered. 

On the western side of the city is a large forest elm, at the north 
west corner of Race and Schuylkill Seventh street, nearly vis avis 
to the Friends' walled-ground. An old man near there, told me it 
looked eciually large as now, nearly fifty years ago. 

The next nearest forest trees are three ancient gums on the north 
side of Vine street, fronting the Bush-hill mansion. 

In the south-western section, the nearest remaining trees there 
are a few (five) well-grown oak trees standing in a lot at Lombard 
sti'eet near Schuylkill Tenth street. 

At the south end, there is on Swanson street, by the water side, a 
great button wood or waterbeech, the remains of several once there, 
seen and noticed by Kalm in 1748. 

The above trees compose all which remain so near the city ; 
these alone have escaped the British desolations, the axe of their 
owners, and time. We cannot think of them without remembering 
the expressive and beautiful musings of Cowper on his <' Yardley 
Oak," 

Survivor sole of all that once liv'd here ! 
A shattev'd vet'ran,— couldst thou speak 
And tell who liv'd when thou wast young ! 
By thee I might correct the clock of history- 
Recover facts,— mistated things, set right : 
But since no spirit dwells in thee to speak, 
I will perform myself, in my own ear, 
Such matters as I may." 
Other cities, like us have their consecrated trees. On Boston 
common, there is an elm called the Great tree, which girths 21 2-3 
feet. At Hartford they have their celebrated " Charter Oak ;" it 
girths 33 feet. At New York they venerate a groupe of large but- 
tonwood trees on the ground of the Columbia College. At Provi- 
dence, Rhode Island, they have their *' Great Elm Tree," which 
they publicly and solemnly consecrated "to liberty," as early 



Jfiscellaneous Facts. 723 

as ihc ve;ii- 1708, and ut Boston too, they had their '' Liberty Tree," 
even earlier. 

fStrangc Transmission of SouiuL 

In 1707, the guns fired upon HiU's vessel from the little fort ut 
New Castle, were distinctly heard by Hill's anxious wife at Phila- 
delphia. — Vide Proud. 

On the 10th of July, 1745, "a great number of guns were heard 
by many people in and about town, which seemed to be at a great 
distance, and the next day w^e found by express, they were as far 
off as New York, at which place were great firings and rejoicings 
for the capture of Cape Breton !" It is probable no weight of artil- 
lery couhl now be heard from city to city ! 

Old jjcrsons have told me that before tiie city was paved, and 
when fewer carriages were employed, they found it much easier 
than now to hear distant sounds. Sixty odd years ago, Coopei*, 
on the Jersey side, had a black fellow named Mingo, who possessed 
a fine clear voice, and could be distinctly heard singing in the 
field towards the evening, — even the words of the chorus in some 
cases could be understood by those living near the water side in 
the city. Colonel Thomas Foi-rest was one who assured me of 
this. The aged Colonel A. J. Morris, told me of his hearing 
Wliitfield's clear voice, at Gloucester point, wlien he was preacli- 
ing on Society Hill. Captain Coates tells me that just before the 
Revolution, when his father dwelt at the corner of Cable Lane and 
Vine street, they could there hear the voice of his workmen at liis 
brick-kiln at the corner of Fourtli and Green streets, cry out 
•'iPhebe get the dinner ready!" This may seem strange in the 
present thick population ; but I must also add there are spots in 
Germantowii, where, on occasions of overcast and calm mornings, 
persons can plainly liear the rattle of carts in Philadelphia, six 
miles off! 

The guns that were fired at the battle of Brandywine, were dis- 
tinctly heard by persons in Pliiladelphia, altho' they were only 9 
and 10 pounders. And the bombardment of Fort Mifflin was heard 
daily at Germantown. When the Augusta blew up there, Mr. 
Bradford told me lie distinctly lieard the report not far from Lan- 
caster, and following up tlie line of the river, another told me they 
heard it near Pottsgrovc. Another heard it at the forks of Little 
Egg Harbour. 

JVames of Streets changed. 

In tlie olden time they were remarkably disposed to give popular 
names to streets and places, to the exclusion of their legal and re- 
corded names. I remember very well that when a boy, about the 
year 1800, we first saw index boards on the walls, to show the 
streets. The names of some of the streets were so new to us, that 
we really thought, for a long while, that they were absolutely new 



724 Miscellaneous Fads. 

names. Those which have undergone changes, liave been as fol- 
lows, to wit : 

Bread Street — has been called familiarly Moravian alley, because that 
church had its front formerly on that street. 

.Afoble St7Yet — was called commonly Bloody lane, because a murder 
had been committed there. 

Garden Alley — changed to Coombes' alley, because he was a tenant 
on the Front street corner. 

Cedar Street — is changed to South street, because it was the southern 
limit of the city. It was often called Southermost street. 

Sassafras Street — has been called Race street, because it was the 
road to the races once out there. It was also called Longhuvst 
street, in the earliest deeds. 

mulberry Street — always called Arch street, because of an arch or 
bridge across that street at Front street. It was also called Holmes' 
street, in the earliest deeds. 

High Street — originally called so, because of its having been the high- 
est elevation from the river of all the other streets — changed to 
Market street by the populnr voice, because of the markets in it. 

King Street — changed to \V ater street because of its nearness to the 
river. 

Branch Street — changed to Sourcrout alley, and so universally once 
called, because the first cutter of cabbage, who made it a business 
to go abroad with his machine to cut for families, lived almost alone 
in that street. 

Jones' Alley — changed to Pewter-platter alley, because of such a sign 
(a real pewter dish of large size) once hung at the corner of Front 
street. 

Buke Street — changed to Artillery lane, because of the British can- 
non having been placed there. 

Prime Street — was called Love lane, because of a long row of lewd 
houses there. 

Calloivhill Street — in 1690 was called " New street," probably be- 
cause it was the first opened in the Northern Liberties. 

Brewer's Alley— because of Geddes' brewery there, now called 

Wood street. 
J'ine Street — was at an early period called Valley street, because of 

its vale there between two hills, above and below it. 
Chesnut Street — was first called Wynn street, after Thomas Wynn* 
Walnut Street — was Pool street, as leading to Dock creek water. 
M'orris's Alley — was called Ilutton's lane or alley. 
Gray's Alley — was called Morris' alley. 

Gabriel Tljonias, in his account of the city as early as 1698, 
speaks of several other sti-eet-names not now known, to wit : 
Shorter's alley — Yowcr's lane — Waller's alley — Sikes* alley — 
Flower's alley — Tuj-ncr's lane — all of which cxten<lc(l only from 
Front to Second street. They probably then boi*e the names of the 
chief inhabitant dwelling at or near them. The streets of larger 
size, he says, took the names from the abundance of such trees foi> 
merly in growth tl»ere. 



Miscdlanemis Fads. 725 

William Penn, in his letter of 1683, says "the names of these 
sti-eets are mostly taken from the things that spontaneously grow 
in the country, as Vine street. Mulberry street, &c." — hut in cnu- 
m'M-ating them, he names some not known to us, to wit : Cran- 
bej I y street. Hickory street, Oak street, Beech street, Ash street, 
and Poplar street. 

Public Spectades. 

In September, 1758, a great fire- works was exhibited at Phila- 
delphia, on tlie Delawaie river, in honour of the reduction of Cape 
Breton, by general Amhurst. It represented a citadel in the cen- 
tre, and on each flank a tower. On siioro were other works to 
represent the French. Then a great exhibition of fire ensued, and 
the sounds of cannonade, &c. Tlie citadel approached to storm the 
works on shore — they sprung a mine and surrendered. Then suc- 
ceeded rejoicings, by a swarm of rockets from the towers, Sec. 
Ti)is was certainly a very grand display for so small a community, 
as Philadelphia tlien was, to effect. The truth was, the enterprise 
of Cape Breton was deemed an American affair of great merit — a 
thing in which the northern and middle colonics gave themselves 
great credit. 

About 55 years ago, many hundred persons went out to the 
Schuylkill to see a man cross that river in a boat carried in his 
pocket ! He went over safe, near High street. B. Chew, Esq. 
saw it, and told me of it, and my father saw the same at Amboy. 
It was made of leatiier — was like parchment — was about live feet 
long — w as upheld by air-vessels, which were inflated, and seemed 
to occupy the usual places of gunwales. For want of a patent-of- 
fice, the art is probably lost. The fact gives a hint for liglit por- 
table boats for arctic explorers, and suggests a means of making 
more buoyant vessels on canals. 

The increase of public exhibitions is greater every year. We have 
not long since had the greatest and finest menagerie of wild beasts 
ever before seen here, being equal to twenty animals in one collec 
tion, and containing lions, tigers, elephants, camels, cVc. In i8r24. 
we had even a mummy brought among us, from ancient Thebes. 
and soon after, came two Roman urns, repositories for the ashes of 
the dead for 2,500 years and more. Why do people visit such, but 
for their interest in relics, as a means to connect the imagination 
and the heart. Their heart feels the question rising like this, vi/. 

" Statue of flesh, come prithee tell us, 
Since in the world of spirits thou hast slumber'd, 
What hast thou seen— what strange adventures number'd I" 

We have also a growing practice among us, of adventurers com- 
ing from Europe, — as players, singers, dancers, lecturers, and 
" catafelto's wotidering for their bread !" 



"!26 Miscellaneous Facts. 

Leathern Jpron Chib. 
This was Franklin's club, whicli took the name of the Junta. 
In 1728, J. Logan speaks of these as being the tools of Sir \yilliam 
Keith's *' baseness and falsehood," saying *' they are to send thee 
a petitioji, calling themselves the Leathern Apron Men, and they so- 
licit favourable sentiments towards their master. Sir William 
Keith, who has raised deep contentions here," — for when he was 
elected into the Assembly, after being no longer Governor, he was 
escorted into town by eighty men on horseback, and guns were 
fired in triumph, &c. Perhaps Keith's use of the club, and Frank- 
lin's influence there, altho' then but yoimg, and only a resident of 
the city 4 or 5 years, may present some clue to Sir William's 
strange seduction of Franklin to follow him in his fortunes to Eng- 
land, where Sir William joined "the ghosts of departed Gover- 
nors," as hangers on. 

JVorth West Passage. 

In 1753, the citizens of Philadelphia, especially the merchants, 
employed Captain Swaine, in the scliooner Argo, to seek a North 
West passage. At his return he got credit for his exertions, al- 
though as unsuccessful as Captain Parry's late royal entei-prise. 

In May, 1754, he again makes another unsuccessful voyage. 
The particulars of both voyages may be read on page 381 of my 
MS. Annals in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, too long 
for insertion here; his report was, that the winter had not been so 
severe there for 24 years before. The Argo got through the ice into 
the mouth of Hudson strait as far as the Island Resolution on the 
26th of June ; but was forced out again, by ice, to sea. She cruised 
off with some Hudson Bay sliips — twenty days trying to get in 
again, but could not. She ran dov» n tiie ice from 63 to 57 degrees. 
Tlien went over to the Labrador coast and discovered it plainly 
from 56 to 65 degrees. Finally returned home all well. kc. 

Magistrates. 

Until the year 1759, it had been an occasional practice for Jus- 
tices of the Peace to hear and decide causes at public inns ; as it 
had a demoralizing effect in bringing so many people to drinking 
places, the Governor in this year publicly forbids its longer con- 
tinuajice. Even courts tliemselves, before they had a court-house, 
had been lield there, for I see by James Logan's MS. that in the 
year 1702, the court at Philadelphia sat in Hall's public house. 

It has been a general and frequent remark, made to me by the 
aged, that Magistrates were, in olden time, a much more dignified 
and honoured class of persons than now. They w ere also chosen 
as men of the first fortune, influence, and wisdom ; so that wherever 
they went they carried reverence, and were effectively ** a terror 
ro evil-doors." Their occasional voice, heard in the street, could 



Miscellaneovs Facta. 727 

instantly repress ''wrong and outrage" among men, or fiolic and 
mischief among boys. They were at the same time effective " peace- 
makers ;'* for as they never served from motives of personal gain, 
theii- fortunes being above it, they generally strove to return the 
parties under some mutual agreement. I can still sec some of 
those dignitaries in my mind's eye as they remained even in my 
early days, — a person bearing a post of authority, cock'd hat, 
powdered hair, and a gold headed cane, ruffles over the hand, and 
bowed to with reverence by all wlio passed them, *' His honour the 
Squire." 

The Dutch Riot. 

About the year 1782-3, a riot was formed by numerous Dutch 
women headed by Mammy Swivel, an old woman of prodigious 
size. It excited great interest and commotion in the northern end 
of the city, at the time, and led to several small law-suits. Tlie 
case was this : — The square from Callowhill to Brewer's alley, 
and from Third to Fourtli street, then lay in a field of grain, into 
which some hogs made their entry and depredations. The owner, 
for his revenge shot three of the animals. Upon this occurrence, 
the German women in the neighbourhood '' called to arms." They 
soon gathered in strength and fell upon the owner and beat him so 
severely he had to be taken to the inn then at the north east corner 
of Brewer's alley and Fourth street, where he lay some time. In 
the meantime, the women, to the number of several hundreds, fell 
to work and tore up all his post and rail fences, making thereof a 
great pile, casting thereon the dead hogs, and making of the whole 
a grand conflagration, in the presence of great crowds of specta- 
tors — none of whom attempted to arrest their progress. It was a 
high exertion of female power and revenge, and long "Mammy 
Swivel" bore the reputation of the heroine. 



RIVER DELAWARE. 



*' Not distant far the lime— when in thy solitude sublime 
No sail was ever seen to skim thy billowy tide 
Save light canoe, by artless savage plied." 

r. HEYLIN, in his Cosmography, says the Indians called this 
river Arasapha, and the bay Poutaxat. 

William Penn, in his letter of 1683, thus describes the fish of the 
Delaware, to wit : " Sturgeons play continually in our river. Al- 
loes, as they call them — the Jews alicc, and our ignorants shades, 
[shad !] are excellent fish. They arc so plentiful that 600 arc 
drawn at a drauglit. Fish is brought to the door both fresh and 
salt. Six allocs or rocks for twelve pence, and salt fish at three 
farthings per pound. Oysters two shillings per buslicl." 

In the year 1733, tiie Governor proposes to the Assembly to 
adopt the practice of other countries in placi)ig buoys for the chan- 
nel of the Delaware, and to appoint pilots under proper regulations. 
These things are said to be suggested in consequence of the diffi- 
culties of navigation, and the frequency of shipwrecks. They seem, 
h,owever, to have got along awhile without them, for the buoys 
were not introduced into use until the year 1767. 

In 1746-7, John Harding, a miller, built the wharf and made a 
windmill on the muddy island against the town. He, however, 
took a fever by working in the mud, and died. His son who suc- 
ceeded him gave it its finish, and both expended about 600£. in the 
works. The windmill was in operation but a few years, when it 
had the misfortune to have the top and sails blown off in a violent 
gust, and was borne in the air to Joshua Cooper's orchard on the 
Jersey shore ! There it was seen as a play place for boys many 
years afterwards. This was declared by Mr. John Brown, who 
saw it. 

At a later period a bakehouse was erected there, which, as 
Thomas Hood told me, did much business. They had also a frame 
tavern, and sold milk. In time the tavern was left untenanted, — 
when some skating boys at night made it into a great bonfire for 
the interest of the town beholders. 

Captain Smith's lodgement at the north end is a modern affair, 
and probably better than any preceding one. 

Professor Kalm, when here in 1748, said it was the remark of 



River Delaware. 7a9 

the old Swedes, and other ohlest persons, that the rivers and 
brooks decreased vvliilst the seashores increased. As facts, they 
stated, that mill's which 60 years before were built on waters with a 
sufficiency of head, had since so little as to be kept idle but in times 
of rains and snows. Aoke Kalm remembered several places in the 
Delaware, since made islands of a mile in length, over which he 
used to row in a boat. 

Mr. M'Clure made a scientific and minute survey of the state o% 
our tides in the Delaware, the facts concerning which may be seen 
at length in my MS. Annals, p. 325, in the Historical Society of 
Pennsylvania. 



5 B 



RIV£:R SCHUYLKILL.. 



THIS name, given it by the Dutch, is said to express " Hidden 
River," it not being visible at its mouth as you ascend the Dela- 
ware. From the Indians it bore the name of Manajung, Manai- 
unk, and in Holmes' map it is called Nittabaconck. It is told as 
a tradition that the Indians called the river the mother, and that what 
is called "Maiden creek," a branch of the Schuylkill above Read- 
ing, was called Onteelaunee, meaning the little daughter of a 
great mother. The letter of Governor Stuyvesant, of 1644, to 
Colonel Nicolls, says they discovered the Varsche Rivierte — the 
little freshwater river, in 1628. 

I have heard it conjectured that the flat ground of Pegg's marsh, 
and the low ground of Cohocksinc swamp, are the heds of the 
Schuylkill, which may have passed there before Fair Mount bar- 
rier gave way — one channel having come from Fair Mount to 
Pegg's swamp, and tiie others from the Falls of Schuylkill by Co- 
hocksinc. The particulars of this theory nxay be read in my MS. 
Annals, p. 352, 353, in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 

In the year 1701, William Pen n writes to James Logan, saying, 
*' Pray see the utmost of poor Marshe's project of navigating flats 
up Schoolkill and Susquehanah above the Falls; he assuring me 
he could make the experiment for 40s. be it 50s, or 5£. it were a 
mighty advantage." 

In 1722, the Common Council this year appointed a committee 
to examine a route to Schuylkill through the woods, and to fix 
upon the site of a ferry at the end of High street, whereupon it was 
resolved to address the Assembly for an act for the same. 

The same year tlie corporation of Philadelphia made a cause- 
way on both sides of the ferry, and appointed boats, &c. The 
ferrymen were to dwell on the western side, and to ferry persons 
over at one penny, horses Id. cows and oxen l^d. cart or wagon 
6d, to Is. sheep id. &c. The Upper and Lower ferries were then 
called Roach's and Blunston's, on private account. This one be- 
came of course "the Middle ferry." 

In the year 1762, we see by a minute of the Council that they 
then leased " the Middle ferry," for three years at200£. per animm. 

I am not able to say when the floating bridges were first intro- 
duced; but we know the British army made one across the 



River SchuylkilU 731 

Scliu} Ikill when they held the city, which I believe they destroyed 
when leaving it, as it is known that Joseph Ogdcn built and kept 
a new bridge at the Middle ferry, soon after they were gone. 

Mr. Kalm states that at tlie first building of Philadelphia, they 
erected sundry houses upon the Schuylkill side, which tliey after- 
wards removed to the Delaware side, on finding settlements there 
did not take. . ^ 

The river scenery and banks of Schuylkill was once picturesque 
and beautiful— such as I have elsewhere described the *'Baptiste- 
rion," at the end of Spruce street. Benjamin Franklin too, said 
it was his custom when young to go out there with his companions, 
Osborne, Watson, Ralph, kc. to take a charming walk on Sun- 
days in the woods then bordering on the river. There they used 
to sit down and read and converse together; now how changed 
the scene to a busy bustling coal mart ! 

« Receding forests yield the labourers room, 

And opening wilds with fields and garlands bloom I" 

It is even now within the memory of aged men, when it was a 
sreat fishing place. Old Shronk assured me he had caught as 
many as 3000 catfish of a night with a dip-net, near the Fal s. 
Penn's letter of 1683, speaks of Captain Smith, at Schuylkill, who 
drew '• 600 shades at a draught.'* 

In the year 1759, there appeared in the Gazette a writer trom 
Berks, who greatly urges the advantages to be produced by clear- 
ing and opening the river channel. Some of them were then set 
upon by a subscription. ... 

The 4th of July, 1824, being Sunday, the long desired era ar- 
rived of opening the canal from Reading to Philadelphia. Many 
witnessed the operations near Reading with great^ gwtihcatiou. 
This is "the consummation devoutly to be wished " 



RE5LICS & REMEMBRAJVCERS. 



" These we preserve with pious care." 

IT may be deemed worthy of the subject, to give a special no- 
tice of those relics of the olden time, which have come to our knowl- 
edge, to M'it : 

Dr. Benjamin Rush had a study-chair presented to him in 1811, 
made out of the treaty tree. His letter of thanks for it, as a pres- 
ent from Mrs. Pritchett, I have seen. 

David Lewis, Esq. presented me with a piece of the mahogany 
beam of Columbus' house, in which he once dwelt in St. Domin- 
go — of course of the first house constructed by a European in 
America. I have used parts of it in several snuff-boxes of relic 
wood. 

An elbow-chair has been made of the elm tree wood, which 
grew in the State-house yard. It was made in 1824, on the occa- 
sion of cutting down those once beautiful trees there, and was pre- 
sented by Adam Ramage, to the " Philadelphia Society for pro- 
moting Agriculture." 

Some of the timber of the Alliance frigate has been preserved by 
me. as a relic of the first navy of the United States. 

Some of tlie hair of General Washington, in my possession, is 
highly and justly prized. 

" Yea, beg a hair of him for memory, 
And dying mention it within their wills, 
Bequeathing it as a rich legacy.'* 

A writing-table of William Penn, of curious construction, of ma- 
hogany, is now in possession of J. R. Smith, Esq. of Philadelphia. 
Its general appearance is like a common breakfast table. By lifting 
up the lid. a regular writing-desk is exposed with drawers and 
casements, and by the use of elevators, two lids are thrown up, 
which furnish great convenience for placing books and papers 
thereon for copying from, or for writing upon. It was the gift 
to him from John Barron, Esq. once a venerable gentleman, wlio 
po-isessed large claims to lands about Philadelphia, from his pro- 
genitors. 

The girder in the office of the Union canal, in Carpenter's 
court, is a part of the mainmast of the Constellation frigate, and 
has several marks of the shot it received. 



Relics and Remembrancers. 7 33 

A piece of silver coin, marked the year 733, of the weight of 90 
cents, was ploughed up by Mr. John Shallcross. at seven miles 
from the city, near the York road. A copy of its impression is 
pr' served on page 64 of my MS. Annals, in the Historical So- 
ciety. 

The arm-chair of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, is in possession of 
Reuben Haines, Esq. in Germantown. It is of mahogany, and 
the one which the doctor used as his common sitting-chair. 

An oaken chair of Count Zinzendorf, is in possession of C. J. 
Wister, Esq. in Germantown. 

Autograph letters of William Penn, of theyear 1677, are in pos- 
session of Henry Pemberton, of tlie Philadelphia bank, being a 
small folio book of letters from Penn to his religious friends in Hol- 
land. Among the lettei-s is a postscript, subscribed by tlie ini- 
tials of the celebrated George Fox. A fragment of George Fox's 
pen, annexed to R. Barclay's, is also with Reuben Haines. Esq. 

A pewter cistern and ewer, for washing and shaving, once tlie 
property of the Penn family, is now in possession of Thomas J. 
Wliarton, Esq. They contain the initials of \Vm. Penn, and the 
family arms. It would seem as if they Imd been the property of 
Admiral Penn, from the motto being different from that of the 
founder — it reading " Dum Clavium Tenens.'* ThTs, by-the-bye, 
is as appropriate to William Penn as the governor of a colony, as 
to the Admiral as the governor (or steersman) of a ship. 

The tea plate of Wm. Penn, I have seen at tlie widow Smith's 
farm near Burlington, which had descended to her husband from 
James Logan. The teapot was small — not to contain more than 
one pint — was very heavy — in fine preservation — bore the cyjihers 
W. P. — and had a stand to set under it, in which to insert a flame 
heater to keep it hot or to make it boil. 

Penn's book-case is now in possession of Nathaniel Coleman, of 
Burlington, — formed of English oak, veneer'd all over with ma- 
hogany. Its base is formed of a chest of drawers and a desk for 
writing ; and above are arrangements for accounts and papers, 
shut in by panelled doors, having in each a looking-glass. 

At that desk, I should suppose he wrote many of those papers and 
publications since known to the public. It came to Coleman from 
the Pennsbury mansion. A sketch of it is drawn on page 105 of 
my MS. Annals, in the Historical Society, and the original feet 
of it are in my possession. 

Penn's silver seal, cyphered W. P. is now in the possession of 
R.L. Pitman, Cashier of the Northern Liberty bank, — he procured 
it of the above named N. Coleman, wiio had received it in his bu- 
siness as a silver-smith. 

Penn's clock was not long since in the hands of Martin Soni- 
mers, near Frankford, who got it from Mr. Peter Harewaggcn, an 
aged person who lived near Pennsbury. The clock was formed of 
an oaken case, curiously wrought and inlaid with bone. There is 



734 Relics and Remembrancers. 

another clock of Peiiii\s, said to be such, now in the Warder family 
of Philadelphia. 

A silver cup of Benjamin Lay, the hermit, is now in possession 
of Roberts Vaux, Esq. 

Penn's chair, wliich came from Pennsbury, is now in the Penn- 
sylvania hospital — a present from Mrs. Crozier, through the hands 
of Mr. Drinker. Another similar chair is in my possession, — '*a 
present from Deborali Logan," — is so inscribed on its brass plate, 
with the additio . of tliese appropriate words, to wit: " Fruitful of 
Recollections — sit and muse !" Mrs. Frazier, at Chester, has the 
chair in which Penn sat at opening the first Assembly at that place. 

Relics of the treaty tree arc nimierous. I have myself presented 
s^everal snuff-boxes formed severally of a plurality of kinds of relic 
wood, including the treaty tree, Columbus' house, the Blue An- 
chor tavern, &c. There is, in my house, a lady's work-stand, of 
the treaty tree, ornamented with the walnut tree of the Hall of In- 
dependence, with the mahogany beam of Columbus' house, &c. 

Joseph P. Norris, Esq. has Wm. Penn's silver snufF-box. It is 
inscribed witli the names of successive owners, from Governor 
Thomas Lloyd, downwards. He has also a watch seal of Quartz 
clirystal, set in gold, a present from an Indian king to Isaac Nor- 
ris, at the treaty of 171 0. 

Besides those before mentioned as in various hands, there are 
.ittached to the pages of my MS. Annals, in the Philadelphia Li- 
brary, and in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, at the pages 
severally annexed, the following articles, to wit : 

In my Manuscript Annals in the Philadelphia Library : 

PAGE. 

165. — The celebrated Mary Dyer's gown specimen. 

do. Penn's bed-quilt — a fragment. 

do. Silks — made in Pennsylvania by Susan Wright and 

Catharine Haines. 
166. — Dress silks at the Meschianza. 
170. — Silk specimen of 1740, of Dr. Redman's ancestor, 
do. Red garden satin, from the Bishop of Worcester, 1720. 
do. Black silk velvet of Dr. Franklin's coat. 
190. — Six gown patterns of former years, of my family. 
198. — Original petition, showing all the signatures of primitive 

settlers of Chester, in 1704. 
199. — Likeness of Penn — best done by Bevan. 
206. — Likeness of James Pemberton, and costume of Friends. 
215 — Paper money of 1739 — of the Lighthouse, and of the 

Walnut street prison. — Specimens. 
218 — Profile of a city belle of high head-dress, in 1776. 
do. Specimen of a silk and silver dress of a lady. 
230. — A sketch of Friends' Meeting, at Centre Square. 
231. — Pictures of ladies' bonnets and dresses in olden time. 



Relics and Remembrancers. 735 

233*10 239, contain pictures of sundry public houses— such as 
Courthouse ; London Coffeehouse : Jones' Row, Grindstone 
alley ; Slate house ; Duche's house : S.Mickle's house ; Lox- 
ley's house : Bcnezet's house ; Governor Palmer's house : 
Swedes' church : Shippen'slmuse ; Washington's house; Of- 
fice of Secretary of foreign affaii-s ; Friends' Almshouse ; 
Wigglesworth's house : Scene at Drawbridge, at city com- 
mons ; L^titia court ; Perspective at Philadelphia ; Penn's 
treaty ; the treaty tree ; a female figure drawn in colours by 
Major Andre ; a pictorial invitation card of General Howe, 
to the Meschianza ; R. Morris' great house. 
240.— The first almanac of Philadelphia— a sheet— 1687. 

246 An engraved picture of six public buildings. 

247 to 252, are specimens of old colonial paper. 

264 First ground plot plans of the city in 1793-4, by Davis. 

273.— Ancient caricature and poetry *' to wash the black Moor 

white."— Some city gentlemen are drawn, 
do. A caricature of Friends and tlic Indiaiis. 

277 Portraits of -'Bishop Allen" and Benjamin Lay. 

278. — The Association Battery. 

279 Dock creek and Drawbridge scene. 

280.— Pegg's run, and scenery in skating there.* 
282. — Lfetitia house in the court, 
do. Cherrv^garden house. 

283.— An ancient house at the north west corner of Front and 
Race streets. , t. . i 

do. The place called Barbadoes lot, where the Baptists and 
Presbyterians first held worship— corner of Chesnut and 
Second street. 
o84._The portrait of an oddity, known universally by the name 
of '* M. 0. Mike,— H. A. Harry Hanse,— Michael Wca- 
ders," and called also, "I see thee first," with some re- 
marks on his character. 

In my Manmcnpt Annals in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 
are the following, to -wit : 

PAGE. 

272. — A specimen sheet of modern bank notes. 

276 Specimens of colonial and continental money. 

277.— A sheet almanac of Philadelphia, 1687. 
do. Specimen of the writing of Count Zinzendorf, 1734. 
278. — Slips of ancient silk dresses. 

279. — An original drawing by Kosciusko of Miss Pollock. 
296. Picture and description of Fitch's steam-boat. 

*- The picture, as a skating scene, is more to tlie ideas in my mind, than the one given in 
this work! There were difficulties in forming the picture of "things before," which the pres- 
ent artist could not overcome. 



^36 Relics and Remembrancers. 

PAGE. 

296.— Gray's Ferry bridge, and General Washington's passage 
there. 

do. Cape Henlopcn Lighthouse — and description. 

342. — A slip of silk, home-made, which gained the premium in 
1770, and was made into a wedding dress for Mrs. C. Rob- 
erts, in 1774. 

347. — A picture of the new market in South wark, as drawn in 
1787. 

350. — A caricature print of the Revolution — of " Liberty trium- 
phant, or the downfall of oppression." 

358. — Likenesses of James Pemberton and Nicholas Wain, in 
the costume of ancient Friends. 

360. — Association Battei'v, and windmill near. 

361. — Governor Palmer's house at treaty tree. 

do. Tjjc j)lace of the Barbadoes lot where the Baptists anfl 
Presbyterians first worshipped. 

362. — The Swedes' church. 

do. Tlie slate roof house of Wm. Penn. 

363. — Shippen's great house. 

364. — Almshouse of Friends. 

365. — Old London Coffee-house. 
' do. Old Court-house— built 1707. 

366.-- -Fair Mount and Schuylkill in 1789. 

do. Bush-hill in 1788. 

367. — Slate house, residence of Wm. Penn. 

368 — Davis' ground plot plan of Philadelphia, 1793-4. 

370. — The same, in continuation. 

371. — Holm's ground plot of Philadelphia, 1682, with explana< 
tory remarks. 

374 — A map of Pennsylvania in 1787 — curious for preserving 
Indian names of places, and of former frontier forts. 

376. — George Heap's map of 1754, of the environs of Philadel- 
phia — curious as showing primitive owners and localities. 

378 — Old stone prison at the corner of Third and High streets. 

379 — Swedes' house of Sven Sener, and the first Swedes' church 
of logs, of 1669. 

460 — Triumphal arches for La Fayette, and silk badge, as wora 
at his visit. 



737 



LIST OF 
IJ1VPUBL.ISHED PAPERS. 



THESE comprise such as have been purposely excluded from a 
publication in my printed Annals. They are, first, remarkable au- 
tographs preserved as subjects for inspection by tlic curious. Sec- 
ondly, they are papers not expedient to be printed entire, although 
sufficiently useful to be preserved, — and sometimes already occa- 
sionally extracted in part, under some of the divisions of the print- 
ed Annals. 

In my J\Iaimscript Annals in the Philadelphia Library, to wit : 

PAGE. 

219. — Joseph Sansom's description of Philadelphia, m 1803—- 

in print. 
245.— A MS. petition and names, praying the King for defence, 

in 1743. 
do. Autograph of Count Zinzendorf, 1742— Of his daughter 

Benigna, 1742. — Of Asheton, clerk of court, 1727.— Of 

Joseph Wilcox, Mayor, 1706.— Of James Logan, Secretary. 

1702.— Of Wm. Trent, 1706.— Of Wm. Penn.— Of Hannah 

Penn, 1712, — Of John Penn, in 1825. 
253.— Form of a letter, by which inquiries were usually made 

of aged persons, having 36 queries, 
do. Autograph of Mary Smith— her description, in 4 pages of 

MS. of the primitive settlement of Burlington, to which she 

was an eye-witness. 

In my Manuscnpt Annals in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 
to ivU : 

190 Some ancient religious scandal on Friends, by the Kei- 

thians. 

252.— Autograph of Robert Fairman, of 1715, descriptive oi 
his estate at the treaty tree.— Singular writing. 

280.— Penn^s letter of 1683, descriptive of Philadelphia then. 

284 Robert Turner's letter of 1685, to Wm. Penn, descrip- 
tive of Philadelphia then. 

286 Letter of P. S. Duponceau, Esq. descriptive of the of- 
fice of Secretary of foreign affairs. 

290.— Letter of John Penn of Stoke Pogis, 1825. 
5 C 



306 


do. 


310.— 


do. 


312.— 


do. 



738 List of Unpiiblished Papers. 

PAGE. 

294. — Autograph letter of Joseph — once king of Spain — first 

king ever dwelling among ns. 
298 — Autograph of Dr. Fothcrgill on Piiiladelphia topics. 
300 — do. of Rev. George W'hitefield, 1754. 

304 do. of Rev. John Wesley, 1772. 

of Du Simitiere — the Annalist. 
First writ for the first Assembly, 1682. 
of the Honourable Charles Thomson, being 
his historical sketcli#of the leading incidents in the Con- 
gress of 1774-5. 
314. — do. Minute by Patrick Robinson, in a rare kind 
of writing of 1693 — of the proceeding of the Council con- 
cerning a trespass on Schuylkill. 
316. — do. Minute of Council of 1698, concerning duties 

and ports of enti*y. 
318. — do. Letter of Wm. Pcnn, 1687, respecting his 

cottage in Philadelphia. 
322. — Correspondence of James Logan, proving him to have 
been tlie author of Cicero's Cato, &c. — a thing imputed to 
Dr. Franklin. 
326. — Primitive court records concerning Germantown — an ex- 
tract 
328.— Original account of the cost in detail of the materials and 
workmanship of the first court-house in 1707-8 — cost 616^2. 
332. — Autograph letter of Isaac Norris, of 1704. 
334. — do. and rare old family letter of 1693, by Samuel 
Flower, showing causes of emigration here to avoid woes — 
and signs and wonders in woful Europe. 
340 — Original roll of female patriots of 1780, of Lower Dub- 
lin, with their subscriptions and names to aid the sufferers 
in the war. 
344 — Autograph of Dr. Franklin in 1784, to C. T. Secretary 
of Congress, announcing the peace, and his gratification 
and advice on the same. 
546. — Autograph of Robert Proud — our historian — concerning 

his birth, age, and personal history. 
352.^ — Prosper Martin's description of his rare spring atPegg's 
run, and his diagram to show the supposed former passage 
there of the river Schuylkill. 
354 — Autograph letter of the late Joseph Sansom, Esq, of 1820, 

giving several facts concerning Philadelphia. 
381. — A letter showing the form of inquiries addressed to the 
aged, by which the facts in this book were attempted to be 
elicited. 
393 to 430.— Reminiscences and diaries of events and incidents 
at Philadelphia, at the time of the war of Independence, and 
of the acts of tlie British army there. 






List of Unpublished Papers. 739 

I'.iGE. 

431 to 434. — Revolutionary soldiers — a tale of truth. 

435 to 438.— Incidents of the war and its calamities to a fami- 

ly — best known to tlie author. 
44r. — Autograpli signatures ol' the first members of ''the Pcnn 
Association for rommemorating the landing." — and facts 
concerning the oi'igiu of that Society. 
461 Autograph letter of General La Fayette of 1824, respect- 
ing his public visit to Philadelphia, addressed to Joseph 
Watson. Esq. City Mayor. 
459 to 474. contains an extended and graphic description of the 
public visit of La Fayette to Philack^lphia, and many facts 
to be preserved foi* some future day. 

486 A printed account of Dr. Franklin's relatives at Nantucket. 

490 to 496 — Printed biograpliical notices by Sam. Preston, Esq. 
of several memorable persons of Bucks coutity, in the olden 
time — such as John Watson, surveyor, Jacob Taylor, ma- 
thematician and astronomer, William Satterthwaite. poet 
and scholar, James Pellar, a genius. Dr. Thomas Watson, 
a learned and benevolent man, D. Ingham, Nathan Preston, 
much concerned in Indian affairs, &c. Many local inci- 
dents are described, and the particulars of tlie "Indian 
Walk" are given. 
501. — A singular nomenclature of rare names of Philadelphia. 
507. — The Pennsylvania Journal of 1758, containing a warning 
to Friends of 1758, by tiie Watchmajj, and Penn's letter of 
the 27th of 4 mo. 171*0, admonitory, 
do. — A specimen of Humphrey's tory Gazette in Philadelphia, 
1777. 

508 Philadelphian demonstrations in 1795, for the grand canal 

of New York; being a detail of the facts given by John 
Thomson, Esq. of his experiment and success in bringing 
a small schooner from Niagara to Philadelphia. 
511. — A poetic description of the Delaware river and contiguous 

country. 
516. — Reminiscences by Mrs. H. 

536 to 539 — Some scrapiana of facts of our general history. 
544 to 575. — Several MS. letters from Samuel Preston, Esq, 
generally descriptive of historical events, and ])ersons in 
Bucks county, — say of Tiiomas Jenks, Thomas Penn, and 
Lady Jenks, of the Indian Walk — ofE. Marshall, and his 
discovery of silver — of Richard Smith, botanist and travel- 
ler among the Indians, — of tlie noted Indian, Isaac Still, 
and his tribe in Bucks county, and of Frederick Post, the 
interpreter. 
576 to 580. — A detail of facts concerning Godfrey's invention 

of the quadrant, — in print. 
Here 1 would mention as a closing and general i-emark, that 



740 List of Unpubliahed Papers. 

several communications made to me by aged persons of all tliey 
knew or remembered, have been used by me under various distribu- 
tions, but the whole together of what they said, winch may hereaf- 
ter interest their immediate friends, may be found in my MS. 
Annals in the Philadelphia Library — such are tliose from* J P. 
Norris, T. Matlack, John Brown, Sarah Shoemaker, Davenport 
Merrot. Owen Jones, Isaac Parish, William West. Samuel flich- 
ards, Samuel Coates, Thomas Bradford, A. J. Moiris. Those 
by Lang Syne, pages 520 to 530, and by Samuel Preston, are to 
be found in my MS. Annals in the Historical Society, — also there, 
Penn's letters to James Harrison, his agent from 1681 to '87, page 
164 to 171 ; the Loganian MSS. at Stenton, pages 222 to 260; 
Secretary R. Peters' letters to Penns, page 266 to 269 ; extracts 
of the minutes of the Association of 1756 for preserving peace with 
the Indians, pages 180 to 183. 




a/ li {01 un of Bro luJ k Ga t den S fret Ly 




^fntit Miiy^' Nmyurk hnlflbox /azrdnoo, 



APPENDIX: 



CONTAINING 



OKDEK* TIMXS 



RESE.IRCHES Sc UBMIJVmCEJ^CE^^ 



OF NEW YORK CITY. 



SY J. r. WATSOX, IN 1828. 



• Oil I dear is a tale of the Olden Time /" 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



The following pages relative to New York, owe their origin to a 
short visit made to that city in 1838, by the autlior of the Annals of 
Philadelphia. 

They were originally written, without any ulterior view to publica- 
tion, and solely for personal gratification and preservation.— But, 
being since seen by some friends who have solicited their publication, 
they now meet the public eye in their original form, as well to indulge 
them, as to promote more enlarged researches in that city, by those 
New Yorkers who may hate more time and better opjx)rtunitics than 
was possessed by the prescat contributor. 



NEW YORK CITY. 

•' Let us i5atisfy our eyes 
With the memorials, and the tilings of fame 
That do renown this cily!" 



It is scarcely possible that an observing and considerate spectator, 
who had seen New York in its loneliness, some thirty years ago, 
should be now insensible to its rapidly rising glories : — he must feel 
grateful emotions of surprise and exultation at the many imposing 
proofs of her distinguished prosperity. 

Having myself been familiar with the localities of New York, in 
my boyhood, 33 years ago, the numerous changes of localities every 
M'here surprised me on my visit there in 1828. Wishing to preserve 
some recollections of the things I saw or heard, or of tlic imaginations 
which occupied my mind, I determined to give them "shape and 
form," in the following Memorial. They may create grateful image.-; 
to my mind in future years. 

While I thus contemi)lated New York as " from her meridian arch 
'of power," I went back instinctively to its earliest origin as the suburbs 
of a. military station ; there I saw in vision the parse population of 
Hollanders, the hardy Pioneer^, by whose primitive efforts their pre- 
.•?ent descendants enjoy so much affluence and repose ! — I saw, in idea, 
the first adventurous Yatch, the " Half Moon," first enter this present 
crowded and busy harbour, then. 



e still 



And solemn desert, in primeval garb, 
ilung round his lonely bark !" 

In this contemplation, retrospection is iouchlng; there is a poetry of 
feeling in the subject !— duller minds may be insensible to the charm 
of "Olden Time" aficctions without an adapted sfimulovs, and yet, 
even these, can be stirred, and by a graphic picture of the past, 
'• sometimes made to vjomler that they never saw before what he shows 
liicm, or that they never yet had felt what he impresses !" 

With views and emotions like these, Vvhich however scouted by 
others, /shall ever delight to cherish, both con amorc, and as an ex- 
pedient lengthening the span of our existence, 

"Down History's lengthening, widening way." 
/was prepared to explore some of the arcaiia of New York, with 
some such affections and feelings as Dr. Johnson imputed to himself 



4 New York City, 

in investigating the construction of Milton's Paradise Lost, saying, 
" To trace back the structure through all its varieties to the simplicity 
of its first plan ; to find what was first projected ; whence the scheme 
■was taken ; how it was improved ; by what assistance it was executed ; 
nnd from what stores the materials were collected. However obscure 
this may be in itself , nothing can be more worthy of rational curio^ 
sity .'" 

To attain these objects, in my case, I occupied myself in the leisure 
hours of a fortnight-tarry at New York, in making personal inquiries 
of the aged and the experienced, or by exploring the localities, or the 
archives of office, as the case might seem to require. The resultjj 
^d my reward, are comnri^d io the following pages. 



GENERAL VIEWS OF NEW YORK, 

As scann'd with bird-eyo view. 

The city « stretching street on street," as in her present grandeur 
and magnitude, enrols a total population of 180,000 souls; a collec 
tion of "about 30,000 houses ; a tonnage of 300,400 tons— this is ex- 
clusive of 10500 tons of steam boats;— and an assessed value of 
property of 114 millions dollars;— her lighted and paved streets, lined 
«ith houses, extend to Thirteenth street, on the North River side, to 
the dry dock, on the East River side, and to Thirteenth street on the 
Broadway and Bowery streets. All its modern streets are streight and 
wide, graduated to easy and gradual ascents or descents; and where 
formerly very narrow lanes existed, or crowded edifices occurred, they 
have either cut off the encroaching fronts of houses, as in William 
street and Maiden lane, or cut through solid masses of houses, as in 
opening Beekman and Fulton streets. They have widened the bounds 
of the city, both on the North and East rivers, by building up whole 
streets of houses, at, and beyond Greenwich street on the western 
Hide ; and, at and from Pearl street on the eastern river. The value 
and magnitude of these improvements, all redeemed from the former 
rivers there, are really astonishing to the beholder. 

There is every indication to evince the fact, that New York was in 
primitive days the " city of hills;" such verdant hills, of successive un- 
dulation, as the general state of the whole country-part of the island 
now presents. Thus, at the extreme S. end of the Broadway, where 
the ancient fort formerly stood, was an elevated mount, quite as ele- 
vated as the general level of that street is now before Trinity Church, 
and thence regularly declining along that street to the beach on the 
North River. The hills were sometimes precipitous as from Beekman's 
and Peck's Hills, in the neighborhoods of Pearl street and Beekmau 
and Ferry streets, and from the middle Dutch church in Nassau street 
down to Maiden lane ; and sometimes gradually sloping, as on either 
hills along the line of the water, coursing along the region of Maiden 
lane. BeUveen many of the hills flowed in several invasions of water : 
Such as "<Ae canai;' so called, to gratify Dutch recollections, which 
was an inroad of river water up Broad street;— and up Maiden lane, 
llowed another inroad, through Smith's marsh or valley ; a little be- 
yond Peck's Slip, existed a low water course, which in high tide water 



6 General Yiews of Neio Yorlc. 

ran quite up in union with the Collect, (Kolck) and thence joining with 
Lispenaid's swamp on North River side, produced a union of waters 
quite across the former city. Thus, converting it occasionally into an 
island, and showing a reason for the present lowness of the line of 
Pearl street as it traverses Chatham street. There they. once had to 
use boats crccasionally, to cross the foot passengers passing over from 
either side of the high rising groujid ranging on both sides of Pearl 
street, as that street inclines across the city till it runs out upon 
Broadway, vis a vis, the hospital. 

These details of mere streets, are necessarily dull, and indeed not 
.susceptible of any further interest, than as they may serve as mctcs 
and bounds, within which, to lay the foundation of more agreeable and 
imaginative topics, to grow upon the reader, as the subject advances* 



PRIMITIVE NEAV YORK. 

We baokward look to scenes no longer there. 

A perspective map of New York, in 1073, as preserved in Du Simi- 
tiere's Historical Collection, in the Philadelphia Library, and latterly 
illustrated by J. W. Moulton, E.-sq., from his researches among the 
Dutch records, gives us a pretty accurate conception of the outline 
features of the city at the time when it became, by the peace of 1674, 
permanently under British dominion, and thence gradually to Avear oft' 
its former exclusive Knickerbocker character. 

At that time, almost all the houses presented their gable ends to the 
street ; and all the most important public buildings, such as " Stuyve- 
sant Huys," on the water edge, at present, Moore and Front streets ; and 
the " Stadt-huys," or City Hall, on Pearl street, at the head ofCoentie's 
Slip, were then set on the fore-ground to be the more readily seen 
from the river. The chief part of the town of that day, lay along the 
East River (called Salt River in early days) and descending from the 
high ridge of ground along the line of the Broadway. A great artifi- 
cial dock for vessels, lay between " Stuyvesant Huys," above referred 
to, and the bridge over the canal at its debouche on the present Broad 
street. Three " Half Moon Forts," called " Rondeels,^^ lay at equi- 
distances, for the defence of the place ; the first at Coentie's Slip and 
the third at the "Water Gate," or outer bounds of the then city, being 
the fort of the present Wall street, so called from its being then shut 
in there by a line of palisades, along the said street, quite over to the 
junction of Grace and Lumber street, where the North River limits 
then terminated in a redoubt. 

One of our original Philadelphians, Wm. Bradford, the first printer 
of Philadelphia, has left us a lively picture of the city of New York, 
as it stood about the year 1729, being his publication from an original 
survey by James Lyne. Tlie one which I have seen (a great rariti/ 
considered) at the city commissioners, should be, I should think, but 
a reduced copy, inasmuch as my MSS. " Annals of Philadelphia," 
show that in the year 1721, the son of the above William Bradford, 
(named Andrew) advertises in his " Mercury" the sale of " a curious 
prospect of New York, on four sheets of paper, royal size." What 
an article for an antiquary ! 

By the map aforesaid, it is shown in 1729, that there was no street 
beyond the Broadway, westwaid, but that the lots on the western side 



8 P/imitive New Yorlc. 

of that street tlescended severally to the beach ; that from CourtlancI^. 
street, northward, all the ground, west of Broadway, was occupied by 
trees and tillage and called the " Kings Farm." The eastern side 
of the city, was all bounded by Water street, having houses only on 
the land side, and its northern limits terminating with Beekman street. 
At the foot or debouche of Broad street were two great docks, called 
M''est and East Dock, as they lay on either side of said Broad street ; — 
they occupied the ground now built vpon from Water street, nearly out 
to South street, and from the east side of Moore street, nearly up to 
Coenties Slip. Between present Moore street and Whitehall street, lay 
the " Ship Yards," and all along where now tower stately trees in the 
Battery Promenade, lay numerous rocks forming " the Ledge," having 
the river close up to the line of the present State street fronting the 
Battery. How wonderful then is the modern extension of this city, by 
carrying out whole streets and numerous buildings, to places before 
submersed in icater ! — thus practising, with signal benefit, the re- 
nowned predilections and ingenuity of their transatlantic anceetors ! 



ANCIENT MEMORIALS. 

" I'll note 'em in my book of memory." 
The j\ISS. documents and recorded facts of New York city and 
colonial history, are, it is said, very voluminous and complete. Mr. 
Moulton's history declares there are one hundred volumes of folio, of 
almost unexplored MSS. among the records of the State. What 
abundant material for research must these afford, whenever the proper 
spirit for their investigation is awakened ! 

I am myself aware that the city itself is rich in " hoar antiquity," 
for I have ascertained that numerous books of records, are of ready 
access to such congenial minds as can give their affections to the 
times by -gone. Many of them are of the old Dutch dynasty and have 
bad no translator. For instance, there are in the County Clerk's 
Office, a book of Records, of 1656— another of 1657 ;— orders of the 
Burgomasters, in 1658— another of their resolutions and orders, from 
1661 to 1664. There are also some books of deeds, &c. 

It would be " a work of supererogation," to aim at the general 
translation of such a mass of papers : but it is really surprising that 
hitherto no " ardent spirit" greedy of "antiquarian love," should have 
been inspired to make his gleanings from them ! A judicious mind, 
seeking only the strange or the amusing of " the olden time," might 
with a ready facility extract their honey only, and leave the cumbrous 
comb behind. I myself have made the experiment. I found in the 
office of the Common Council, the entire City Records, in English, 
from the year 1675, downwards to the present day. From the first 
volume, embracing a period of sixteen years, (to 1691) I was permit- 
ted, through the politeness of General Jacob Morton, the Clerk of 
Council, to make the following extracts. These, while they furnish 
in some instances appropriate introduction to sundry topics intended 
in these pages, will also show that but a very small portion of the 
whole mass, is desirable for the entertainment of modern eyes, and 
therefore not to be sought after ;— it is even satisfying and useful to 
know how little need be known ! 

I give the following from " the Minutes," consecutively as they oc- 
curred, — to wit : 

October, 1675.— The canoes of the Indians, wheresoever found, are 
to be collected to the north side of Long Island, as a better security to 
the inhabitants, in case of their having any purpose to aid the Cana- 
B 



10 Ancient Memorials. 

dian enemies. At same time it is ordered that all Indians near New 
York, should make tlieir coming winter quarters at Hell Gate, so ay 
to be ready of control or inspection. 

It is ordered, that because of the " abuse in their ovle caske," oi,> 
the east end of Long Island, there shall be " a public tapper of oyle'' 
in each towne where the whaling design is followed. Thus evincing 
the former business of whalers in those parts. 

Governor Andros orders that by reason of the change of government 
the inhabitants shall take an oath of allegiance to their new soverei"n. 
There are only thirty-six recorded names who conform ! 

The Mayor in the approach of New Year's day, commands tht 
disuse of firing guns. 

The city gates are ordered to be closed every night at 9 o'clock, 
and to be opened at day-light. The citizens in general are to serve 
their turns as watchmen, or be fined. No cursing or swearing shall 
be used by them. They are carefully to go frequently towards " the 
bridge, for greater safety ; [meaning the bridge, I take it at the great 
dock, at the end of Broad street.] Every citizen [for the purposes of 
guard] is to keep always in his house a good fire-lock, and at least six 
rounds of ball. 

The rates of tavern fare are thus decreed and ordered : — For lodging. 
iid.; for meals, 8d.; brandy, per gill, 6d.; French wines, a quart, Is. 3d! 
syder, a quart, 4d.; double beere, a quart, 3d.; and mum, a quart, 6d. 

The Mayor proposes that they who own convenient land to build 
upon, if they do not speedily build thereon, it be valued and sold to 
those who will. This being proposed to the Governor, who as Mili- 
tary Chief, always had a control in the semi-militaire city, the same 
was afterwards adopted. How valueless must have been lots then, 
since so estimable, which could thus "go a begging" in 1675 ! 

In 1676, all the inhabitants living in the Streete, called the Here 
Graft, (the same called " Gentleman's Canal," and since Broad street) 
shall be required to fill up the graft, ditch, or common shore, and level 
the same. 

" Tanners' Pitts" are declared to bo a nuisance within the city, and 
therefore it is ordered, they shall only exercise their functions as 
tanners without the towne. This ordinance will account for the nu- 
merous tanneries once remembered in Beekman's Swamp, now again 
driven thence by encroaching population, but the premises still retained 
as curriers and leather dealers, making the whole of that former re- 
gion still a proper Leather Towne I 



Ancient Memorials. 1^ 

It 13 ordered, for the sake of better securing a sufficiency of bread, 
that no crrain be allowed to be distilled. How many wretched fami- 
lies of the present day could now profit by such a restraint— who 
abound in whiskey and lack bread ! 

It is ordered, that innkeepers be fined, from whose houses Indians 
may come out drunk: and if it be not ascertained by whom, the 
whole stroete shall be fined for the non-detection ! 

A fine of twenty guilders is imposed on all Sabbath breakers. The 
knowledge of this may gratify some modern associations. 

In 1676, is given the names of all the then property holders, 
.mounting to ouh three hundred names, and assessed at U dollar a 
pound on 99,695 pounds. This is a curious article in itself, if con- 
iidered in relation to family names, or relative wealth '.-What changes 
since " their families were young !"-Tlie English names of John Ro- 
binson, .John Robson, Edward Griffith, James Loyde, and George 
Ileathcott, appear pre-eminently rich among their cotemporanes ! 

In 1676 it is ordered, that for better security of seasonable supplies, 
.-,11 countrv people bringing supplies to market, shall be exempt from 
,ny arrest for debt. The market house and plains (the present " bow- 
lin. green") afore the fort, shall be used for the city sales. 

It is ordered, that all slaughter houses be removed thenceforth with- 
out the citv, " over the water, without the gate, at the Smith s Fly, neare 
Hie Half-Moone." Thus denoting " the water gate," near the present 
Tontine on Wall street, beyond which was an invasion of water, near 
the former " Vly Market" on Maiden lane. 

Public wells, fire ladders, hooks and buckets are ordered, and their 
places designated for the use of the city. Thus evincing the infant crad- 
im<rof the present robust and vigorous fire companies !-The public 
.veL were located in the middle of such streets as Broadway Pearl 
street &c., and were committed to the surveilance of committees of 
inhabitants in their neighborhoods, and half of tlieir expense assessed 
on the owners of property nearest them. Will the discovery o he r 
remains, in some future day, excite the surprise and speculation of 
Huinformed moderns ? .. „, • j- .• „ 

A-mill house" is taxed in "Mill street lane." Tlmsin ica.ng 
the fact of a water course and mill seat (probably the bark mill of Ten 
Eycke) at the head of what is now called " Mill street." Thus ven- 
fying what I once heard from the Phillips family, that in early txmes 
when the Jews first held their worship there, (their synagogue was 
built there a century ago) they had a living spring (t^^•o houses abovB 



12 ' Ancient Memorials. 

their present lots) in which they were accustomed to perform their 
ablutions and cleansings, according to the rites of their religion. 

In 1676, all horses at range are ordered to be branded and enroled ; 
and two stud horses are " to be kept in commons upon this island." 

Tar for the use of vessels, is to be boiled, only against " the wall of 
the Half Moon"— i. e. Battery. 

All the carmen of the city, to the number of twenty, are ordered to 
be enroled and to draw for 6d. an ordinary load, and to remove, weekly 
from the city the dirt of the streets, at 3d. a load. The dustmen show- 
ed much spunk upon the occasion, and combined to refuse full compli- 
ance. They proposed some modifications ; but the spirit of the " Scout, 
Burgomasters and Schepens," was alive and vigorous in the city rulers, 
and they forthwith dismayed the whole body of carmen by divesting 
«ll of their license, who should not forthwith appear as usual at the 
public dock, pay a small fine and make their submission ! — only two so 
succombed, and a new race of carmen arose ! Those carmen were to 
be trusty men : worthy to be charged with goods of value from the 
shipping, &;c,, wherefore, all Indian and Negro slaves were excluded. 

An act is passed concerning the revels of " Indian and Negro 

Slaves" at Inns. At the mention of Indian slaves, the generous mind 

revolts — What ! the virtual masters of the soil, to become " hewers of 

wood and drawers of water" to their cherished guests ! Sad lot !— - 

" Forc'd from the land that gave them birth, 

They dwindle from the face of earth !" 

In 1683, twelve pence a ton is assessed on every vessel for their use 
of the City Dock, " as usually given," and for " the use of the Bridge ;" — 
understood by me to have been as a connecting appendage to the same 
dock. 

Luke Lancton, in 1683, is made " Collector of Customs" at the Cus- 
tom House, near the bridge ; [" Stuyvesant Huys" at the N. W. corner 
of present Front and Moore streets, was in ancient days called " the 
Custom House"] and none shall unload " but at the bridge." 

The Indians are allowed to sell fire wood, (then called "stick wood,") 
and to vend " gutters for houses ;" — by which I suppose was meant long 
strips of bark, so curved as to lead off water : — else, it meant for the 
roofs of sheds — even as we now see dwelling houses roofed along the 
road side to Niagara. 

An act of reward is promulged for those who destroy wolves. Yeaf 
1683. 

A record of 1683, speaking of the former Dutch dynasty, says, the 



Ancient Memorials. l*^ 

Mayor's Court was used to be held in the City Ilall, where they, the 
Mayor and Aklermen determined " without appeal." It allcdges also, 
that " they had their own Clerk, and kept the records of the city dis- 
tinctly." Thus giving us the desirable fact, that " records" in ampli- 
tude, have once existed of all the olden days of Lang Syne ! They 
spell the name of the island, "Manhatans." 

Then none might exercise a trade or callinc:, nnloss as an admitted 
" Freeman." Then thoy might say with tlie Centvnion, " with a great 
price bought I that privilege !" If a freeman, to use " handy craft,'" 
they paid £3 12s. and for " being made free," they paid severally £l 4s. 
None could then trade up the Hudson River, unless a freeman who 
had had at least three years residence ; and if any one, by any cause 
remained abroad beyond twelve months, he lost his franchise, unless 
uideed he " kept candle" and paid "Scott and Lott,"— terms to imply 
his residence was occupied by some of his family. Have we moderns 
bettered the cautious policy of our ancestors, in opening our arms to 
every " new comer?" We tariff goods, but put no restraint on men, 
even if competitors ! 

In 1683, it was decreed that all flour should be bolted, packed and 
inspected in New York city. This was necessary then for the reputa- 
tion of the port in its foreign shipments. Besides, the practice ol 
bolting as now done at mills by water power, was unknown. In pri- 
mitive days the " bolting business" was a great concern by horsr 
power, both in New York and Philadelphia. 

The Governor and his council grant to the city, the dock and bridge, 
provided it be well kept and cleaned ; if rrot, it shall forfeit it ; — but 
no duty shall be paid upon the bridge as " bridge money." 

In 1683, the city bounds and wards are prescribed along certain 
named streets. The third or east ward was bounded "along the wall'' 
and " againe with all the houses in the Smith fly and without the gato 
on the south side of the fresh water." Meaning in the above, " the 
wall" of palisades along Wall street ; and by the " fresh water," the 
Kolck, or Collect Fresh Water. 

In 1683, a committee which had been appointed to collect ancient 
records respecting the city privileges of former times, make their re- 
port thereon, and therein name the " City Hall and Yards," " Market 
house," and " Ferry house." It says, Wm. Merritt had offered " for 
the ferry to Long Island" the sum of £20 per annum for 20 years, to 
ri-rect sheds, to keep two boats for cattle and horses, and also two boats 



14 Ancient Memonalg. 

for passcng-crs. The ferriage for the former to be 6d. a head, and for 
the latter Id. Think of this ye present four cent. " labor saving''* 
steam boats ! — Ye shun the Dutchman's penni; toil, but raise the price ! 

A committee, in 1683, report the use of 6000 stockadoes of 12 feet 
long, at a cost of £24, used for the repair of the wharf — i. e. at the 
dock. 

They ascertain the vessels and boats of the port, enroled by their 
names, to be as follows : — 3 barques, 3 brigantines, 26 sloops, and 46 
open boats. Some of their names are rare enough. 

An ordinance of 1683, orders, that "no youthes, maydes, or other 
persons, may meete together on the Lord's Day for sporte or play," un- 
der a fine of Is. No public houses may keep open door or give en- 
tertainment then, except to strangers, under a fine of 10s. Not more 
than four Indian or Negro slaves may assemble together ; and at no 
tinie may they be allowed to bear any fire arms, — this under a fine of 
6s. to their owners. 

A city Surveyor " shall regulate the manner of each building on 
each street, (even crooked and " up and down" as it then was !) so that 
vmformity (mark this !) may be preserved." Are we then to presume 
they had no scheme or system, who now complain of " winding nar- 
row streets !" &c. 

In 1683, markets were appointed to be held tlircc times a week, and 
to be opened and slmt by ringing the bells. Cord wood, under the 
name of "Stick wood," is regulated at the length of four feet. 

A Haven master is appointed to regulate the vessels in the mole, 
(the same before called the Dock) and is to collect the dock and 
bridge money. 

A part of the slaughter house, (before appointed) by the Fly, is ap- 
pointed in 1683, to be a powder house, and its owner, Garrett John- 
son is made the first keeper, at Is. 6d. a brl. — Of course then locating 
it at the Vly, as far enough beyond the verge of population, to allow of 
" a blow up !" 

In 1683, several streets therein named are ordered to be paved by 
the owners concerned, and directs they shall pluck up and barricade 
"before their doors where needful to keep up the earth. 

In 1684, the city requests from the King's government, the cession 
of all vacant land, the Ferry, City Ilall, Dock and Bridge. 

An order of King James, is recognized and recorded in 1685, pro- 
hibiting all trade from New York colony " with the East Indies," that 
being even then a claimed " privilege of the company of merchants 



Ancient Memorials, \o 

ol' London." This proscribed East India commerco had more import 
than meets the eye, for it virtually meant to prohibit trade (unless by 
special grant) with the West Indies ! 

In 1G85, the Jews of New York, petition to be allowed the public 
exercise of their religion, and are refused on the ground that " none 
are allowed by act of assembly, so to worship, but such as profess u. 
faith in Christ." Experience has since proved that we are no where 
injured by a more liberal and free toleration. Laws " may bind tlui 
body down, but can't restrain the flights the spirit takes !" 

In 1686, a conmiittee is appointed to inspect what vacant land they 
find belonging to Arien Cornelissen ; and this entry is rendered curious 
by a recorded grant of 1687, preserved in the records of the office of 
G. N. Blocker, Esq. the City Comptroler, to this cflect, saying — Sixteen 
acres of the Basse Bowery (by which I understand, low or meadow 
farm) is hereby granted unto Arien Cornelissen for the consideration 
of one fat capon a year ! Who now can tell the value of that land 
for that small and peculiar compensation ! 

In 1691, it is ordered that there shall be but one butcher's shambles 
kept, and that to be on the green, before the fort. The next year 
another (place for shambles I presume) is allowed under the trees, by 
the Slip. At same time, it is ordered that fish (as at a market) be 
sold at the Dock, over against the City Hall. Thus referring to the 
Hall, as then known on Pearl street, at the head of Coenties Slip — 
under which was also a prison. 

The Clerk of the Mayor's Court, in 1691, is charged to inquire 
after, and to collect and preserve the books and papers of the city, 
and to keep them safely with an inventory thereof. May not this re- 
cord present an index hand to guide to some discovery of such histo- 
rical rarities ! 

The Mayor rents a shop or shops in the Market house. One John 
Ellison is named as paying £3 for such a shop. 

In 1691, it is ordered that the inhabitants by the water side, "from 
the City Hall to the Slip," are to help build the wharf to run out be- 
fore their lotts, and every male Negro in the city, is to help thereat 
with one day's work. 

The hucksters of that day, even as now, were very troublesome in 
forestalling the market, and laws were made to restrain them. 

The bakers, too, had their ordeal to pass, and the regulation and 
limit of bread-loaves is often under the notice of the Council. 



10 Aiicient Memorials. 

Such arc the amusing, as well as instructive incidents of the an- 
cient days in New York, from which "the thinking bard" may "cull 
his pictur'd stores." Through such mazes, down " hoar antiquity," 

" The eye explores the feats of elder days !" 
It may well encourage to further research to know the fact, that I con- 
sidered myself as gleaning from that first volume, all in the few pre- 
ceding pages which I deemed the proper material for the amusements 
of history. If we would make the incidents of the olden time fa- 
miliar and popular, by seizing on the affections and stirring the feel- 
ings of modern generations, we must first delight them with the co- 
mic of history, and afterwards win them to graver researches. They 
who cater for such appetites, should always consider that there is a 
natural passion for the marvellous in every breast. — And that every 
writer may be sure of his reader, who limits his selections to facts, 
xvhich mark the extremes of our relative existence, or to objects " on 
which imagination can delight to be detained." 

But there are means of inquiry exclusive of memorials and records 
— such as the recollections and observations of living witnesses, re- 
specting " Men and Manners " of other days, and of things gone 
down to oblivion. These they retain with a lively impression, be- 
cause of their original interest to themselves ; and for that reason they 
are generally of such cast of character as to afford the most gratify- 
ing contemplations to those who seek them. 

From a lively sense of this fact, I have been most sedulous to make 
my researches among the living chronicles, just waning to their final 
exit. These can be consulted only now, or never ! I did what I did 
hastily, for time was precious to me also ;— but the following facts are 
evidences that congenial minds of more leisure, could yet effect much 
more in the same way, if ardently set upon the same pursuit. But, 
who will try it ? 

From such materials, we may hope to make provisions for future 
works of poetry, painting and romance. It is the raw material to be 
elaborated into fancy tales and fancy characters, by the Irvings and 
Coopers of our country. By such means, we generate the ideal pre- 
sence and raise an imagery to entertain and aid the mind. We raisB 
stories, wherein — 

" Sweet fiction and sweet truth alike prevail" 



LOCAL CHANGES AND LOCAL FACTS. 

" To note and to observe." 

Thomas Storms, Esq., aged 81, told me of his digging out the trunk 
of a walnut tree, at nine feet depth, at his house at the Coenties Slip, 
near Pearl street. 

He well remembered in early life, to have seen a natural spring of 
fine fresh water at the fort, at a position a little north-west of Hone's 
house. There was also a fresh water well once at N. Prime's house, 
near the Battery. 

He saw the old fort cut down about the year 1788 — 9, when they 
found beneath the vault of the ancient Dutch church once there, the 
leaden coffins of Lord Bellermont and lady. Vansant and JancAvay 
were charged to remove them to St. Paul's church. 

He saw a linseed oil factory, worked with wind sails, on a high hill 
of woods, about quarter of a mile north-cast of the Kolck. This 
was about the year 1790. 

About same time he saw a beautiful meadow and flourishing grass 
cut on the declining hill, back of the City Hall, towards the Kolck. 

The " Tea Water Fountain," out by Stuyvesant Field, is now very 
good and was in great repute formerly. The region of country, near 
the prison, on East River, has now excellent water. There " Knapp" 
gets his " spring water" for the city supply. 

The mother of Dr. Hosack's present wife, if now alive, would be 
about eighty-six years of age, and she said she well remembered when 
the locality of the present St. Paul's church, was a wheat field. 

She also spoke of her remembrance of a " ferry house" in Broad 
street, up above " Exchange place," (then Garden alley) to which 
place the Indians used to come and set down in the street, near there, 
and make and sell baskets. 



The place called " Canvas Town," was made after the great fire in 
1776. It lay towards the East River, and from Broad street to White- 
hall street. It was so called from the temporary construction of the 
houses and their being generally covered with canvass instead of roofs. 
Very lewd and dissolute persons generally were their tenants, and gave 
them their notoriety and fame. 

While the old fort existed, before the revolution, it contained within 
C 



18 Local Changes and Local Facts. 

its bounds the mansion of the Governors (military chieftains) and their 
gardens. There, Governors Dunmore, Tryon, &c. dwelt. New York 
was a military station, and as such, it had always a regiment of foot 
and a company of artillery— also a guard ship in the bay. 

Mr. Abram Brower, aged seventy-five, informed me that the lote 
fronting the Vly Market, were originally sold out by the city corpora- 
tion, at only one dollar the foot. 

He said the market in Broadway, [the Oswego, I presume] was oner 
leased to a Mr. Crosby, for only 2O3. for seven years ! 

He remembered when only horse boats ferried from Brooklyn, with 
only two men to row it, in which service they sometimes drove towards 
Governors' Island, and employed a whole hour. Only one feity was 
used on the North River side, and then not to go across to Jersey city 
as now, but down to Blazing Star, Those who then came from Bergen, 
&c. used the country boats. 

He said the Dutch yachts (then so called) were from one to two 
weeks in a voyage to Hudson and Albany. They came to, usually 
every night, " slow and sure." Then all on board spoke the Dutch 
language. [The Mayor, Thomas Willet, in 1665, informs the corpo- 
ration " he intemls for Albania with the first opportunity, and prays its 
leave of absence."] 

The last Dutch school master was Vanbombe^er, he kept his school 
till after the revolution, Mr. Brower himself went to Dutch school, 
to his grand-father, Abram Delanoye (a French Hugonot, via Holland) 
who kept his school in Gourtlandt street. 

The first Methodist preaching in New York, was at a house in Wil- 
liam street, then a rigging loft. There Embury first preached ; and 
being a carpenter, he made his own pulpit, — a true puritan charac- 
teristic ! 

Mr. Brower, when a boy, never heard of " Greenwich ;" the name 
was not even known ; but the Dutch when they spoke of the place, 
called it Shawbackanicka— an Indian name as he supposed. "Green- 
wich street" was of course unknown. 

He knew of no daily Gazettes until after the revolution. Weyman 
and Gaine had each a weekly one, corresponding to their limited 
wants and knowledge. 

He saw Andrews hanging in gibbets, for piracy ; — he was hung long 
in irons, just above the Washington Market, and was then taken to 
Gibbet Island and suspended there ;— year 1769. 



jLocal Changes and Local Facts, i& 

i notice such changes as the following : — 

Maiden lane is greatly altered for the better ; formerly, that street 
was much lower near its junction with Pearl street; it was much nar- 
rower and had no seperate foot pavement; its gutter ran down the 
middle of the street— Where the lofty triangular store of Watson is 
seen up said street, was a low sooty blacksmith shop, Olstein's ; ( a ra- 
rity now in the sight of passing citizens) and near it a cluster of low 
wooden buildijigs. 

In Pearl, below Maiden lane, I have seen proof positive of the pri" 
mitive river margin there ; several of the cellars and shallow ones too, 
had water in them from that original cause. 

I perceive that Duane street, from Broadway, is greatly filled up; 
from one and a half to two stones there, is made ground ;— the south 
corner of Duane street, at Broadway, is sixteen feet filled up, and the 
same I am told m Broadway. South of this, was originally a hill de- 
scending northward. 

Where Leonard street traverses the Broadway and descends a hill to 
the Collect, was well remembered an orchard, but a few years ago. 
Some of the Collect was still open fourteen or fifteen years ago (it is 
said) and was skated upon. 

The original Collect main spring still exists on Leonard street, 
having a house now over it, lettered " Supply Engine." 

The Kolck waters still ooze through the new made filled-in ground, 
into the cellars, especially in wet seasons. 

When they dug out some of the Kolck ground, some used the earth 
as turf, thinking it had that quality. 

The Collect street runs through the leading line or centre of the 
old Kolck channel, and has under its pavement a sewer to lead off the 
water. This street is the thoroughfare of so much water, as to make 
it necessary to incline this street deeply to the middle as a deep gutter- 
way. Indeed so much water, " deep and broad," flows along it like a 
sullied brook, that it might be well called Brook street ; helped as the 
idea is, by the numerous foot-planks, as miniature bridges, laid across 
It at intervals for the convenience of foot passengers. 

About the year 1784-5, property near New York, w^nt down greatly; 
few or none had money to buy with. About the year 1785-6, Alder- 
man William Bayard wished to raise cash by selling his farm of one 
hundred and fifty acres, on the western side of Broadway, and near the 
city. He deviged the scheme of oflfering them in lots of twenty-five 



20 Local Changes and Local FacJ.i. 

by one hundred feet — only twenty-five dollars was bid, and but few ol 
them were sold. It was well for him ; for very soon after, feelings and 
opinions changed, and they who had bought for twenty-five dollars, 
sold out for one hundred dollars ; and then, the impulse being given, 
the progressive rise has had no end ! 

A kinsman, G. T. tells me that the out lots of the city, " went up" 
about twenty-one years ago, greatly, and staid up long, till about four 
years ago, (from the circumstances of trade, &c.) they began to fall 
much, and soon after, to rise again more than ever. He bought lots 
four years ago at the rate of $850, which would now bring him $1800- 
Twenty-one years ago he bouglrt lots for $2000 reluctantly, which he 
in six months after sold for $4000. I'hat purchaser kept it till four 
years ago at its minimum price, and sold it for $2000 ! Some of his 
property, which five years ago he would have freely sold for $2000, 
would now be valued at $12,000.* This is however a rare circum- 
stance, having had the accident of attaining to much front along the 
newly extended Broadway. 

The Stuyvesants, Rutgers, Delancys, and others, have attained to 
great riches, by the rapid and unexpected growth of New York ; — vo- 
raciously calling on such " out-town" landlords, for their farms at any 
price ! Old Mr. .Taneway who died lately, at four score, saw his few- 
acres, near the Chatham street and Collect, grow in his long life and 
possession, from almost nothing to a great estate. "While they slum- 
bered and slept," their fortunes advanced without their effort or skill. 
Much the fact impresses the recollection of " Ecclesiasticus," he saith, 
" There is one that laboreth and taketh pains and maketh haste, and 
is so much the more behind, (as many poor bankrupts know) and there 
is another that is slow and hath need of help, wanting ability, yet he 
is set up from his low estate !" 

The head of Chatham street, where it joins the Bowery road, 
although now a hill, has been cut down in modern times full twelve 
feet. From this point, following the line of Division street and thence 
down to the river, on the line of Catharine street, was formerly Col. 
Kutger's farm ; — it was oi^ened as city lots about thirty-five to thirty- 
eight years ago, as told to me, by G. Taylor. 

I found the once celebrated " Tea Water Pump," long covered up 
and disused — again in use, but unknown ; — in the liquor store of u 
Mr. Fagan, 126 Chatham street, I drank of it to revive recollections. 

* Since writing:, the estate at the corner of Broadway and Maiden lane, sold at 
auy?tion for $ 27,600, whiclx is equal to twv^iity-two dollars thB souare foot I 



Local Changes and Local Facts. 2t 

I have been surprised to find, in so magnificent a city, such a mean 
collection of hovels, of feeble wooden fabric as I see in the rear of the 
^reat City Hall and the stately houses along Chamber street ; they 
iay on the line of Cross street, descending a present hill, formerly 
much higher and more rugged, having only foot paths for clambering 
boys. The mean houses at the foot of the hill or street, are now half 
burried in earth, by the raising of the street, fully ten feet; up to this 
neighborhood, came once the little Collect ; it forms the site gene- 
rally of what was formerly Janeway's little farm. 

The Magazine street, here, (because of the powder house once close 
by) now named Pearl street, in continuation, as it runs towards the 
Hospital on Broadway, shows I think, strong marks of having bce» 
at the period of the revolution, the utmost verge of city hopes ! The 
range of Beekman street and Vesey street hatl once bounded their ex- 
pectations, and lastly they extended to the natural lines of Pearl street, 
Ds it crosses the city, and was there formed at the foot of the hills, on 
its southern side. Before the Magazine street was formed, it was so 
essentially the imaginary line, which bounded the Police of Justice, 
<&c. that it was usual to designate the limits by the vague name of 
" the Fresh Water" side of the city. Thus referring to the great 
Kolck and its course of marshes, as seperating all beyond in a tetra 
incognit<B ! 

The houses No. 13 and 15, on Elm street, near the corner of Duane 
street, are singular evidences of modern innovation. They were ori- 
ginally good two story houses, and are now filled up in Elin street^ 
nearly to their roofs ! 

In the rear of No. 48 Frankford street, is now a very ancient tan- 
yard. This street, down to Ferry street, and from William streei 
over to Jacob's street, is the region of what was formerly tan yards, 
and originally Beekman's swamp. An old man near here, said, he 
remembered to have shot ducks here formerly; — the father of another, 
had told him, he often gathered huckleberries about here ; and fifty to 
sixty years ago, it was common to exercise here in skating. 

Mr. Lydigg told me, that when the tanneries about here accumu- 
lated great hills of tan, it was the material for the fortifications of the 
boys, (preparing for the revolution, by sham fights !) Here great tan re- 
doubts, piked with cow horns, were defended bravely by the Pearl 
street and Fly boys, against the invading urchins from Broadway. 
Sometimes the open field was resorted to on the present Park, where 
naiifsilcB of thwacking force were dealt with vigorous arm. 



22 Local Changes and Local Facts, 

Mr. Jacob Tabele, aged eighty-seven, said that in his early days he 
heard much speaking of Dutch among the people and along the streets. 
He saw no lamps in the streets, when a boy. 

The powder house he remembered. — A powder house, called the 
Magazine, on a rising ground, (a kind of island) at the Collect. 

In Nicliolas Bayard's woods, he often shot numerous pigeons. 

He remembered they used to burn lime from oyster shells, on the 
Park commons. This agrees with what Mr. Brower said, who im- 
puted the name of collect to the low Dutch, for burnt lime — but it is 
more probable hoick was the true name, from its meaning " fresh wa- 
ter" there. 

He remembered sliip yards, between Beekman's and Burling's 
Slip. 

There were once some small houses of wood, where is now St. 
Paul's church. 

He has seen liver water flow through the sewer up the Maiden lane 
as high as Olstein's blacksmith shop on the triangular square. 

There was a very high hill, once called " Bayard's Mount," on 
which, the Americans built a fort, and called it Bunker Hill, in the 
time of the revolution, — now all cut down. It stood on present Grand 
street, a little east of Centre market. 

He remembered the " ferry house," so called, high up Broad street 
—had heard the creek once run up there* The sign was a boat with 
iron oars. It was an Inn with such a sign in his time. 

He remembered seeing the block houses in a line of palisades, 
quite across the island — they went in a line from the back of Cham- 
bers street. They were of logs of about one story high. They being 
empty, were often used by Indians who made and sold baskets, &c. 
there. So said Ebbets, also. 

He remembered when boats could freely pass along the space, now 
occupied by large trees on the Battery ground. 

He well remembered the ancient City Hall, (Stadt Huys) at the 

head of Coenties Slip ;* — said he often heard it had been used as a 

'fort in Leister's civil war, against the real fort at the Battery. He 

had often seen a ball, shot at it, and which was left in the side wall of 

the house, (pulled down by Tunis Quick, in 1827) on the south-west 

* In all this, lie referred to the house built in 1701, on the site of the original 
City Hall. The people confounding as one tlie original and the successor. The 
latter only lately taken down. 



Local Changes and Local Facts. 28 

corner of Pearl and Coenties Slip. That ball is now in the jwssession 
of Dr. Mitchell, as a relic. 

There wore market houses at every one of the slips, in his time ;— 
the one at the foot of Wall street, nigh the Tontine, was called th? 
Meal Market. 

Said he often heard of Lindley Murray, (the grammarian) having 
leaped across Barling's Slip, (about twenty-one feet) with a pair of 
fowls in his hands, as he came from market. He believed it, and 
others spoke of it to me as true, and that his lameness afterwards was 
imputed to his efforts. 

He, Mr. Tabcle, said there were but few streets paved. Broadway 
and other streets had all their gutter ways in the middle. 

He remembered the Oswego Market in Broadway, opposite to li* 
berty street. When demolished, another was placed at west end of 
Maiden lane. 

Tlie Bear Market was the only one on the North River side. It 
took its name from the fact of the first meat ever sold in it, having; 
been bear meat, killed as the bear was swimming from the neighborhood 
of Bergen shore. 

William street, from John street, northwards, used to be called 
Horse and Cart street, from an Inn near there having such a sign. 

Mr. Thoburn, the seedman, told me that when they were digging 
in Broadway to lay the Manhattan pipes, they came to the posts of the 
City Gate once at Wall street. 

He also read to me, from his deed of the Quaker meeting house, 
which he owns and uses as his rare seed store, as being located " out- 
side of the north side of the wall of the city :" Thus referring to the 
wall once along " Wall street." 

He also showed me a rarity, in the frst Directory ever made for 
New York— say in the year 1786. The very names of that day, are 
curious ;— so few then, who were foreigners. Such was the novelty 
or uselessness of a Directory then, when every man knew his neigh= 
bor, that no other was attempted till the year 1793;— that one Mr. 
Thoburn also possesses. 

Mr. Thoburn's seed house is a curiosity itself— a rare conception 
on his part; and presenting to the eye of a walking passenger along 
the streets, a little rm in urbe. 

An ancient house at the corner of Beaver lane and Broadway, of 



24 Local Changes and Local Facts. 

original two stories high, has all its cellar wall exposed ovt of grountl, 
thus showing the cutting down of Broadway six to eight feet at least. 
If we keep the idea of that elevation, we may form probably a just 
idea of the primitive elevation of the ground whereon the fort stood ; 
aged men have told me tliey thought the highest elevation of the pa- 
rapet walls was about equal to the walls of present houses near there. 

Mr. Daniel J. Ebbets, aged seventy-six, who has been a very obser- 
vant youth and is now an intelligent gentleman of lively mind, has 
helped me to many facts. 

He says, the present Bowling Green was once an oblong square and 
was well surrounded with large locust trees. 

As late as the year 1787, he had assisted to draw a seine on the 
beach, where runs the present Greenwich street — say from Beaver 
lane to Battery ;— there they caught many fish and much of herring . 
— the beach was beautiful ; — there boys and horses were wont to bathe 
and sport in the wave. A street to be there., never entered the head 
of the sportive youth! A large rock (see it on Lyne's map) stood out 
in the middle of present Greenwich street, then in the water, on 
which was a kind of rude summer house, much to the mind and fancy 
of the boys. " Oh ! rare days of sportive fun !" 

Then Mr. Ebbets saw no commerce nor vessels along the NortJi 
River side ;— the Albany sloops all went round to East River, and all 
their sailors talked Dutch at the wharves ;— the carmen too, generally 
talked Dutch, and all understood it enough for their business. 

He was familiar with the plot of the old fort, and described it thus : 
first the green bank, which was sloping, was about fourteen feet high, 
on which was erected a wall of about twenty feet additional height. 
An old linden and two apple trees on the city side, were as high as the 
walls. Some barracks lay along the line of State street. 

The Broadway, in 1772, extended only as high as the Hospital.— 
Where the Hospital is, was " Rutger's orchard." 

There was a rope walk, (Vanpeltz's) a little north of Courtlandt 
street, running from Broadway to the North River. All the old deeds 
on north side of Courtlandt street, speak of fifteen feet of the said 
walk, as in their lots. Another, ran parallel to it from vis a vis the 
present Bridewell prison ; and in its place, or near it, was formerly a 
range of British barracks ; — [as I think since, in the line of the pre- 
sent Scudder's Museum.] 

The "brick meeting," built in 1764, on Beekman street, near 



Local Chaiiges and Local Facts. ?5 

Chatiiam street, was then said to be in popular parlance, in " the 
fields." There, Whitefield >vas heard to preach. 

Back of the above mentioned barracks, and also behind the present 
jail, was a hiffh hill, and on its descent a Negro burying ground, and 
thence further down, it was a fine meadow. 

The British army gave the name of " the Mall," to their parade 
ground fronting the Trinity church. 

"^ There were very fine Sun fish and Roach fish, caught in the Collect 
Tond. 

The City Hall at the head of Broad street, (afterwards the Congress 
Hall) besides holding the courts, was also a prison. In front of it on 
the head of Broad street, he remembered seeing there a whipping 
post, and pillory, and stocks. He has seen them lead the culprits 
round the town, whipping them at the cart tail. They also introduced 
the wooden horse as a punishment. The horse was put into the cart- 
body and the criminal set thereon. Mary Price having been the first 
who had the infamous distinction, caused the horse ever after to be 
called, " the horse of Mary Price 1" 

So recently has a part of Water street been filled up, that he could 
now lead to the spot there, where could be found the body of a vessel 
deep under present ground. 

He verified the fact in Moulton's book, of a canal (or channel) of 
water running out of the present Beaver street, into the Broad street 
canal, in primitive times. He said that half way between Broad 
street and New street, in Beaver street, there had been dug up two 
bars of lead, evidently dropped over-board from some boat. At same 
place, was a cedar post, upright, having on it the lines of the ropes 
of boats once tied to it. 

The Mineral Spring, No. 8 Jacob's street, quaintly enough called 
"Jacob's Well," is a real curiosity, whether regarded either as an il- 
lusion, or as a reality. The enterprise was bold to bore there one 
hundred and thirty feet, and the result is said to be that they found a 
spring, having the properties of the Saratoga and Congress waters. 
Some°distrust it, but the proprietors say, twenty.five thousand persons 
used it last year. It is a part of Beekman's swamp. 

The house in Peck's Slip, north side, a yellow frame, No. 7, was 
pointed out to me by an aged person, as being in his youth, the nearest 
D 



26 Local Changes and Local Facts. 

house to the river — which was then so near, he could jump into the 
river then ranging along Water street, near to it. He said also, that 
" Walton house," close by on Pearl street, No. 324, had its garden in its 
rear, quite down to the river. He said, the hill called Peck's Hill, 
from Walton house to the Franklin Bank, (at the union of Cherry and 
Pearl streets) was originally a much higher hill. 

1 went out to the Dry Dock and Steam Mill, for sawing, &c. on 
the river margin of " Stuy vesant's Swamp," or flats. It is a very 
wide extended wet flat, over which, tides used to overflow — now 
sluiced out. Some low grass meadows appear ; but generally it is a 
waste, coming now into incalculable value to that- family as building 
lots. The adjacent hills furnish abundance of coarse sand and gravel 
material for filling up, which is now busily pursued in the lines of the 
intended streets. Some of the ancient oaks are scattered around and 
many stumps showing the recent woods about here, wherever not 
submerged in water. At the point or hook, a little beyond the Dry 
Dock, I see a small mount on which in the revolution, was a small 
redoubt, near which lay the King Fisher sloop of war. 

I observe great digging down of hills and removals of earth, going 
on, all about the Stuyvesant Mansion house and farm. Mr. Nichohis 

S tells me they often came to Indian graves, known as such, by 

having oyster shells interred with the bones and sometimes some frag- 
ments of frail pottery. 

Just beyond "Peter's Field" and mansion, extending up to the 
Fever Hospital, at Bellevue, is a great bend or bay, which is now all 
filling up with innumerable loads of earth from the adjacent high 
grounds, the whole having a long wharf in front, calculated to extend 
down to the Dry Dock, all of which is to be laid out in streets and 
city lots. It is an immense and spirited undertaking, affording con- 
stant business for the laboring poor. 

Canal street is a grand undertaking, effecting a great benefit, by 
draining through a great sewer the waters which once passed by the 
former canal to the collect. The street is broad and the houses gen- 
teel ; but as this region of ground was once swampy, it is liable now 
to have wet or damp cellars throughout the range of Lispenard's Swamp 
to the northward, and from Lafayette Theatre, (which is laid on piles) 
down to the North River. Chapel street which runs southward from 
Canal street, follows the line of a former water course (connecting 
with the canal formerly and now by a sewer) quite down to Leonard 
street, has been all made ground, fiUed^in over the sewer. 



Local Changes and Local Facts. 2-7 

From the inlets to those sewers is emitted a strong offensive smell 
of filth and salt water, only however perceptible at the apertures and 
never known to have any deleterious effect on health. 

Mr. Wilke, President of the Bank, told me he once stood ccntinel 
as a volunteer on the sand beach, close to the present old sugar house 
still standing nearly in the rear of the present City Hotel, on Broad- 
way. Thus proving, what I had before heard from Mr, Swords and 
others, that at the rear of Trinity church yard, a little beyond where 
Lumber street is now, the boys used to swim. 

Mr. Wilke also told me he knew the parties who in 1780, fought a 
duel in the rear of the hospital ground. 

In visiting Thomas Rammey, a good chronicle, though only sixty- 
six years of age, I learned from himself and wife, several facts, to wit ; 

Rammey had lived in Cross street — while there, he dug up remains 
of the old Magazine, and he could see evidence that water sometimes 
had enclosed it, [as Lyne's ancient map had shown.] His mother-in- 
law, if alive, would be one hundred and six years of age. She often 
talked of the block houses and palisades across tlie city, behind pre- 
sent City Hall ; — said, the Indians occupied many places outside of 
their line, and used there to make baskets, ladles, &cc. for sale. Many 
of them hutted outside the present Hospital, towards the North River. 

She well remembered they were used at times in high waters, to 
have a ferry boat to cross the people in Chatham street, over where it 
crosses Pearl street — where it is still low ground. Lyne's map of 
1729, marks this same place with a bridge. 

She had a recollection of the wife of Gov. Stuyvesant, and used to 
go out to his farm near the flats, and there see numerous fish caught. 

She remembered and spoke much of the Negro Plot — said it made 
terrible agitation — saw the Negroes hung back of the site of the pre- 
sent jail, in the Park. A wind mill once stood near there. 

The Jews' burying-ground was up Chatham street, on a hill, where 
is now the Tradesman's Bank. 

She said, the water once run from the collect, both ways — i. e. 
to East River as well as to North River. Sometimes the salt water 
came up to it from the North River in the winters and raised the ice. 

In her time, the strand or beach on the East River, was along pre- 
sent Pearl street, generally ; and at the corner of Pearl street and 
Maiden lane, there dwelt her brother-in-law, who used to keep his 
boat tied to his stoop to ferry him off by watei.. 



28 Local Changed and Local Faces, 

She said, Maiden lane got its name from the practice of women, tiie 
vounffer part, generally going out there to bleach their family linen : 
nil of which was then made at home. It had a fine creek or brook, 
and was headed by a good spring. Sometime afterwards, minw 
springs remained for a time in cellars there, and one was in Cuyler's 
house, till modern times. The hills adjacent, clothed in fine grasn 
sloped gradually to the line of Maiden lane, and there she bleached 
with many others. 

She said, Broadway went no higher tiian St. Paul's church. 

She said, " Chapel Hill," where is now Dr. Milnor's church, on 
Beekman street, was a very high mount and steep, from which the boys 
with sleds, used to slide down on the snow, quite to the swamp below. 
With this, agrees the fact told me by Mr. James Bogert, that his father 
in latter times, used to ride up to it as a high apple orchard. 

Mr. Rammey said, that behind the City Hall, once stood an old 
Alms house, built in 1710, and taken down about the year 1793 ;— 
perhaps the burials behind it gave rise to the remark made to me by 
Dr. Francis, that along the line of Chamber street, are many graves. 

He says he used to be told that the real " ferry house" on Broad 
street, was at the north-east corner of Garden street, (now Exchange 
place) and is lately taken down ; [and so several others have also sug- 
gested to me] and that the other, (No. 19) a little higher up, (the 
north end of the Custom house store) was only a second Inn, having a 
ferry boat sign, either in opposition or to perpetuate the other. He 
said, the boats were flat bottomed and used to come from Jersey. To 
me, I confess it seems to have been a singular location for a ferry ; but 
as the tradition is so general and concurrent, I incline to think it was 
so called from its being a resort of country boats coming there to find 
a central place for their sales. I have heard the names of certain 
present rich families, whose ancestors were said to come there with 
oysters. 

A man actually born in the old ferry house, at the corner, and who 
dwelt there forty years, thus described it as a very low one story house, 
with very high and steep pediment roof; — its front on Broad street ; — 
its side along Garden alley, had two dormer windows in the roof, much 
above the plate ;— shingle roof covered with moss : one hundred years 
probably of age ;— had an iron boat and oars and anchor for a sign ; — 
the " Governor's house" adjoined it in the alley. An old lady close by 
'Confirmed all this. A picture of the whole scene is annextd. 



Local Changes and Local Fads. '.'9 

■ Mr. David Grim, an aged citizen to whom we ore indebted for much 
valuable data, given to the historical society, has estimated in detail 
the houses of the city in 1744, to have been 1141 in number — of 
which only 129 houses were on the west side of the Broadway, to the 
North River inclusive : Thus evidencing fully, that the tide of popu- 
lation very greatly inclined to the East River. 

Mrs. Myers, the daughter of said D. Grim, said she had seen the 
British barracks of wood, enclosed by a high fence. It extended from 
Broadway to Chatham street, along present Chamber street, exactly 
where is now the Museum. It had a gate at each end ; — the one by 
Chatham street, was called " Tryon's Gate," from which we have de- 
rived since there, the name of " Tryon's Row." 

About the year 1788, the whole of the ancient fort, near the site of 
the present Battery, was all taken down and levelled under the direc- 
tion of JNIr. J. Pintard (now Secretary of Insurance Office) and Mr. 
Janeway (or Janny) as City Commissioners. The design was to pre- 
pare the site to erect thereon a house for General Washington as Pre- 
sident of the United States, but as the Congress removed to Philadel- 
phia, he never occupied it, and it therefore became the " Governor's 
house," in the person of Governor Clinton. 

In taking down the ancient Dutch chapel vault, they came to re- 
mains of Lord and Lady Bcllermont, in leaden coffins, known by fa- 
mily Escutcheon, and inscriptions in silver plates. These coffins with 
several bones of others, were taken by Mr. Pintard, who told me, to 
St. Paul's church ground, where they all rest now in one common 
grave without any notice above ground of " storied urn or animated 
bust !"* I am chagrined to say, that Mr. P. told me the silver plates 
were taken by his colleague for his own, or for a museum — I do not 
remember which — but afterwards with bad taste, converted into spoons ! 
A story much like this, is told of the use made of the coffin plates of 
Governor Paulus Vanderbrecke and wife, placed first in G. Baker's 
Museum, and afterwards to Tamany Hall. Lord Bellermont died in 
1701. 

This brief notice of the once renowned dead, so soon divested of 
sculptured fame, leads me to the notice of some other cases where the 
sculpturor's hand could not give even brief existence to once mighty 



* They rest about sixty feet in a straight line west from the stccplo — so says 
."^Ir. P. "The red silk ve!v«t on the top of the coffins, was entire ! 



so Local Changes and Local Facts. 

names. I refer to the King's equestrian statue of lead in the centre 
of the Bowling Green, and to Pitt's marble statue in Wall street, 
centre of William street. Both are gone, and scarcely may you learn 
the history of their abduction. So frail is human glory ! 

The latter I found after much inquiry and search in the Arsenal 
yard on the site of the collect. It had before been to Bridewell yatd. 
The statue is of fine marble and fine execution, in a Roman toga, and 
showing the roll of Magna Charta; but it is decapitated, and without 
hands — in short, a sorry relic ! Our patriot fathers of the revolution, 
when they erected it, swore it should be as eternal as " enduring 
marble ;" — they idolized the man as their British champion, 
" In freedom's cause with generous warmth inspired." 

But the fact was, while the British army occupied New York, their 
champion lost his head on some unknown occasion, and has never since 
been heard of! The statue itself was taken down soon after the 
peace, both as an inconvenience in the street, so narrow there in the 
busy mart, and also as a deformity. Alexander M'Cormick, Esq. who 
dwelt near the statue, told me it disappeared the night of St. Andrew, 
when as it was whispered, some British officers who had been at their 
revels, struck it off in revelry, rather than in spite. No inquisition 
was made for it at the time — one hand had before been struck oft', it 
was supposed, by boys. A story was told among some Whigs, that the 
Tories had struck oft' the head in retaliation for the alleged insult 
off'ered to the King, by drawing his statue along the street, to melt it 
into bullets for the war. My friend John Baylie was present in April, 
'76, and saw the degrading spectacle. He saw no decent people pre. 
gent ; — a great majority were shouting boys. The insult, if so meant, 
was to the dead, as the statue was of George the 2d—" our most 
gracious King !" 

" Then boast not honors. Sculpture can bestow. 
Short lived renown I" 
[Querie : should not the Society of Artists possess and repair such a 
piece of art as Pitts' statue ?] 

Before the revolution and even some time afterwards, William street 
was the great mart for dry good sales and chiefly from Maiden lane up 
to Pearl street. It was the proper Bond street too for the beaux and 
shopping belles. Now Broadway has its turn ! 

Pearl street then had no stores, but it was the place of good dwell- 
ings ;— then Broadway had no stores or business, and had but a few 
acattered houses about the region of the new City Hall. 



Local Changes arid Local Facts. 31 

Before the revolution the only road out of town, was by the Bowery 
road, and was once called " the hijjh road to Boston." 
The Bowling Green was before called " the Parade." 
Mr. Thomas Swords, aged sixty-six, told me he remembered to have 
seen the remains of an old redoubt, by Grace and Lumber street, 
(corner) the same which was presumed once to have terminated the 
northern line of the city, along Wall street ;— it was a hill there ; — 
there American prisoners were buried in time of the revolution ; and 
he has seen coffins there in the wasting banks of the mount ; — at the 
foot of it, was the beach along the North River. 

The grand-father of Mr. James Bogert, told him oyster vessels used 
to come up Broad street to sell them ; and in later times, water used 
to enter cellars along that street, from the canal. 

David Grim, in his very interesting topographical draft of the city 
as it was in 1742-4, (done by him when seventy-six years of age, in 
the year 1813) is a highly useful relic and gift of the olden time. 
Ilis generous attention to posterity in that gift to the Historical Soci- 
ety, is beyond all praise, as a work in itself sui generis, and not to be 
replaced by any other data. He was a chronicle, and lived to be 
eighty-nine, and to wonder at the advancements and changes around 
him ! I here mark some of his facts : 

He marks the " Governor's Garden," near the fort, as ranging along 
the line of Whitehall street, next the fort, and there turning an angle 
of the fort and enclosing westward to the river. This also agrees 
with the report of others who told me of seeing deer kept by the 
Governor, in front of the fort on the ground of the Water Battery. 

Mr. Grim marks the line of a narrow canal or channel in Broad 
street, as open above the present Pearl street, and there covered by 
the bridge or Exchange house, or both. 

He marks the localities of public wells in the middle of the streets- 
He marks Rutger's farm as laying north-west of the collect, and 
Winthorn's farm as south-cagt of the same. 

At the foot of Courtlandt street, he marks the then otdy wharf. We 
know it was built there for King's purposes, having thereon an Arsenal 
reaching up to Dey street. 

Mr. David Grim told bis daughter of there having been a market 
once held at the head of Broad street. This agrees with what G. N. 
Bleeker, Esq. told me, as from his grand mother, who spoke of a 
market at Garden street, wljieh was in effect the same place- 



33 Local Changes and Local Facts. 

Bakenell's City Portrait, of 1747, a fine perspective, marks tlife 
Great Dock at the foot of Broad street, as having a long dividing 
wharf, projecting into it from Broad street and set on piles, which leads 
me to the idea of " the bridge" so often named there. It was proba- 
bly the landing place for the unloaded goods from vessels in the east 
and west mole on both sides of it. 

A low market house on arches, having a large dial plate on its roof 
in front, is set at the foot of Broad street. 

The City Corporation grants to Trinity church, in 1703, as I saw of 
record in Mr. Bleeker's office, the groimds there " for a burying 
place, for the inhabitants of the city forever ;" and upon any of the 
inhabitants of said city paying therefor to the Rector, &;c. 3s. for 
oach corpse above twelve years of age, and Is. 6d. for any under twelvo 
years of age and no more." This last emphatic word may seem pe- 
culiar when we reflect how very special and exclusive those grounds 
have been so long occupied. 

In the minutes of council of 1G96, I saw that a sewer of 1100 feet 
length was recommended to be made in the Broad street. 

I saw in the City Commissoners' office, that the population of New 
York in 1730, was only 8638— and in 1825, it was 166,080. 

David Grim told Mr. Lydigg that he had seen the river water over 
Chatham street and Pearl street, and extending from the east to the 
North River — along the line of the collect as I presume. 

Mr. Brower and others have explained to me, that all along present 
Grand street, as it approaches to Corlears Hook, was formerly very 
high hills covered with apple and peach trees. Much too of tlie pre- 
sent level Harman street, leading into Grand street, was formerly hills 
of sixty feet height. The materials of these hills so cut down, fur- 
nish excellent gravel for new streets and especially the means of ex- 
■ ending their grounds out into the rivers. 

I saw, back of Brooklyn, on the height, much of the remains of 
redoubts and entrenchments still remaining in the fields. The Ame- 
ricans having constructed an entire litie of them, from the Navy Yard 
down to their fort on the south of Brooklyn. 

From an eminence, oa the road to Flat Bush, I saw an interesting 
prospect of Brooklyn and New York and all the connecting scenery. 
The hill I believe was called " J'lat-Bush Hill," and ought to be occu- 
pied by some good house of entertainment ; — a handsome cottage has 
iince been erected there. 



Local Changes and Local Facts. 33 

Hudson's Square is a beautiful embellishment of New York, re- 
deemed from a former waste. The large growth of the trees — the 
abundance of gratefule shades, make it in connexion with the superi- 
ority of the uniform houses which surround it, a place of imposing 
grandeur. The continuous long lines of iron palisades, both round the 
square and before the areas of every house, and up the several door 
steps, give a peculiar aspect of European style and magnificence. 

The residences of Col. Rutger's and Col. Willet, though originally 
located far out of town, on the East River side, have been surrounded 
by the encroaching population ; but as the encroachments have not been 
permitted to close very close upon them, they are still enabled to re- 
tain some grounds around them of rural appearance. Col. Willet's 
house was formerly on a knoll, situated on the margin of Stuyvesant 
Swamp. Soon all such recollections will be obliterated, by the entire 
dilTeient face of things as they now appear there. 

David Grim said he remembered when carmen first took about the 
tea water ; it was but one-third of present prices. The water, for- 
merly, was good at the wells and some of the street pumps. 

He remembered when only one lamp was used in the street — say at 
the corner of Wall and William streets. 

Mr, Brower told me, street lamps came into use about ten years 
before the revolution. The carts at that time were not allowed to have 
any tire on their wheels. 

The carriage of the Mail, between New York and Philadelphia, 
even since the revolution, was a very small afliiir ; it was hardly an 
aflfair to be robbed — for, a boy without any means of defence, took 
the whole in saddle bags on horse-back. Then, they wondered to see 
it enlarged, and took it on a sulky ; and by and bye, " the wonder 
grew," that it should still more enlarge, and they took off the body 
and run it in a large bag on the platform set on the wheels. It was 
then long deemed as at its ne plus ultra ; whereas, now, it is a load of 
itself for a four horse stage ! At that time, the Post always went to 
and fro, from the " Blazing Star," vis a vis Staten Island, now imknown 
as a great thoroughfiire. 

General Washington's residence in New York, was at the house now 
the Franklin Bank ; — to that house he once went in procession. The 
house was kept by Osgood, and was then No. 1, in pre-eminence. 

The house No. 176 Water street, was the first in New York, to 
E 



34 Local Changes and Local Facts. 

change leaden sashes for wooden ones; — leaden ones were general. 
Even Trinity church had its leaden panes put in after the fire of 1778. 
Dr. Hosack's map showing the grounds of New York as invaded by 
water from the rivers, marks " Rutger's Swamp" as united to the 
East River by a little creek a little to the eastward of Rutgev's Slip. 

At Corlear's Hook, he also marks much marsh ground uniting tc> 
the river, by a small creek. 

Beekman's Swamp is also united to the East River, by a little creek 
next south-west of Peck's Slip. 

Governor's Island, originally called Nutting Island, because of tht. 
quantity of hazel and other nuts growing there and furnishing the 
winter's supply to the citizens. In. later times, says Knickerbocker, 
it was cultivated in gardens for the use of the Colonial Governors — 
" once a smiling garden of the sovereigns of the province." 

It was originally a part of Long Island ; however it may now appear 
to the eye on beholding so wide a separation by deep water. This 
widening and deepening of the Buttermilk Channel has been caused 
by the filling in of the south side of the city. 

An old gentleman is now alive who remembers that as late as 1766, 
the Buttermilk Channel was then deemed unsafe, even for boats to 
pass through it, because of the numerous rocks there. It was how- 
ever so used for a boat channel, through which, boats with milk and 
buttermilk, going to New York market from Long Island, usually 
made their passage. My mother has told me that when she first en- 
tered New York harbor — then a girl — she was surprised to see all the 
market boats traversing the East River, rowed by robust women with- 
out hats or bonnets— their heads fitted with close caps— two rowers to 
each. 

The same gentleman who told of the channel as he noticed it in 1786, 
had his attention called to it then by a Mr. Van Alstine, upwards ol 
eighty years of age, who said that he remembered when Governor's 
Island was seperated from Long Island, only by a narrow creek, whicli 
was crossed upon a log, raised above the high tide, and having staked 
logs for a foot-way through the marsh then there on each side of the 
creek. 

William Richards, of Philadelphia, famous there for pickling stur- 
geon, went on to New York, before the revolution, to plant lobsters 
in the neighborhood of New York ; before which time they chiefly 
imported them from Rhode Island. He had a vote of thanks of the 



Local Changes and Local Facts. 35 

Asaombly, many years afterwards. Lobsters after this, probably be- 
came naturalized about Harlem. 

In 1756, the Jlrst stage is started between Philadelphia and New 
York, by Mr. Butler— three days through. 

In 1765, a second stage is announced to travel between New York 
and Philadelphia, to go through in three days, being a covered Jersey 
waggon, at 2d. a mile— owned in Philadelphia. 

In 1766, another stage called "the Flying Machine," to go through 
in two days, " in good waggons, and seats on springs," at 3d. a mile, 
or 20s. through. This also owned in Philadelphia. 

In 1756, the first British " Packet boats," commence from New 
York to Falmouth ; each letter to pay four penny weight of silver. 

All newspapers went free of postage before year 1758. It was 
then ordered that by reason of their great increase, they should pay 
Od. a year for fifty miles, and Is. 6d. for one hundred miles ! 
I In 1755, the mail was changed from once a fortnight to once a week- 
Mr. M'Cormick, of Wall street, remembered when " Burnett's 
Key" extended from Wall street up to Maiden lane, in one entire line 
of front and projecting out from Water street, beyond any other line 
of wharves. It was the bathing place of the city boys and of himself. 

In 1702, New York was visited with a very mortal sickness. Isaac 
Norris' MS. letter says, " the great sickness— Barbadoes Distemper or 
Yellow Fever — as we had it in Philadelphia three years before. Some 
hundred died there and many left the town, so that as we passed it, 
it was almost desolate." 

In 1743, a yellow fever, as it was called, visited New York — " not 
imported"— but like it was at Philadelphia three years before ;— they 
had black vomit and spots. Vide R. Peters' MSS. 

In digging for a lamp post, at the north-east corner of Reed street 
and Broadway, they were surprised to get up several human bones, 
and thus leading to the recollection of the former fact, that between 
that place and Chamber street, was once the area of the Negroes' 
burying ground ;— it was on a descending hill, inclining northward. 

In Lyne's Survey of New York, he marks a lane called " Old Wind 
Mill Lane," laying between present Courtlandt and Liberty streets, 
extending from Broadway to present Greenwich street, and thence 
north-westward towards the river side, where the Wind Mill must 
have stood. It was then the most northern street on the western side 
of Broadway— all beyond was the King's farm. 



33 Local Changes and Local Facts. 

The same survey fills up the head of present Broadway, with a long 
rope walk and a long line of trees, reaching from present Barclay 
street as high as the hospital. 

At that time there was at the foot of the present Chamber street, on 
North River, a distinguished Public Garden and Bowling Green. 

Among the names of streets changed^ are these :— present Pine 
street was called King street ; Pearl street was Queen street ; Cedar 
street now, was Little Queen street ; Liberty street was Crown street, 
importing the Crown supplanted by our self-ride since ! The western 
end of Garden street, was a hill called Flatten-barrack— a celebrated 
place for the boys in winter, to sled down hill ! Present Beaver street, 
east of Broad street, v/as Princess street ; present Stone street, east 
of Broad street, was Duke street ; Pearl street, near Broad street, was 
Dock street ; John street now, east of William street, was called 
Golden Hill.— The hill once there at its intersection with Cliff street, 
gave rise to the name of that street along the Cliff. William street. 
at its southern end, was called South street— say from Maiden lane to 
the East Riveix 



MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. 

"A different face of things each a^re appears, 
And all things alter in a courtiC of years I" 

I AM indebted for the following ideas of " Men and Manners once,' 
ns seen in the middle state of life generally, by facts imparted to me 
by Mr. Brower, aged seventy-five, — to wit : 

The Dutch kept five festivals, of peculiar notoriety, in the year — 
say, Kerstydt, (Christmas) ; Nieuw jar, (New Year,) a great day ol 
cake ; Paas, (the Passover) ; Pinxter, (i. e. Whitsuntide) ,- and Saji 
Claas, (i. e. Saint Nicholas, or Christ-kinklc day.) The Negroes on 
Long Island, on some of those days, came in great crowds to Brooklyn 
and held their field frolics. • 

It was the general practice of families in middle life, to spin and 
make much of their domestic wear at home. Short gowns and petti- 
coats were the general in-door dresses. 

Young women who dressed gay to go abroad to visit or to church, 
never failed to take off that dress and put on their home-made, as 
soon as they got home ; even on Sunday evenings when they expected 
company, or even their beaux, it was their best recommendation to 
seem thus frugal and ready for any domestic avocation. The boys and 
young men of a family, always changed their dress, for a common 
dress, in the same way. There was no custom of offering drink to 
their guests ; — when punch was offered, it was in great bowls. 

Dutch dances were very common ; the supper on such occasions, 
was a pot of chocolate and bread. The Rev. Dr. Laidlie who arrived 
in 1764, did much to preach them into disuse ; he was very exact in 
his piety, and was the first minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, 
who was called to preach in the English language. 

The Negroes used to dance in the markets, where they used tom- 
toms, horns, &;c. for music. They used often to sell Negro slaves at 
the Coffee-house. 

All marriages had to be published before-hand, three weeks at the 
ehurches, or else to avoid that, they had to purchase a license of the 
Governor: — a seemingly singular survcilance for a great Military 
Chief ! We may presume he cared little for the fact beyond his fee ! 

Bef9re the revolution, tradesmen of good repute, worked hard ; — 
there were none as masters, mere lookers-on ; — they hardly expected 
to be rich ; — their chief concern in summer, was to make enough 



38 Manners and Customs. 

a-head to lay up carefully for a living in severe winter. Wood wa;- 
cven a serious concern to such, when only 2s. 6d. to 3s. a load. 

None of the stores or tradesmen's shops then aimed at any rivalry 
as now. There were no glaring allurements at windows, nor over- 
reaching signs — no big bulk windows ; — they were content to sell 
things at honest prolits, and to trust to an earned reputation, for their 
share of business. 

It was the Englishmen from Britain, who brought in the painted 
glare and display ; — they also brought in the use of open shops at 
night, an expensive and needless service ! — for who sells more in day 
and night, where all are competitors, than they would in one day, if 
all were closed at night ! 

In former days, the same class who applied diligently in business 
hours, were accustomed to close their shops and stores at an early hour 
and to go abroad for exercise and recreation, or to gardens, &c. All 
was done on foot, for chaises and horses were iew. 

The candidates for the Assembly, usually from the city, kept open 
houses in each ward, for one week — producing much excitement 
among those who thought more of the regale than the public weal. 

Physicians in that day, were moderate in their charges, although 
their personal labor was great. They had to make all their calls on 
foot — none thought of riding. Drs. Baylie and M'Knight, when old, 
were the first who are remembered as riding to their patients. Dr. 
Attwood is remembered as the first physician who had the hardihood 
to proclaim himself as a man midwife ; — it was deemed a scandal to 
some delicate ears ; and Mrs. Granny Brown, with her fees of two to 
three dollars, was still deemed the choice of all who thought " women 
should be modest !" 

" Moving day," was, as now, the first of May, from time ii; men o* 
rial \ 

They held no " fairs," but they often went to the " Philadelphia 
Fairs," — once celebrated. 

At the New Year and Christmas festivals, it was the custom to go 
out to the ice on Beekman's and such like swamps, to shoot at turkeys ; 
every one paid a price for his shot, as at a mark, and if he hit it so a^ 
to draw blood, it was his for a New Year or Christmas Dinner ! A 
line subject this for Dr. Laidlie's preaching and reformation ! 

At funerals, the Dutch gave hot wine in winter ; and in summer^ 
they gave wine-sangaree. 



Manners and Customs, 3'> 

I have noticeil a singular custom among Dutch families ; — a fr.thet 
gives a bundle of goose quills to a son, telling him to give one to each 
of his male posterity. I saw one in the possession of Mr. James Bo- 
gert, which had a scroll appended, saying, " this quill given by Petrus 
Byvanck to James Bogert, in 1789, was a present in 1689, from his 
grand-father, from Holland." 

It is now deemed a rule of higli life in New York, that ladies should 
not attend funerals — it was not always so. Having been surprised at 
the change, and not being aware of any sufficient reason why females 
should have an exemption from personal attention to departed friends, 
from which their male relatives could not, I have been curious to in- 
quire into the facts in the case. I find that females among the 
Friends, attend funerals, and also among some other religious com- 
munities. 

I have been well assured that before the revolution, genteelcst fa- 
milies had ladies to their funerals, and especially if she was a female ; 
on such occasions " burnt wine" was handed about in tankards, often 
of silver. 

On one occasion, the case of the wife of Daniel Phoenix, the City 
Treasurer, all the pall bearers were ladies — and this fact occurred 
since the revolution. 

Many aged persons have spoken to me of the former delightful 
practice of families sitting out on their " stoopcs" in the shades of 
the evening, and there saluting the passing friends, or talking across 
the narrow streets, with neighbors. It was one of the grand links of 
union in the Knickerbocker social compact. It endeared and made 
social neighbors ; — made intercourse on easy terms ; — it was only to 
say, " come sit down." It helped the young to easy introductions and 
made courtships of readier attainment. 

I give some facts to illustrate the above remarks, deduced from the 

family of B with which I am personally acquainted. It shows 

primitive Dutch manners. His grand-father died at the age of sixty- 
three, in 1782, holding the office of Alderman eleven years, and once 
chosen Mayor and declined. Such a man, in easy circumstance in 
life, following the true Dutch ton, had all his family to breakfast, all 
the year round, at day light — before the breakfast, he universally 
smoked his pipe. His family always dined at twelve exactly. At 
that time, the kettle was invariably set on the fire, for tea, of Bohea, 
which was always as punctually furnished at three o'clock. Then the 



10 Manners and Customs. 

old people wont abroad on purpose to visit relatives, changing the fa- 
milies each night in succession, over and over again, all the yeai 
round. The regale at every such house, was expected as matter of 
course, to be chocolate supper and soft wafiles. 

Afterwards, when green tea came in as a new luxury, loaf sugar also 
••ame with it ; this was broken in large lumps and laid severally by 
each cup, and was nibbled or bitten as needed ! 

The family before referred to, actually continued (he practice till as 
late as seventeen years ago, with a steady determination in the patri- 
arch, to resist the modern innovation of dissolved sugar, while he lived ! 

Besides, Uie foregoing facts I have had tlicm abundantly confirmed 
by others. 

While they occupied the stoopes in the evening, you could sec 
every here and there an old Knickerbocker with his long pipe, fuming 
away his cares, and ready on any occasion to offer another for the use 
of any passing friend who would sit down and join him. The ideal 
picture has every lineament of contented comfort and chearful repose. 
Something much more composed and happy, than the bustling anxiety 
of " over business" in the moderns. 

The cleanliness of Dutch housewifery w^as always extreme ; — every 
lliing had to submit to scrubbing and scouering; — dirt in no form 
could be endured by them : and dear as water was in the city, where 
it was always sold, still it was in perpetual requisition. It was their 
honest pride to see a well furnished dresser, show ing copper and pew- 
ter in shining splendour, as if for ornament, rather than for use ! In 
all this, they widely differed from the Germans, a people with whom 
they have been erroneously and often confounded. Roost fowls and 
ducks are not more different !— As water draws one, it repels the 
other ! 

It was common in families then to cleanse their own chimneys, 
vt'ithout the aid of hired sweeps ; and all tradesmen, &c. were accus- 
tomed to saw their own fuel. Mr. Brower said no man in middle cir- 
cumstances of life, ever scrupled to carry home his 100 cwt. of meal 
from the market ; it would have been his shame to have avoided it. 

A greater change in the state of society, cannot be named, than 
that of hired persons. Hired women, from being formerly lowly in 
dress, wearing short gowns and petticoats of linsey-woolsey, and re- 
ceiving but half a dollar a week, have, since they have threbled that 
■wages, got to all the pride and vanity of " showing out" to strangers. 



Manners and Customs. 41 

as well (Irest ladies. The cheapness of foreign finery, gives them the 
ready means of wasting all their wages in decorations. So true it is, thai , 
'' Excess, tijc scrofulous and itcliy plague, 
Taints downward, all the graduated scale !" 

The Quarterly Review, has preserved one fact of menial impudence, 
in the case of the New York girl, telling her mistress, before her 
guests, that " the more you ring, the more I won't come !" 

General Lafayette, too, left us a compliment of dubious import on 
his formal entre at New York, when seeing such crowds of well dressed 
people, and no remains of such as he had seen in the period of the 
revolution— a people whose dress was adapted to their condition— he 
exclaimed, " but where is the people/'^ emphatically moaning, where is 
the useful class of citizens, " the iiewcrs of wood and drawers of water !" 

" All arc infected with tlie iiiaunors and the modes, 

It knew nut once I" 

Before the revolution, all men who worked in any employ, always 
wore his leathern apron before him— never took it ofi' to go in the 
street, and never had on a long coat. 

We are glad to witness the rise of new feelings among the Dutch 
descendants, tending to cherish by anniversary remembrance?, the 
love and reverence they owe their sires. For this object, as they have 
no " landing day," like us, they resort to their tutelary protector Saint 
Nicholas : on such occasions, decorating themselves or hall with orange 
colored ribbons, and inscribing " Oranje Ikneii," — and garnishing 
their table with " Malck and Suppawn" — with rullities — and their 
h%nds with long stemmed pipes. 

We are sorry w^e do not know the history better than we do, of a 
Paint so popular as he is, with only his name of St. Clacs to help him. 
He seems however to be the most merry and jocose in all the calen- 
dor. The boys all welcome him as " the bountiful Saint Nick," — 
and as " De Patroon Van Kindervreugd"— i. e. the Patron of Child- 
rens' Joy. 

" A riffht jolly old Elf, with a little round belly, 
WJiich shakes when he laughs, like a bowl full of jelly." 

All we know from Knickerbocker, is what the figure of Hudson's 
Guede Vrouw represented him as attired " in a low brimed hat— a 
large pair of Flemish trunk hose, and a very long pipe." 

In 1765, the best families in New York, entered into certain sump- 
;^ry laws to restrain the usual expenses and pomp of funerals. 
F 



MEMORIALS OF THE DUTCH DYNASTY. 

"Dwell o'er the remembrance of former years!" 

Having said that the office of the Common Council contains no 
records of the city, preceding the conquest by the British, I shall add 
here some tokens of the fact, that there are numerous collections of 
Dutch records now existing in the archieves of state, at Albany— fur- 
nishing a rich mine of antiquarian lore, for some future explorer. 
" Yet still will memory's busy eye retrace 
Each little vestige of the well lov'd place !" 
The Records thus speak, viz r— 

Fort Amsterdam, (at New York) is repaired and finished in 1635. 

Paulus Hook, is sold by Governor Keift, in 1638, to Abraham 
Isaacs Plank, for 450 guilders. 

For Scandalizhig the Governor, one Hendrick Jansen, in 1638, is 
sentenced to stand at the fort door, at the ringing of the bell, and ask 
the Governor's pardon. 

For Slandering the Rev. E. Bogardus, in 1638, (Pastor of the Re- 
formed Church, then in the fort) a female is obliged to appear at the 
sound of the bell at the fort, and there, before the Governor and Council, 
to say, " she knew be was honest and pious, and that she lied falsely !" 

Torture, was inflicted upon Jan Hobbes, who had committed a 
theft. The evidence seemed sufficient, but it was adjudged he should 
also make his confession by torture. 

For draiving his Knife upon a person, one Guysbert Van Regers- 
lard, was sentenced, in 1638, to throw himself three times from the 
sail-yard of the yatch the Hope, and to receive from each sailor there 
three lashes. 

The Wooden Horse punishment is inflicted, in Dec. 1638, upon two 
soldiers : they to sit thereon for two hours. This was a military punish- 
ment used in Holland. He strode a sharp back, and his body was forced 
down to it, by a chain and iron stirrup or a weight, fastened to his legs. 

Goat Milk and Goats, appear as a subject of frequent mention and 
regulation. 

Cases of Slander, often appear noticed ;— such as that Jan Jansen, 
complains of Adam Roelants for slander, whereupon it was ordered 
that each party pay to the use of the poor, the sum of 25 guilders ejich. 

Tobacco, appears to have been an article of cultivation and of pub- 
lic concern and commerce. Van Twiller had his tobacco farm at 



Memorials of the Dutch Dynasty. 43 

Greenwich. On the 5th August, 1638, two insiwclors were nomi- 
nated to inspect " tobacco cultivated here for exportation ;".--and on 
the 19th August, same year, it is recorded, that because of "the high 
character it'' had obtained in foreign countries," any adulterations 
should be punished with heavy penalties. [This agrees with the fact 
at Philadelphia county ;-thcre they also in primitive days, sixty years 
after the above facts, cultivated tobacco in fields.] 

A Cattle Fair, was established to be held annually on the 15th Ocl. 
and of Hogs on the 1st Nov., beginning from the year 1641. 

Tavernkeepers-nonc of them shall be permitted to give any sup.- 
per parties after nme o'clock at night. In case of any Indian being 
found drunk, his word when sober, shall be deemed good enough evi- 
dence against the white person w^ho made him so ! 

The Oath of Allegiance, was to be taken by all officers of govern- 
ment, as a" test act," by swearing "to maintain the reformed religion, 
m conformity to the word of God, and the decree of the Synod of 
Dordretch !" Under such solemn obligations to duty, it is scarcely 
to be wondered at or even condemned, that the officers in authority, 
overlooking the mild spirit of the gospel of peace, and adhering to 
the letter and the oath to the Synod, &c. should be led out to perse- 
cution ! We therefore find, for we may tell a little of the truth m 
this matter, that in 1657, sundry Quakers "for publicly declaring in 
the streets," were subjected to the dungeon, &c.; and Robert Hodgson 
was led at a cart tail, with his arms pinioned, then beaten with a 
pitched rope until he fell; afterwards he was set to the wheelbarrow 
to work at hard labor. This continued until the compassion of the 
sister of Governor Stuyvesant being excited, her intercession with 
that Governor, prevailed to set him free. About the same time, John 
Bowne, ancestor of the present respectable family of that name, was 
first imprisoned and next banished for the offence he gave as a Quaker. 
It was an ordinance of that day, " that any person receivmg any 
Quaker into their house, though only for one night, should forfeit 
£50 ! Little did they understand in that day, that " the sure way to 
propogate a new religion, was to proscribe it!" 

Good Dr. Cotton, in common with good Paul of Tarsus, were both 
persecutors, " haling men and women to prison," and saying, * If the 
worship be laiiful, (and they tho judges /) the compelling to come to it, 
compelleth not to sin ; but the dn is in the will that needs to he forced 
:o christian duty /" So self-deceiving is bigotry and intolerance ' 



44 Memorials of the Dutch. Dynasty. 

There are some fine relics of the Gov. Stuyvesant above referred to, 
still preserved in his family, valuable to a thinking mind, for the moral 
associations they afford. I saw them at the elegant country rnansioit of 
his descendant Nicholas Willijiin Stuyvesant, to wit :— a portrait of 
Stuyvesant, in armour, v, hi ^li li;ul 1. on well executed in Hollaiid, and 
probably while he was y t an Adniiial there. His head is covered 
with a close black cap—his features strong and intrepid—skin dark, 
and the whole aspect not unlike our best Indian faces— a kind of shav. ! 
or sash is cast round his shoulder — has a large white shirt collar droop- 
ing from the neck— has small mustachios on his upper lip, and no 
beard elsewhere shown. As I regarded this quiet remains, of this 
once great personage, I inwardly exclaimed, and is this he, in whom 
rested the last hopes of the Netherlanders in our country! Himself gone 
down to " the tomb of tlic Capulets !" His remains " rest in hope," 
nearby, in the family vault, Oitce constructed within the walls of the 
second built Reformed Dutch church, which for pious purjioses, he had, 
built at his personal expense on his own farm. The church is gone, 
but the place is occupied by the prcsojit church of St. Mark. On the 
outside wall of this latter church, I saAV tlic origiiial stone designating 
the body of him, whose rank and titlrs stood tlius inscribed, to wit : 
"In this vault, Iks hurled 
Pktrtts Stuyvesant, 
late Captain iGeneral and Commander in Chief of Amsterdam 
in New Netherland, now called New York, and tlie 

Dutch West India Islands. 

Died in August, A. D. 1682, aged eighty years."* 

A fine pear tree stands just without the grave yard wall, in lively 

vigour^ although so old as to have been brought out from Holland and 

planted there by the Governor Stuyvesant hiinsei?- 

Besides seeing the portrait of the Govdiii.r ;;. i t :. i.j General 
as aforesaid in his array of manhood; I saw id>u ., m, ;;;lir token of 
his puerility ; no less than the very infant shirt, of line Holland, edgQa 
with narrow lace, in which the Chief was devoted in baptism and re- 
ceived his christening ! It perhaps marks the character of the age, in 
his family thus preserving this kind of token.f 

1 saw also the portrait of his son, done also m Holland, in the seven- 
teenth year of his age. He is mounted u;)on a rampart charger — his 

* He was Governor seventeen years— from 1647 to 1664. 

t Stow says, christening shirts were given in the time of Elizabeth ; — afterwards, 
Apostles spoons were given as memorials. 



Manooials of the Dutch Dynasfi/. 4.5 

JicacI covered with a low crowned black hat — a blue coat — his wliito 
shirt sleeves have the cuffs laced and turned up over tlie cuffs of the 
coat — wears shoos with high heels, and his silk Jiose came up above 
l.iis knees on the outside of the breeches, and appear there looped up 
in their place. 

There I also saw portraits of Bayard and his wife. He appears 
garbed as a priest — he was falher-iu-law to Governor Stuyvesant. , 

Other relics of the Stuyvesant family might have possibly remained, 
but as the family house, occupied by the uncle of the present Nicholas 
William, was burnt in the time of the revolution, by some of the 
persons of Sir Henry Clinton's family, who staid there, it is^probable 
that relics and papers have been lost. 

The _^rs* minister ever appointed to the } '■ 

■ rdam, was the Rev. Everardus Bogardus ; I 
erected in 1642, within the fort. Tims m iKi.i . ', 
in the govermental rulers in the .\ I'l; riunl-, ;;:; .lii 



formity, not utdik'^ (hr rli.-ipliiii 
events, w simui hear of (lie ]•<<>! 
another c! II lie, 1;, to wit : tlu- oid 
1643, in Garden alley, and thou 
towne !" A rnre demiir in our n 

.Besides . . . ...iM'.l 

fcrred " ; 

improved in imI w.e :or: 
senting tops nodding i 
whole so like Holland i .. ; 
and so gave popular acccplaiico i 
first church of St. Nicliol:>.~, '.u 
Saint, fell at last a prey to the ; 
The Rev. Mr. Bogardus al 
ample himself, could not keep I 
the vigilance of an "evil eye," 
still on record at Albany !) a e<i 
former no doubt*) appeared Lcf; 
wife of the Rev. E. Bogardus, in 
coat a little way /" Surely this was an idle scandal when Dutch petti- 
coats were of themselves too short to cover, even if the matron would. 

* It may be seen in another place, that this s»me person for speaking ill of the 
Governor, had to stand at the fort door in " durance vile." 



:i New Am- 
thc church 

s s.iil.i.i': ', ;i> li ])rohably was, 

iiuil-, ;;:; .liiair oi' military con- 

nis i.r nio^l, v;i \v;:ri:'r^^. At all 

\\v<: it i!itn 1h-ir ini;i,!s to have 

(i. i)i;t,;li ri.iTcli," li.i;ii(!ed in 

■•■! M>. as being " too far out of 

v!( ws of distanre ! 

lit 111!' i'lrt, \\\>--; li.-i:l ftl-o con- 

':ir.'''i,." <J,! l!, • l:,t(/M- being 

■ut box. and uinuned cedar, pre- 

cli alley like its brother,— the 

10 attractive to tlio public gaze, 

name of •' (_'';!i\K:'n Ai'i.y/' The 

w: iiihlcr tilt" carr oi' iLs tutelary 

're of 1791. 

. lough intended as an ex - 

l; Lxcinpt fn^ni rt'iiruiich or fro)n 

24th Ooioh. r, 1 <:•!:;, (it is 

icks J.insen (a sajMcnt re- 

,. Sr-i, :;. ., ;,,;d ccvtiticd that tlie 

p;,iblic titr;;;!, drew up her pclti- 



or on til 

!:mii ITri, 



GARDENS, FARMS, &c. 

"Yes, he can e'en replace agen. 
The forests as he knew them tkenV^ 
Mr. Abram Brower, aged seventy-five, says, in his youth he deemed 
iiimself " out of town," about where now stands the Hospital, on Broad- 
way. Blackberries were then so abundant, as never to have been sold. 
Jones had a " Ranalagh Garden," near the Hospital— and " Vaux- 
hall Garden" where they exhibited fire-works, was at the foot of 
Warren street. 

At Corlear's Hook, all was in a state of woods, and it was usual to 
go there to drink mead. 

The frst *' Drovers' Inn," kept so near the city, was a little above 
St. Paul's church— kept by Adam Vandcrbarrack, [spelt Vanderbergh 
by D. Grim, who said he had also a farm there.] 

Bayard's Spring, in his woods, was a place of great resort of after- 
noons ; it was a very charming spring, in the midst of abundance of 
hickory nut trees ; tradesmen went there after their afternoon work. 
It lay just beyond Canal street— say on south side^resent Spring 
street, not far from Varrick street. 

In the year 1787, Col. Ramsay, then in Congress, considered him- 
self as living " out in the country," at the " White Conduit house,'" 
situate between Leonard and Franklin streets. 

" Tea Water Pump Garden," celebrated for its excellent pump of 
v^ater— situate on Chatham street, near to Pearl street, was deemed a 
" far walk." It was fashionable to go there to drink puncli, &c. 

A real farm house in the city, stood as an ancient relic until eight 
years ago, m such a central spot as the corner of Pine and Nassau 
streets— Mr. Thoburn saw it, and was told so by its ancient owner. 

The old Dutch records sufliciently show that in primitive days, all 
the rear of the town was cast into farms, say six in number, called 
'^Bouwerys;" from whence we have " Bowery" now. Van Twiller 
himself, had his mansion on farm No. 1, and his tobacco field on No. 
3. No. 1 is supposed by Mr. Moulton's book, to have been " from 
Wall street to Hudson street ;" and No. 3 " at Greenwich, then called 
Tapohauican." No. 4 was near the plain of Manhattan, including 
the Park to the Kolck; and No. 5 and 6 to have lain still farther to 
the northward. 

fhe ancient bon-vimnts remember still " Lake's Hermitage" as a 
place of great regale ; the house and situation is fine even now ; situ- 



Gardens, Farms, S^c 47 

ated now near the sixth avenue, quite in the country, hut then ap- 
proached only through " Love Lane." 

The ancient mansion and farm out on the East River, at the head 
of King's Road, once the stately establishment of Dr. Gerardus Bcek- 
man, is made peculiarly venerable for the grandeur of its lofty and 
aged elms and oaks — its rural aspect and deep shade attracted the 
notice of Irving's pen. It was used too as the selected country resi- 
dence of General Clinton in the time of the war. 

Robert Murray's farm house in this neighborhood, should be vene- 
rable from its associations. There his patriot lady entertained Gen. 
Howe and his staff with refreshments, after their landing with the 
army at " Kips' Bay," on purpose to afford Gen. Putnam time to lead 
off his troops in retreat from the city, which he effected. She vvas a 
friend and the mother of the celebrated Lindley Murray. 

The garden of-" Aunt Katey," and called also " Katey Mutz," was 
spoken of by every aged person, and was peculiarly notable as a 
" Mead Garden." It was called by some " Wind-Mill Hill," in re- 
ference to its earlier use, and also " Gallows Hill," by others, as once 
a place of execution. Its location was on " Janeway's farm," about 
the spot where is now the Chatham Theatre. A part of the garden 
met the line of the ancient palisades. The whole hill, which was 
large, extended from Duane down to Pearl street, along the line of 
Chatham street ; — near her place was once " the City Gate." " Soft 
waffles and tea," were the luxuries there, in which some of the gentry 
then most indulged. 

The angle whereon the Park Theatre now stands, belonged origi- 
nally to the square of the Park ; — that corner of the square, was once 
called " the Governor's Garden, (so David Grim said) in reference to 
such an intended use of it. 

A garden of note was kept vis a vis the Park, where is now Peale's 
Museum, and named " Montagne's Garden." There the " Sons of 
Liberty," so called, convened. 

A drawing of the Collect as it stood about year 1750, done by 
David Grim, which I saw with his daughter Mrs. Myers, places a gar- 
den at the west side of the little Collect, which he seperates from the 
big or main Collect, by an elevated knoll, like an island, on which he 
marks the Magazine, and a Negro hanging in gibbets — between this, 
knoll and the big Collect is drawn a marsh ; — a winding road is mark- 
ed along the south side of the little Collect. 



REMARKABLE FACTS AND INCIDENTS. 

" To strike our marvelling eyes, 

Or ziiove our special woiidarl" 

In the year 1735, animosity ran pretty high, between the military 
Governor and his Council on the one part, and the Mayor and Council 
on the other part : — On tliis occasien, Zanger the printer, took tin; 
part of the latter, which was considered " vox populi" also ; the con- 
sequence was, he was put under arrest and trial. The })opular excite- 
ment w^as strong ; and feelings extended even to Philadelphia. An- 
drew llamilton there a celebrated lawyer and civilian, vohintecred to 
aid Zanger and went on to New York and there eircclffl h\:i deliver- 
ance with great triumph. Grateful for thi'^. t'" '"i' - •tion of the 
city, voted him " a golden snuft'-box with m:.., ■ riptions,"" 

and within, they enclosed him the Frcedoia The box 

might now be a curiosity to see. 

1 was shown the locality of an incident wliich has had more read; : - 
than any other popuhir tale of modern times. No. 24 on Bowery road; 
is a low wooden house, the same from which the ]!eroiiic of " Ch.-r- 
lotte Temi)le" was seduced by a British ofhccr. T!ic facl.-^ were stated 
to me and the place shown by Dr. F. 

In 1769, was a time of fierce and contentious eleclion fitr A^rcrabU 
men; — I'c i -'ii -.vas kept open for four days; — no oi- 
by the cahdni:.! '-^ : — die friends of each party kep^ . . 
every ward, where all regaled and partook to the full! — all oiUzcns 
l«ft off their usual business ; — there were only 1515 electors, of which 
917 were freeholders; — all non-resident voters were sought lor earn- 
estly in the country and brouglit to t!ie city polls. John Ciiigcr- Jani' ; 
Delancey, Jacob Walton, and James Jauncey, Vvcre the successful can- 
didates by majorities, generally of 250 to 270 votes. [This and the 
following fact respecting election, was derived from MSS. notes, left 
by D. Grim with his daughter.] 

On an occasion of election, Mr. Alexander M'Dougal (afterwards 
Oen. M'D.) was the author of an Address " to the Public," signed 
"Legion," wherein he invoked the pul)lic assembling of the peoph; 
" at the fields, near Dela Montague's, (which is in modern parlance in 
the Park, near Peale's Museum) " in order effectually 1o avert the evil 
of the late base, inglorious conduct by our general assembly, who in 
opposition to tlie loud and general call of their constituents and of 



RcmnrlcahJc Fads and Incidents. 49 

sound policy, and to the glorious struggle for our birthrights, havo 
dared to vote supplies to the troops without a shadow of pretext. 
Therefore, let every friend to his country, then appear." 

For this stirring appeal, M'Dougal was taken under arrest by tho 
Sergeant of Arms of the Assembly, who placed him in the county goal. 
While he was there confined, forty-five persons, " Sons of Liberty,"' 
(for " forty-five " was a talesmanic number then !) werit to visit him in 
prison, to salute and cheer him. Not long after, " forty.fivc " female 
" Sons of Liberty," headed by Mrs. Malcomb, (wife of the General) 
made their visit also to cheer the state prisoner and to applaud " his 
noble conduct in the cause of Liberty." It was this leaven that was: 
carrying on the fermentation thus early for the revolution. 

The gaining of the election, caused the New Yorkers in 1770, to 
recede from their non-importation covenants, and the Whigs of Phila- 
delphia, resolved to buy nothing of them "while governed by a faction !" 
The winter of 1755, was so peculiarly mild, that the navigation of 
the North River kept open all the season. Mr. David Grim saw from 
that cause, Sir Peter Hackett's and Col. Dunbar's regiment go up to 
the river to Albany in that winter. 

The winter of 1780, on the other hand v/as the extreme of cold, 
producing " the hard winter." Two great cakes of ice (says D. Grim) 
closed the North River from Paiilus Hook ferry to Courtlandt street. 
Hundreds then crossed daily. Artillery, and sleds of provisions, were 
readily passed over : and even heavy artillery was borne over the frozen 
bridge, to Staten Island. 

My friend James Bogert, then a small lad, was with his uncle, the 
first persons who were ever known to have crossed the East River on 
the ice, at or near Hell Gate. 

I saw in the Historical Society Library, something very rare to be 
found in this country : — they are sixteen volumes folio of MSS. 
Journals of the House of Commons, in Cromwell's reign — say from 
1650 to 1675 — said to have been presented through the family of the 
late Governor Livingston. [I suspect however, they came through 
the family of Governor Williamson, because a great part of Col. De 
Hart's library went by will to De Hart Williamson, in 1801.] Mrs. D. 
Logan had before told me of having seen those volumes in the posses- 
sion of Col. De Hart, of Morristown, N. J. about the year 1800. She 
could not learn how they came into this country, although she found it 



50 RemarJeable Facts and Incidents. 

was believed they were abducted by some of CromweH's friends (who 
went out first to New England, and afterwards settled near Morristown) 
to prevent their use against those who might remain in England. 
Their ample margins had been partially used by a commanding officer 
of our army there, when paper was scarce, to write his orders ! 

Captain Kidd the celebrated pirate, was once married and settled 
at New York. As the trial of Kidd, which I have seen and preserved, 
states on the authority of Col. Livingston, that he had a wife and child 
then in New York, my inquiring mind has sometimes, looking among 
the multitude, said, — Who knows, but some of these are Kidd's des- 
cendents T I observe however, that the name is not in the New York 
Directory ;— Col. Livingston recomended him to the Crown Officers, 
'^'' as a bold and honest man." lie had probably been a Privateersman 
aforetime out of New York, as we find the records there stating that 
lie there paid his fees (in 1691) to the Governor and to the King. 
Another record also states, some process against one of his seaman, 
as deserted from him. 

In 1695, he arrived at New Y^'ork, from England, with the King's 
Commission, and soon after began and continued his piracies for four 
years. In 1699, he again arrived within the Long Island Sound, and 
made several deposits on the shore of that island. Being decoyed to 
Boston, he was arrested, sent to England, and executed at Executioii 
Dock, on the 23d March, 1701. 

To this day, it is the traditionary report, that the family of J — 

at Oyster Bay, and of C at Huntington, are enriched by Kidd's 

spoils, they having been in his service, by force it is presumed, and 
made their escape at Long Island at Eaton-neck, which gave them 
the power afterwards of attaining " the deposits" above referred to. 
Mr. Benjamin H — b — t who informed me of this, said he believed 

that none doubted of it. Both J and C became 

strangely rich. 

The records of Philadelphia, show that cotemporanious v/ith ih.h 
time, " one Shelly, from New York, has greatly infested our naviga- 
tion with Kidd's pirates." 

In 1722, a Pirate Brigantine appeared off" Long Island, commandesS 
by one Lowe, a Bostonian — he was a successful fellow — had captured 
Honduros. About same time, one Evans also comes on the coast. 

The next year, two pirates looked into Perth Amboy and New York 
itself! 



Remarlcahle Facts and Incidents. 51 

Lowe commanded the "Merry Christmas," of 330 tons, and his con- 
sort was commanded by one Harris. [Another pirate, Captain Sprigg 
called his vessel » the Bachelor's Delight.] They bore a black flag— 
Avhile off' the Ilook, they were engaged by the Grey Hound of his 
majesty's navy. He captured the least of them, having on board as 
prisoners thirty-seven whites and six blacks ; all of whom were tried 
and executed at Rhode Island, and all bearing our common English 
names. Captain Solgard who thus conquered, was presented with 
the freedom of the city in a gold snuff" box. Lowe in indignation, 
afterwards became cruel to Englishmen, cutting and slitting their 
noses. He had on board during the fight, as the prisoners told, 
£150,000 in silver and gold. 

The gazettes of this period, teem with their adventures. In that 
time, the public mind was engrossed with the dread of them and they 
liad accomplices often on shore to aid them and divide the spoil. 

In 1724, William Bradford in New York, publishes the generaj 
history of the pirates, including two women, Mary Reed and Anne 
Bonny. [Much we should like now to see that work.] 



DRESSES, FURNITURE AND EUUIPAGE. 

Our father's homely fare discard, 
Still studious of change. 
Mr. Abraham Brower, aged 75, told me the following facts, viz : 
Boots were rarely worn — never as an article of dress — chiefly when 
seen, they wem worn on hostlers and sailors ;— the latter always wore 
=iTreat petticoat trOwsers, coming only to the knee and there tying 
close ;— common people wore their clothes much longer than now ;— 
they patched their clothes much and long ;— a garment was only " half 
worn " when it became broken. 

He never saw any carpets on floors, before the revolution— whefi 
iirst introduced, they only covered the floor outside of the chairs 
around the room ;— he knew of persons afraid to step on them when 
they first saw them on floors ;— some dignified families always had 
some carpets, but then they gbt them by procuring them through mer- 
chants as a special importation for themselves. 

Mahogany was riot in general use, and at most it Was displayed in a 
desk and tea table :— the latter was always round. The general fur- 
niture was made of " billstead,"— i. e. maple. 

He thinks coaches were very rare — can't think there were more 
than four or five of them ;— men were deemed rich to have kept even 
a chaise ; — the Governor had one coach ; — Walton had a coach ; — 
Lieut. Governor Coldon also had a coach, which was burnt before his 
window, and in his presence, by a mob ;— Mrs. Alexander had one and 
Robert Murray, another— he being a Quaker, called this his "Leathern 
Conveniency," to avoid scandal ! 

The first umbrellas he ever knew worn, was by the British officers, 
and were deemed eflTeminate in them. Parasols as guards from the 
sun, were not seen at all. As a defence from rain, the men wore 
«' rain coats," and the women, " camblets." It was a common occur- 
rence to see servants running in every direction with these on their 
arms, to churches, if an unexpected rain came up. As a defence in 
winter from storms, the men wore " great coats," daily. It was a ge- 
neral practice, (as much so, as moving on the first of May,) to put on 
these coats on the tenth of November, and never disuse them till the 
tenth of May, following ! 

The first stoves he remembered, came into use in his time, and 
were all open inside, in one oblong square, having no baking oven 
thereto, as afterwards invented in the ten plate stoves. 



Dresses, Furnititre, and Equipage. 53 

All the houses were sanded on the floor with white or " silver sand " 
in figures and devices. 

A beaver hat, entire of that fur, " lasted forever," and cost only $5. 
Almost every article of the table and kitchen, as now used in 
Queensware, used to be made of pewter. 

Gentlemen of the true Iltjlland race, wore very long body coats, the 
skirts reaching down nearly to the ancles, with long and broad wastes, 
and with wide and stiff skirts ;— they wore long flaps to their vests ;— 
their breeches were not loose and flowing, although large, but were 
well filled up with interior garments, giving name to the thing as well 
as to families, in the appellation of Mynheer Ten Broeck. 

A female child of six years, in full dignity of dress, was attired 
thus, viz :— a white cap of transparent texture, setting smooth and 
close to the head ; on the left side of it, was a white ostrich feather, 
flattened like a band close to the cap— the cap had a narrow edge of 
lace. From the neck, dropped a white linen collar with laced edges, 
A gold chain hung on one shoulder only and under the opposite arm. 
A white stomachger, with needle ornaments, and the edges laced. 
The body braced with stays. A white apron very full at the top and 
much plaited, and edged all round with small lace. A silk gown of 
thick material of dove color, very full plaited and giving the idea of 
large hips, (indeed all the Dutch women affected much rotundity in 
that way !) Broad lace was sewn close to the gown sleeves, along the 
length of the seam on the inside curve of the arms, so as to cover the 
seam. The sleeve cuffs were of white lace, large, and turned up. 
This picture from life, was given by an artist who understood the detail. 
Mrs. M' Adams, a venerable lady who I saw at the age of ninety- 
three, spoke of a circumstance occurring in New York, in 1757, re- 
specting Gen. Gates' first wife — she was generally reported as riding 
abroad in wens' clothes, solely from the circumstance of her wearing 
a riding habit, after the manner of English ladies, where she had been 
born and educated. It proved that the manners of the times, did not 
admit of such female display, and perhaps it was more masculine than 
we now see them on ladies. 

The price of fine cloth before the revolution, was always " a guinea 
a yard ;" and all men, save the most refined, expected after wearing it 
well on one side, to have it vamped up new as a " turned coat." Among 
common men, the practice was universal. Thus shewing how muck 
heitcr then cloths were than now, in durability. 



CHANGES OF PRICES. 

'■ For the money cheap — and quite a heap." 

It is curious to observe the changes v/hich have occurred in tiic 
course of years, both in the supply of common articles sold in the 
markets, and in some cases, the great augmentation of prices : — For 
instance, Mr. Brower, who has been quite a chronicle to me,, in many 
things, has told me such facts as the following, viz : — He remembred 
well when abundance of the largest " Blue-Point" oysters could be 
bought, opened to your hand, for 2s. a hundred, such as would now 
bring from 3 to 4 dollars ! Best sea bass were but 2d. a lb., now at 
8d.! Sheep-head sold at 9d. to Is. 3d. a piece, and will now bring 
2 dollars ! Rock fish were plenty at Is. a piece, for good ones. Shad 
were but 3d. a piece. They did not then practice the planting of 
oysters. Lobsters then were not brought to the market. 

Mr. Jacob Tabelee who is as old as eighty-seven, and of course saw 
earlier times than the other, has told me sheep-head used to be sold 
at 6d., and the best oysters at only Is. a hundred — in fact they did not 
stop to count them, but gave them in that proportion and rate by the 
bushel. Rock fish were sold at 3d. a pound. Butter was at 8 to 9d. Beef 
by the quarter in the winter, was at 3d. a pound, and by the piece at 
4d. Fowls were about 9d. a piece. Wild fowl were in great abund- 
ance. He has bought twenty pigeons in their season, for Is.; — a 
goose was 2s. Oak wood was abundant at 2s. the load. 

In 1763, the market price of provisions was established by law, and 
published in the Gazette—wondrous cheap they were, viz :— A cock 
turkey, 4s.; a hen turkey, 2s. 6d.; a duck, Is.; a quail, l^d.; a 
heath hen. Is. 3d.; a teal, 6d.; a wild goose, 2s.; a brandt. Is. 3d.; 
snipe. Id.; butter, 9d.; sea bass, 2d.; oysters, 2s. per bushel ; sheep- 
head and sea bass, 3 coppers per pound ; lobsters, 6d. per pound : 
milk, per quart, 4 coppers ; clams. 9d. per 100 ; cheese, 4id. 



SUPERSTITIONS. 

"Stories of Spectre's dire disturb'd the soull" 

The aged men have told me that fortunetellers and conjurors, had a 
name and an occupation among the credulous ; — Mr. Brower said he 
remembered some himself. Blackbeard's and Kidd's money, as pi- 
rates, was a talk understood by all. He knew of much digging for it, 
with spells and incantations, at Corlear's Hook, leaving there several 
pits of up-turned ground. Dreams and impressions Avere fruitful 
causes of stimulating some to thus " try their fortune" or "their luck!" 

There was a strange story, the facts may yet be recollected by some, 
of " the Haunted House," some where out of town— I have understood 
it was Delanccy's. 

But a better ascertained case, is that of " the Screaching Woman ;" 
she was a very tall figure of masculine dimensions, who used to ap- 
pear in flowing mantle of pure white at midnight, and stroll down 
Maiden lane. She excited great consternation, among many. A Mr. 
Kimball, an honest praying man, thought he had no occasion to fear, 
and as he had to pass that way home one night, he concluded he would 
go forward as fearless as he could ; — he sav/ nothing in his walk before 
him, but hearing steps fast approaching him behind, he felt the force 
of terror before he turned to look ; but when he had looked, he saw 
what put all his resolutions to flight, — a tremendous white spectre ! 
It was too much ! — he ran, or flew, with all his might till he reached 
his own house by Peck's Slip and Pearl street, and then, not to lose 
time, he burst open his door, and fell down for a time, as dead ! He 
however survived and always deemed it something preternatural. The 
case stood thus -.—When one Capt. Willet Taylor of the British navy, 
coveted to make some trial of his courage in the matter, he also 
paced Maiden lane alone at midnight, wrapped like Hamlet in his 
" inky cloak," with oaken staff beneath. By and bye, he heard the 
sprite full-tilt behind him, intending to pass him, but being prepared, 
iie dealt out such a passing blow as made " the bones and nerves to 
feel,"— and thus exposed a crafty manhcni on fun and mischief! 



MISCELLANEOUS FACTS. 

'• All pay contribution to the store he gleans." 

The Indians, in the year 1740, came to the city of New York, in r 
{Treat body — say several hundreds, to hold a conference or treaty witli 
the Governor. Their appearance was very imposing ; and being the 
last time, they ever appeared there for such purposes,— having after- 
wards usually met the Governor at Albany, they made a very strong 
impression on the beholdors. David Grim, then young, who saw them^ 
has left some MSS. memoranda respecting them, which I saw in the 
hands of his daughter Mrs. Myers, to this effect : — They were Oneidas 
and Mowhawks ; they came from Albany, crowding the North River 
with their canoes; a great sight so near New York ; bringing with 
them their squaws and papouses, (children) ;— they encamped on the 
site now Hudson's Square, before St. John's church ; from thence 
they marched in solemn train, single file, down Broadway to Fort 
George, then the residence of the British Governor, George Clinton. 
As they marched, they displayed numerous scalps, lifted on poles, by 
v/ay of flags, or trophies, taken from their French and Indian enemies. 
What a spectacle in a city! 

In return, the Governor and officers of the colonial government, 
with many citizens, made out a long procession to the Indian camp, 
and presented them there the usual presents. 

The Indians were remembered by Mr. Bogert's grand-mother, to be 
often encamped at " Cow-foot Hill," a continuation of Pearl street- 
there they made and sold baskets. 

An Indian remains, such as his bones and some ornaments were 
lately found in digging at the corner of Wall and Broad streets. 



The palisades and block houses, erected in 1745, were well remem- 
bered by Mr. David Grim. There was then much apprehension from 
the French and Indians ;— £8000 was voted to defray the cost. Mr. 
Grim said the palisades began at the house now .57 Cherry street, then 
the last house out on the East River, towards Kip's Bay ; thence they 
extended direct to Wind-Mill Hill, [that is, near the present Chatham 
Theatre] and thence in the rear of the Poor House, to Dominie's Hook, 
at the North River. 

The palisades were made of cedar logs of fourteen feet long and 
ten inches in diameter :— were placed in a trench three feet deep^ 



Miscellaneous Facts. ^"^ 

-with loop-holes all along for musketry ;— having also a breast work of 
four feet high and four feet wide. There were also three block houses 
of about thirty feet square and ten feet high :— these had in each 
six port-holes for cannon ;— wore constructed of logs of eighteen 
inches thick, and at equi-distances between the three gates of the city, 
they being placed on each road of the three entrances or outlets ;— 
one was in Pearl street, nearly in front of Banker street— the other 
in rear of the Poor House ; and the third, lay between Church and 
Chapel streets. 

This general description of the line of defence, was confirmed to 
me by old Mr. Tabelee, aged eiglity-seven. IIo described one gate 
as across Chatham street, close to Kate-Mutz's garden, on Wind-Mill 
Hill. The block house on the North River, he supposed stood about 
the end of Reed street. 

The great fires of '76 and '78, are still remembered with lively sen« 
sibility by the old inhabitants. They occurred while the British held 
possession of the city, and excited a fear at the time, that the " Ame- 
rican Rebels" had purposed to oust them, by their own sacrifices, like 
another Moscow. It is however believed to have occurred solely from 
accident. Mr. Brower thought he was well informed by a Mr. Robins, 
then on the spot, that it occurred from the shavings in a board yard on 
Whitehall Slip ; but Mr. David Grim, in his MSS. notes, with his 
daughter, is very minute to this eflect, saying :— The fire began on the 
21st of September, 1776, in a small wooden house on the wharf, near 
the Whitehall Slip, then occupied by women of ill fame. It began 
late at night, and at a time when but few of the inhabitants were left 
in the city, by reason of the presence of the enemy. The raging ele- 
ment was terrific and sublime— it burned up Broadway on Iwth sides 
until it was arrested on the eastern side, by Mr. Harrison's brick house; 
but it continued to rage and destroy all along the western side to St. 
Paul's church— thence it inclined towards the North River, (the wind 
having changed to south-east) until it run out at the water edge, a little 
beyond the Bear Market— say at the present Barclay street. 

Trinity church, though standing alone, was fired by the flakes of 

- fire which fell on its steep roof, then so steep that none could stand 

upon it, to put out the falling embers. But St. Paul's church equally 

exposed, was saved, by allowing citizens to stand on its flatter roof, 

and wet it as occasion required, 

H 



58 Miscellaneous Facts. 

In this awful Conflagration, four hundred and ninety-three houses 
were consumed ; — generally in that day, they were inferior houses to 
the' present, and many of them were of wood. 

Several of the inhabitants were restrained from going out to assist 
at night, from a fear they might be arrested as suspicious persons — in 
fact, several decent citizens were sent to the Provost Guard, for ex- 
amination, and some had to stay there two or three days, until their 
loyalty could be made out. In one case, even a good loyalist and a 
decent man, sometimes too much inclined " to taste a drop too much," 
(a Mr. White) was by misapprehension of his character, and in the 
excitement of the moment, hung up on a sign post, at the corner ot 
Cherry and Roosevelt streets. Mr. N. Stuyvesant told me he saw a 
man hanging on his own sign post — probably the same person before 
referred to by Mr. Grim. 

Mr. Grim has given to the Historical Society, a topographical map, 
showing the whole line of conflagration. 

The next fire, of August, 1778, occurred on Cruger's wharf, ami 
burnt about fifty houses; — on that occasion, the military took the ex- 
clusive management, not suflering the citizen-firemen to control the 
manner of its extinguishment. It was afterwards ordered by the Com- 
mander in Chief, that the military should help but not order, at the 
suppression of fires. 



The Slips, so called, were originally openings fo the river, into which 
they drove their carts to take out cord wood from vessels. The cause 
of their several names, has been preserved by Mr. D. Grim. 

Whitehall Slip, took its name from Col. Moore's large white house, 
Of hall ; — it adjoined the Slip, and was usually called " Whitehall." 

Coenties Slip, took its name from the combination of two names- 
say of Coenract and Jane Ten Eycke — called familiarly Coen and 
Anties. 

The Old Slip, was so called, because it was the first or oldest in 
the city. 

Burling's Slip, was so called after a respectable family of that name, 
living once at the corner of Smith's Vly (now Pearl street) and Golden 
Hill. 

Beekman's Slip, after a family once living there. 

There was only one Slip on the North River side, which was at the 
foot ©f Oswego street, now called Liberty street. 



Miscellaneous Facts. 69 

Corlcar's Hook, which means a point, was originally called Nechtaiit 
by the Indians, and was doubtless from its locality a favorite spot with 
them. There Van Corlear, who was trumpeter at the fort, under Van 
Twiller, had laid out his little farm, which he sold in 1652, to William 
Beekman, for £750. 

The Negro Plot, of 1741, was a circumstance of great terror and 
excitement in its day ;— aged persons have still very lively traditionary 
recollections of it. One old man showed me the corner house in 
Broad street, near the river then, where the chief plotters conspired. 
Old Mr. Tabclee, says, new alarms were frequent after the above was 
subdued. For a long time in his youth, citizens watched every night, 
and most people went abroad with lanthorns. 

Mr. David Grim, in his MSS. notices, which I saw with his daughter 
Mrs. Myers, savs, he retained a perfect idea of the thing as it was. 
He saw the Negroes chained to a stake and burned to death.* The 
place was in a valley, between Wind-Mill Hill, (Chathan Theatre) and 
Pot-Bukers' Hill, (now Augusta street, about its centre) and in mid- 
way of Pearl and Barley streets. At the same place, they continued 
their executions for many years afterwards. 

John Hustan, a white man, was one of the principals, and was hung 
in chains, on a gibbet at the south-east point of H. Rutger's farm, on 
the East River, not ten yards from the present south-east corner of 
Cherry and Catharine streets. Since then, the crowd of population 
(here, has far driven off his " affrighted ghost," if indeed it ever kept 
its vigils there. 

Caesar, a black man, a principal of the Negroes, was also hung in 
chains, on a gibbet, at the south-east corner of the old powder house in 
Magazine street. Many of those Negroes were burnt and hung, and 
a great number of others were transported to other countries. 

We must conceive, that on so dreadful a fear, as a general massa- 
cre, (for guns were fired, and " many run to and fro,") the whole scenes 
of arrest, trial, execution, and criminals long hung in chains, must 
have kept up a continual feverish excitement, disturbing even the very 
dreams when sleeping ! Thank God, better times have succeeded, 
and better views to fellow men. 

" I would not have a slave to tremble when I wake, 
For all the price of sinews bought and sold 1" 

* The Pennsylvania Gazette of 1741, says, one of those hanged, having shown 
ligns of life, was hung up again. Jolin Ury, a popish priest, was also hung a& 
iu accomplice. 



fiO Miscellaneous FactSi 

^oman Catholics, and the cry of " church and state in danger," was 
often witnessed on election and other occasions in New York ; — also, 
" high and loiv church," were resounded. " No Bishop," conld be 
seen in capitals, on fences, &c. A man did not dare to avow himself 
a Catholic— it was odious— a chapel then would have been pulled down ■ 
It used to be said, " John Leary goes once a year to Philadelphia, to 
get absolution." 

Hallam's company of players, the first on record, played at New 
York, in 1754, 

William Bradford, fifty years g-overnmcnt printer, at New York, 
died at the age of ninety-four, in the year 1752 ,•— he had been printer 
a few years at Philadelphia, in the time of the primitive settlement. 

In 1765, two women named Fuller and Knight, were placed one 
hour in the pillory, for keeping baudy houses. If this were again en- 
forced, would not much of the gaudy livery of some be set down ! 

Aniong the MSS. of the Logan family, I have seen some notice by 
James Logan, in 1702, of Gov. Nansen, at New York, " in the time of 
the distractions of that place,"— saying that " Gov. Hamilton, of Penn- 
sylvania, had in a friendly manner given a hint not to be too rigorous, 
&c. in the case of Col. Bayard, P. French, T. Wenham, outlawed ; and 
scores of others who made their flight, but Nansen drove furiously, and 
scurriously and resentfully returned his answer," &c. 

A Gazette of 1722, hints at the declining whalery along Long Island, 
saying, " There are but four whales killed on Long Island, and little 
oil is expected from thence." 

But they have soon after a generous recompense^for i» 1724, it is 
announced that at Point Judith, in a pond there, they took 700,000 
bass, loading therewith with fifty carts, 1000 horses and sundry boats. 

In the old Potters-field, there was formerly a beautiful epitaph on a 

patriot stranger from England, a Mr. Taylor, who came to join our 

fortunes, to wit :— 

Far from his kindred friends and native skies, 
Here mouldering in the dust, poor Taylor lies — 
Firm was his mind and fraught with various lore, 
And his warm heart was never cold before. 
He lov'd his country, and that spot of earth 
Which gave a Milton, Hampden, Bradshaw birth — 
But when tiiat country — dead to all but gain, 
Bow'd her base neck and Imgg'd the oppressor's chain^ 
Lothing the abject scene, he droop'd and sigh'd— 
i^ross'd the wild waves, and here uatyaely dicdj 



Miscellaneous Fads. 61 

About the year 1787, there was much excitement in the city of New 
York, against the whole fraternity of doctors, called " the Doctors"' 
lliot ;"— it was caused by the people's lively offence at some cases of 
bodies procured for dissection. The mob gathered to the cry of 
" down with the Doctors." And so pushed to the houses of some of 
the leading practitioaere—their friends got before them, and precipitate 
retreat ensued. In the sequel, the most obnoxious sought their refuge 
in the prison, where the police being quelled, there were some violent 
assaults.. Their friends and the friends of the peace, ranged on the 
prison side, made some defence ;— Col. Hamilton stood forward as 
champion, and John Jay was considerably wounded in the head, from 
a stone thrown from the mob— it laid him up some time. 

A singular fact occurred a few years ago, on the occasion of the ex- 
plosion of Mr. Sand's Powder Magazine, at Brooklyn. An aged citi- 
'izen, then at the Bull's Head Inn, at the Bowery, wearing a broad 
brimmed hat, perceived something like gun powder showering upon 
it ;— the experiment was made, on what he gathered thereon, and it 
Ignited ! This is accounted for as coming from the explosion, because 
the wind set strong in that direction, and it is ascertained by firing a 
fusee over snow, that if it be over-charged, the excess of grains will 
be found resting upon the snow. 



INCIDENTS OF THE WAR IN NEW YORK. 



" tliis to show 



Mankind, the wild deformity of war 1" 

New York city having been held during the term of the revolution; 
5is a conquered place, and also as the chief military post of British 
rule, it becomes matter of interest and curiosity to the present gene- 
ration, to revive and contemplate the pictorial images of those scenes 
and facts which our fathers witnessed in those days of peril and deep 
emotion. I give such as I could glean. 

The spirit of opposition in us, began before the revolution actually 
opened. 

The first Theatre in Beekman street, (now where stands the house 
No. 26) was pulled down, on a night of entertainment there, by the 
citizens, generally called " Liberty Boys." The cause arose out of 
some oflence in the play, which was cheered by the British officers 
present, and hissed and condemned by the mass of the people. Soon 
after, the people seized upon a Press Barge, and drew it through the 
streets to the park commons, where they burnt it. 

After the war had commenced and New York was expected to be 
captured, almost all the Whig families, who could sustain the expense, 
left their houses and homes, to seek precarious refuge where they 
could, in the country. On the other hand, after the city was possess- 
ed by the British,— all the Tory families who felt unsafe in the country, 
made their escape into New York, for British protection. Painfully, 
family relations were broken ;— families as well as the rulers, took 
different sides, and " Greek met Greek" in fierce encounter ! 

Mr. Brower who saw the British force land in Kip's Bay, as he stood 
on the Long Island heights, says it was the most imposing sight his 
eyes ever beheld. The army crossed the East River, in open flat boats, 
filled with soldiers standing erect ; their arms all glittering in the sun 
beams. They approached the British fleet in Kip's Bay, in the form 
of a crescent, caused by the force of the tide breaking the intended 
line, of boat after boat. They all closed up in the rear of the fleet, 
when all the vessels opened a heavy canonade. 

I shall herein endeavor to mark the localities of position occupied 
by the British, especially of residences of distinguished officers, and 
also of those suffering prison-houses and hospitals where our poof- 
countrymen sighed over their own and their country's wo. 



Incidents of the War in New Yorlc. 6S 

All the Presbyterian churches in New York, were used for military 
purposes in some form or other. I suspect they were deemed more 
whiggish in general than some of the other churches. The clergyman 
of that order, were in general throughout the war — said to be zealous 
to promote the cause of the revolution. The Methodists on the con. 
trary, then few in number, were deemed loyalists, chiefly from the 
known loyalism of their founder, INIr. Wesley. Perhaps to this cause 
it was, that the Society in John street, enjoyed so much indulgence as 
to occupy their church for Sunday night service, while the Hessians 
had it in the morning service for their own chaplains and people. 

The British troops were quartered in any empty houses of the 
Whigs, which might be found. Wherever men were billetted, they 
marked it. 

The Middle Dutch church in Nassau street, was used to imprison 
.3000 Americans. The pews were all gutted out and used as fuel. 
Afterwards they used it for the British cavalry, wherein they exercised 
their men, as a riding school ; making them leap over raised wind- 
lasses. At the same place, they often picketed their men, as a pun- 
ishment, making them bear their weight on their toe, on a sharp goad. 
At the same place, while the prisoners remained there, Mr. Andrew 
Mercein told me he used to see the " Dead Cart" come every morn- 
ing, to bear off six or eight of the dead. 

The old sugar house, which also adjoined to this church, was filled 
with the prisoners taken at Long Island ; — there they suffered much, 
they being kept in an almost starved condition. 

This starving proceeded from different motives ; — they wished to 
break the spirit of the prisoners, and to cause their desertion ; or to 
make the war unwelcome to their friends at home. On some occasions, 
as I shall herein show, the British themselves were pinched for sup- 
plies — and on other occasions, the commissaries had their own gain to 
answer, by withholding what they could from the prisoners. I could 
not find, on inquiry, that Americans in New York, were allowed to 
help their countrymen, unless by stealth. I was told by eye-witnesses 
of cases, where the wounded came crawling to the openings in the 
wall, and begging only for one cup of water, and could not be in- 
dulged, the sentinels saying, " we are sorry too, but our orders have 
been, ' suffer no communication in the absence of your officer.' " 

The North Dutch church in William street, was entirely gutted af 
its pews, and made to hold 2000 prisoners. 



ij4 Incidents of the War in New Yorl: 

The Quaker meeting in Pearl street, was converted into an Iloppital. 

The old French church was used as a jirison. 

Mr. Thomas Swords told me they used to bury the prisoners on tlio 
mount, then on corner of Grace and Lumber streets. It was an old 
redoubt. 

Cunningham was infamous for his cruelty to the prisoners, even de- 
priving them of life, it is said, for the sake of cheating his King and 
country, by continuing for a time to draw their nominal rations ! The 
prisoners at the Provost, (the present Debtors' Prison in the Park) were 
chiefly under his severity, (my father among the number, for a time.) 
It was said he was only restrained from putting them to death, (five or 
six of them of a night, back of the prison-yard, where was also their 
graves) by the distress of certain women in the neighborhood, who 
pained by the cries for mercy which they heard, went to the comman- 
der-in-chief, and made the case known, with entreaties to spare their 
lives in future. This unfeeling wretch, it is said, came afterwards to 
an ignominious end, being executed in England, as was published in 
Hall and Sellers' paper in Philad* Ijihin. It was there said, that it 
came out on the trial, that he boasted of having killed more of thn 
King's enemies by the use of his oum means, than had been eflected 
by the King's Arms I — he having, as it was there stated, used a pre- 
paration of arsenic in their flour ! 

Loring, another commissary of prisoners, was quite another man, 
and had a pretty good name. Mr. Lennox, the other, being now a re- 
sident of New York, I forbear any remarks. 

There was much robbing in the city, by the soldiery at times. la 
this. Lord Rawdon's corps and the King's guards, were said to have 
been pre-eminent. 

The British cast up a line of entrenchments, quite across from Cor- 
iear's Hook to Bunker's Hill, on the Bowery road, and placed gates 
across the road there. The Hessians under Knyphausen, were en- 
camped on a mount not far from Corlear's Hook. 

Mr. Andrew Mercein who was present in New York, Avhen most of 
the above mentioned things occurred, has told me several facts. He 
was an apprentice, with a baker who made bread for the army, and 
states, that there was a time when provisions even to their own sol- 
diery, was very liraitted. For instance, on the occasion of the cork 
provision fleet over staying their time, he has dealt out six penny 
?.oaves, as fast as he could hand them, for " a hard half dollar a piece !" 



Incidents of the War in New Yorl: 65 

The baker then gave $20 a cwt. for his flour. They had to make oat- 
meal bread for the navy. Often he has seen 7s. a pound given for 
butter, when before the war, it was but 9d. 

When Cornwallis was in difficulties at York town, and it became 
necessary to send him out all possible help, they took the citizens by 
constraint and enrolled them as a militia. In this service, Mr. Mcr- 
cein was also compelled, and had to take his turns at the fort. There 
they mounted guard, «kc. in military attire, just lent to them for the 
time, and required to be returned. The non-commissioned officers 
were generally chosen as Tories, but often without that condition. 
Mr. Mercein's Sergeant, was whiggish enough to have surrendered, 
if he had had the proper chance ! There were some independant 
companies of Tories there. 

It was really an affijcting sight to see the operations of the final de- 
parture of all the King's embarltation ; — the Royal band beat a fare- 
well march. Then to see so many of our countrymen with their wo- 
men and children, leaving the lands of their fathers, because they took 
the King's side — going thence to the bleak and barren soil of Nova 
Scotia, was at least affecting to them ! — their hearts said, " my country! 
with all thy faults, I love thee still !" 

In coutrast to this, there followed the entry of our tattered and 
weather-beaten troops, followed by all the citizens in regular platoons. 
" Oh ! one day of such a welcome sight, 
Were wortli a whole eternity of lesser 3'ears !" 
Then crowded ko7iie, to their own city, all those who had been abroad 
as exiles from British rule — fondly cherishing in their hearts, 

'•This is my own my native land!" 
The German troops, says Mr. Mercein, were peculiarly desirous to de- 
sert, so as to remain in our country, and hid themselves in every family, 
where they could secure a friend to help their escape. 

It is estimated that 11,000 of our Americans were interred from the 
British prisons, at the Wallabout, the place of the present Navy Yard. 
In cutting down the hill, for the Navy Yard, they took up, sixteen or 
eighteen years ago, full thirteen large boxes of human bones, which 
being borne on trucks, under mourning palls, were carried in pro- 
cession to Jackson street on Brooklyn height, and interred in a char- 
nel house constructed for the occasion, beneath three drooping willows. 
There rest the bones of my grand-father, borne from the Jersey Prison 

Ship, three days after his arrival. 

"Those prison ships, where pain and penance dwell, 
Where death in tenfold vengeance holds his roign, 
And injur'd ghosts, then vuiaveng'd complain !" 



i;G Incidents of the War in New Yorh. 

Two of the burnt hulks of those ships, still remain sunken, near the 

Navy Yard — one in the dock, and one (the Good Hope) near Pindar'3 

Island. 

" Rotten and old, e'er filled with sighs and groans !" 

The word Wallabout, is said to mean, as its location signifies, « 
bend in the shore. 

The sick were changed from the Jersey Prison Ship, after Washing 
ton's interference.— It did good. 

Our ideas of prisons and prisoners, having ourselves been never 
confined, are too vague and undefined in reading of any given mass of 
suffering men. To enter into conception and sympathy with the sub- 
ject, we must individualize our ideas by singling out a single captive — 
hear him talk over his former friends and happy home — sec him pen- 
nyless, naked, friendless, in pain and sickness, hopeless, sighing for 
home — yet wishing to end his griefs in dying ! with Sterne's pathos — 
see him watch his weary days and nights — see the iron enter his sou! 
! — see him dead — then whelmed in pits, neglected and forgotten. Such 
was the tales, if told, of 11,000 of our countrymen at New York! 

Our officers had better fare— they had money or credit— could look 
about and provide for themselves — could contrive to make themselves 
half gay and sportive occasionally. Capt. Graydon, who has left u:J 
aiDUsiug and instructive memoirs of sixty years of his observing life, 
having been among the officers captured at Fort Washington, and held 
prisoners in New York, lias left us many instructive pages concerning 
the incidents at New York, while held by the British, which ought to 
be read by all those who can feel any interest in such domestic history 
as I have herein endeavored to preserve ;— I claim him as a kindred 
spirit, and am gratified to see so old a man set down the recollections 
of his life, with so much good feeling and pleasant anecdote. Agree- 
able old age is always grateful and companionable. 

When we look back and consider the names of British generals 
who were once our terror ; — think of the schemes and inventions on 
which they must have been closeted within the walb of houses still in 
New York — all intended for our destruction ; — then consider how cold 
and noiseless they now all rest ; — their latter fame unknown — none of 
us knowing their final history ; — how very small " the triumphs of the 
hour appear ! — even as poor players " who had strutted and played 
life's poor part !" Has no body any after history of any of them? — ^ 
Does Dodsley's Annual Register give nothing of their closing life ? 



Incidents of the War in New York. 67 

We know from the late Judge Peters, who was in counsel with 
Gen. Washington, upon the occasion, that it was designed to attack 
(he British in New York, even at that time when it became suddenly 
necessary to abandon that project and to turn the designs to York town, 
where it eventually terminated in the capture of Cornwallis' army, 
and afterwards led to the peace. It was the withdrawal of De Grasse's 
naval support that compelled the change of purpose — De Grasse saying 
he found the bay of New York, too dangerous for his heavy ships, and 
that he must seek the Chesapeake. To a mind fond of the marvellous, 
It may appear that the page of destiny had inscribed York as the name 
of occult omen. For whether York betokened the Duke's name and 
rule of former years, or the head of British power in the revolutionary 
struggle, it became the name by which to close the career of British 
empire, and to found under American auspices, the metropolitan of 
our ocean cities ! 



RESIDENCES OF BRITISH OFFICERS. 

" In all the pomp and circumstance of war !" 
As it aids our conceptions of the past, to be able to identify the loca- 
lities, where men conspicuous in our annals of the revolution, duell, 
I set doun the mansions which some of them occupied. 

General Gates, before the revolution, dwelt in the large house, now 
Young's cabinet rooms, No. 69 Broad street. There Gates had that 
house splendidly illuminated in 1762, for the news of tlie Stamp Act 
repealed, probably as a measure to conciliate the people. In the same 
house, once dwelt Gen. Alexander — afterwards, our Lord Stirling. 

Governor Tryon, lived, after his residence in the fort was burnt, in 
the house, now the Bank of New York, at the corner of Wall and 
William streets. 

Gen. Robinson, commandant of the city, lived at one time in Wil. 
Ham street, near to John street. At another time, he lived in Hano- 
ver Square, now the premises of Peter Rcmson, & Co. No. 109. He 
was an aged man of seventy-five years of age. 

Col. Birch, was also commandant of the city a long while, and lived 
in Verplank's house, the same site on which the present Bank of the 
United States, in Wall street, stands. The residence of Admiral 
Digby, and indeed of all naval officers of distinction arriving on the 
.station, was Beekman's house, on the north-west corner of Sloate 
Lane and Hanover Square. There dwelt, under the guardianship of 
admiral Digly, Prince William Henry, the present Duke of Clarence, 
probably destined to be King of England. What associations of ideas 
must it produce, if he attains the honors of a throne ! He who seen 
m the common garb of a midshipman's " roundabout," in New York, 
lias been seen easy of access, trying to join the boys of New York, in 
skating on the Kolck Pond : then a knocked-kneed lad, offering on one 
occasion, on board his ship in New York harbour, to lay aside his star, 
and box-out a controversey with a fellow midshipman. Could he 
again see New York, he would not know the rival London ! 

Gen. H. Clinton had his town residence at N. Prime's house, (first 
built for Capt. Kencndy) at No. 1, Broadway, on the Battery. His 
country house was then Dr. G. Beekman's, on the East River, now 
Bayard's place. 

Sir Guy Carlton, also occupied the house of N. Prime ; and for his 
country residence, the house at Richmond Hill, on Greenwich street : 
afterwards, the residence of Col. A. Burr, (the same house is novr 
lowered 22 feet !) Lord Dorchester also dwelt at the latter house, 



RcsUcnccs of British Officers. ()9 

Gen. IIowo (Iwclt in N. Piime's house, .it south end of Broadway, 
)ic\i to tlic Battery. 

Gen. Knyi)haiiscn, commander of the Germans, dwelt in the large 
iiouso, even now grand in exterior ornaments, &c. in Wall street, where 
is now the Insurance Co., next door eastward from the New York Bank. 

Admiral Rodney, when in New York, occupied for his short stay, 
tiic house (double front) of Robert Bowne, No. 256 Pearl street. 

Gov. George Clinton had his dwelling in the present " Redmond's 
Hotel," No. 178 Pearl street. It was splendid in its day, of Dutch 
construction ; — it has a front of five windows and six dormer windows ; 
— its gardens at first extended through to Water street, which was 
then into the river. 

All along the front of Trinity church ground, (called " the English 
Church," formerly) was the place of the military parade, called by the 
British " the Mall." There the military band playd— on the opposite 
side, assembled the spectators of both sexes. 

I have taken unusual pains to ascertain the residence and conduct 
of the traitor General Arnold— I found such variety and opposition in 
opinion, as to incline me to believe there was some intentional obscu- 
rity in the residence. The weight of evidence however desides me to 
believe he dwelt at two places in New York ; and that his chief resi- 
dence, as a scperate establishment, was at the west side of Broadway, 
and the third house from tlie river. There Rammey, said he dwelt 
and had one sentinel at his door, whilst Sir H. Clinton, at Prime's 
house at the corner, had two. John Pintard, Esq. told me of his be- 
ing present at Hanover Square, when his attention was called by whis- 
pers, " not loud but deep," of " see the traitor-general !" He saw it 
was Arnold, coming under some charge from Sir Henry Clinton, at the 
Battery, to General Robertson, then understood by Pintard, to be the 
commandant of the city. It was said, that after the usual salutations 
with Robertson, he requested his aid Capt. Murray, a dapper little offi- 
cer, to show Gen. Arnold, tiie civilities and rarities of the place. The 
spirited Captain strutted off alone, saying, " Sir, his majesty never 
lionored me with his commission to become the gentleman usher to a 
traitor !" There seems almost too much point in the story, to be 
strictly true ; but it was tlie popular tale of the day, among the Whigs 
incog. Mr. L. C. Hamersley told me he saw Arnold at Verplank's 
house, in Wall street, where is now the Bank of the United States ; 
and then he thought Arnold lived there with Colonel Eircli. Robert 
Lennox, Esq. thought ho lived with Admiral Digby. 



ANCIENT EDIFICES. 

The venerable pile, by innovation razed! 

The Walton House, No. 324 Pearl street, was deemed the nonpareil 
of the city in 17G2, when seen by my mother, greatly illuminated, in 
celebration of the Stamp Act repealed. It has even now an air of 
ancient stately grandeur. It has five windows in front ;— constructed 
of yellow Holland brick ;— has a double pitched roof covered with tiles 
and a double course of balustrades thereon. Formerly, its garden ex- 
tended down to the river. The family is probably descended of the 
Walton, who a century ago, gave the name of " Walton's Ship Yards" 
at the same place. William Walton, who was one of the Council, and 
the first owner of the above house, made his wealth by some prefer- 
ences in the trade among the Spaniards of South America and Cuba. 

There are at present but four or five houses remaining of the an- 
cient Dutch construction, having " pediment walls," surmounting the 
roof in front and giving their cable ends to the street. 

Last year they took down one of those houses in fine preservation 
and dignity of appearance, at the corner of Pearl street and the old 
Slip — it v/as marked 1698. Another on the north-east side, of Co- 
enties Slip, was also taken down last year, marked 1701. The oppo- 
site corner had another, marked 1G89. 

In Broad street, is one of those houses marked 1698, occupied by 
Ferris, & Co. No. 41. Another appearing equally old, but of lower 
height, stands at (he north-east corner of Broad and Beaver streets. 
These with the one now standing, No. 76 Pearl street, near Coenties 
Slip, is I think the only ones now remaining in New York. The passion 
for novelty " studious of change," is levelling all the remains of an- 
tiquity ! 

The ancient " Stadt Huys," formed of stone, stood originally at the 
head of Coenties Slip, facing on Pearl street, towards the East River, 
is now occupied by the houses No. 71 and 73. It was built very early 
in the Outch dynasty, 1842, and became so weakened and impaired in 
half a century afterwards, as to be recommended by the court sitting 
there, to be sold out and another to be constructed. The minutes of 
common council, which I have seen in General Morton's office, arc to 
his efTect: — In 1690, it is ordered that inquiries be made, how the 

City Hall," and the land under the trees by Mr. Burgher's path, would 
sclH" In 1699, they agree to build the " new City Hull," by the head 



Ancient Edijiccs. 1 \ 

of Broad street, for £3000, (the same afterwards the Congress Hall, 
on corner of Wall street.) In 1699, they sell the old City Hall, to 
John Rodman, for £920, reserving only " the bell, the King's Arms, 
and iron works, (fetters, &,c.) belonging to the prison," and granting 
leave also, to allow the cage, pillory, and stocks before the same, to be 
removed within one year; and the prisoners in said jail, within the 
said City Hall, to remain one month." In front of all Uiese on the 
river side, was placed the Rondeal, or Half-Moon Fort, where it pro- 
ba'oly assisted the party sheltered in the City Hall, while the civil war 
prevailed. All these citations sufficiently show, that here was really a 
City Hall as a Court of Justice, with the prison combined. All the 
tradition of the old men, has been, that " there was once the old jail." 
We know from Dutch records that there was an earlier prison than 
this once within the fort— say in 1640;— we know also, that this Stadt 
Huys was originally constructed by Governor Keift, for a Stadt Hcrberg, 
or City Tavern. Soon after, it was both the Campany's Tavern, and 
City Hall, at same time. Here the partizans in the civil war, held 
their fortress, and at them, balls were fired from the fort. In time the 
numerous persons crowding the courts held in it, weakened the build- 
ing and made it needful to take it down in 1700. It would seem as ' 
it -'was old and run to decay," a second building had supplied its 
place in 1701, as that was the mark, which that house, taken down 
last year, then bore. 

The City Hall at the head of Broad street, fronting on Wall street, 
stood out beyond the pavement in that street, and must have been 
finished in 1700. It was also the prison, having before it in the Broad 
street, a whipping post, pillory, &c. There was also held the Provin- 
cial Assembly, the Supreme Court, and the Mayor and Admiralty 
Courts— it was also the place of election ;— it was finally, altered to 
suit the congress, and the prisoners removed to the then " new jail in 
the Park,"— but the congress reinoving to Philadelphia, through the in- 
fluence of Robert Morris, as the New Yorkers set forth in a caricature, 

it was again altered to receive the courts and the state assembly ; 

finally, all was removed to the present superb City Hall of " everlast- 
ing marble." 

It is curious respecting the City Hall, that after it was built, it 
is on record, it was first ordered that it be embellished with the Arms 
of the King and the Earl of Bellermont, and afterwards the corpora- 
tion order, that the latter should be taken down and broken ! What 
meant that indignity ! just at his death too, in 1701. 



T2 Ancient Edifices. 

The first theatre being destroyed in Beekman street, a second the- 
atre was established in John street, between Nassau and Broadway. 
There British officers performed sometimes for their amusement. 
Bonaparte's activity, and vigour of mind, would have found them 
more characteristic and busy employ ! It was well for us, the army 
had such material ! 

There were two ancient custom houses : one stood at the head of 
Mill street — a confined little place ; — a more respectable one, is the 
same now a grocery story on the north-west corner of Moore and Front 
streets. Mr. Ebbets, aged seventy-six, remembered it used as such. 
At same time, the Bason was open all along Moore street. The pre- 
sent N. W. Stuyvesant told mo this was the same building once 
the "Stuyvesant Huys," of his celebrated ancestor. In front of the 
building, was a public crane. 

The exchange stood near there, on arches, across the foot of Broad 
street, in a line with Water street— was taken down after the revolu- 
tion. Under its arches, some itinerant preachers used occasionally to 
preach. 

The first Presbyterian church, built on the site of the present one 
in Wall street, near Broadway, was built in 1719, and it is on record 
m Connecticut, that churches there took up collections to aid the pri- 
mitive building. 



MY REFLECTIONS AND NOTICES. 

"When I travelled I saw many tliin<rs. 

And I learned more than I can express." — Eccl. 

In my travels about New York, looking into every thing with the 
" peering eyes" of a stranger, I saw things which might not strike 
every one, and which I am therefore disposed to set down. 

New York, as a whole, did not strike me as a deformity that it had 
several narrow and winding lanes. I might prefer for convenience of 
living, straighter and wider streets, as their new built ones in every 
direction are ; but as a visiter, it added to my gratification, to wind 
through the unknown mazes of the place, and then suddenly to break 
upon some unexpected and superior street or buildings, passing in 
another direction. It gives entertainment to the imagination, to see 
thus, the lively tokens of the primitive Dutch taste for such streets ; 
and the narrow lanes, aided the fancy to conceive, how, the social 
Knickerbockers, loved the narrow lanes for their social conveniences, 
when setting in their stoopes in evenings, on either side the narrow 
pass, they enjoyed themselves in social Dutch, not unlike the " social 
vehicles," now used for travelling up and down broadway, and ranging 
the passengers face to face. 

I felt also pleased and gratified with the great variety of painted 
brick houses ; done of necessity, because their bricks are inferior 
<renerally, but giving them occasion to please the eye with numerous 
fancies. 

I most disliked their marked compliment to our Philadelphia brick, 
in painting numerons brick houses in the precise red colour of our 
unpainted bricks. A brick of dead red, has no beauty of itself;— 
almost any other colour, in my judgment, would surpass it. 

This is peculiarly the town of " merry church going bells." Their 
numerous spires as ornaments, seem to demand the others, as apologies 
for such expensive steeples. In Philadelphia, in other days, the in- 
habitants petitioned that a part of their few bells should be dismounted 
or silenced, because they disturbed the sick. Do not the sick hear 
them in New York?— or are they still " merry bells" to them ! 

There is something in New York, that is a perpetual ideal London 
to my mind, and therefore more a gratification to me to visit, than to 
abide. The stir and bustle ; the perpetual emulation to excel in dis. 
K 



74 My Reflections and Notices. 

play ;— the various contrivance.?, by signs and devices, to allure ami 
catch the eye;— the imitations of London, and foreign cities and 
foreigners ; rather than our own pi-oper republican manners and prin- 
ciples, struck my attention every where. The very ambition to be 
the metropolitan city, like London, gave them cares which I am very 
Avilling to see remote enough from Philadelphia— I am fully willing, 
ours shall long be "the peaceful city of Penn." Why do we wani 
our cities, and even our country, dense with foreign population 1— Ip 
there no maximum point, beyond which our comforts and ease must 
proportionably diminish? I fear so. 

New York is distinguished for its display in the way of signs;--- 
every device and expense is resorted to, to make them attractive j 
'crowding them upon every story and even upon the tops and ends of 
some houses. One smalt house in Beekman street, has twelve signs 
of lawyers ; and at 155 Pearl street, the name of Tilldon and Roberts, 
were painted on the stone steps of the door ! 

" A wilderness of strange but gay oonfusion." 
In truth, it struck me as defeating its own purpose, for the glare oi 
them was so uniform as to loose' the power of discrimination. It i;? 
not unlike the perpetual din of their own carriage wheels unnoticed 
by themselves, though astounding to others. 

These signs however, had some interest for me, and especially along 
Pearl street, where they were of tamer character, than in Broadway, 
and were so much the easier read. There I read and considered the 
nomenclature of the town. I saw by them that strangers had got hold 
of the business and the wealth of tlie place. " The busy tribes" from 
New England, supplied numerous names ; and the names of the 
Knickerbockers, were almost rarities in their own homes ! Judicious 
persons told me they thought full one half of all the business done in 
New York, was " by the pushing Yankee.'?," (I mean it to their credit ! ) 
one fourth more by foreigners of all kinds, and the remainder left a 
fourth for the Knickerbockers ; some of them in business, but many 
of them reposing otivm cum dignitate, on the surprisingly increased 
value of their real estates. The ancients who still linger about as 
lookers-on, must sigh or exclaim, " strangers feed our flocks, and 
aliens are our vine dressers !" 

Jones' buildings, or Arcade, in Wall street, is a curious contrivance 
for mere offices— a real London feature of the place ! where ground is 
precious, 



J\ly Refections and Notices. 75 

I deem it strange, that in so rapidly an enlarging city, I should see 
no houses " to let ;" — all seen occupied. 

The frequency of fires, and their alarms, is one evil of over large po» 
pulation. The cry occurred every day or night I dwelt in the city. 
An old man (Mr. Tabelee) who had been twenty-eight years a fireman, 
told me, tiiey never had an alarm of fire in summer, in olden time. 

Now York has now become an extremely finely paved city. For- 
merly, many of their foot walks had only the same kind of round peb- 
bles which fill the carriage way. This gave occasion to Dr. Franklin 
to play his humour, in saying, a New Yorker could be known by his 
gait, in shuflling over a Philadelphia fine pavement, like a parrot upon 
a mahogany tabic ! Now, their large flag stones, and wide foot pave- 
ments, surpass even Philadelphia, for its case of walking ; and the un- 
usual width of their flag-stone footways, across the pebbled streets at 
fhe corners, is very superior. 

In visiting two of the Reformed Dutch churches, my mind ran out 
m various meditations and reflections — I thought of the ancients all 
gone down to the dust— of their zeal and devotion to the decrees of 
the Synod of Dort and of God— of their hope that their own language 
would never be superceded within those walls which they had reared ! 
Now, as 1 looked around among the congregation for Knickerbocker 
visages and persons, I saw no caste of character to mark their peculiar 
race. You may descern a German in Pennsylvania, as a coarser mould ; 
but not so the Netherland progeny in New York. Yet such as I found 
them, they were the only and last remains of the primitive settlers of 
New Amsterdam ;— it was only in such a collection of descendents, 
that you could hope to find, if at all, the sesquipedaUa names of their 
ancestors, such as these : — Mynheers Varrevauger, Vander Schuven, 
S'ouwert Olpheresse, Vande Spiegel, Van Bonimel, Hardenbroeck and 
Ten Broeck, Boelc Roclofsen, Van Ruyven, Ten Eyck, Verplanck 
Spiegelaer, Van Borssum, &c. &c. : — not to omit the least of all little 
names, " De !" TheiSe were names of men of property, on the earliest 
list assessed, now extant. 

It is interesting to witness occasionally, here and there, the remains 
of the ancient town, as the houses in some instances of humble 
wooden fabric, continue as they were. Thus in so conspicuous and 
wealthy a place as Broadway and the Park,—" tall mansions to shame 
the humble shed,"— we see at the south-west corner of Warren and 
Broadway, a collection down each street, equal to four houses each 



76 My Rejections and Notices. 

way, of small two story frames. Down Broad street, a central place, 
are still many very mean looking low frames. They doubtless retain 
(heir places, because of paying better rents for their value, than could 
be derived from more sightly edifices. 

The New York painters of fancy wood, are certainly peculiar in 
their skill in tastefnl decorations or accurare imitations. It is dis- 
played in numerous fine imitations of oaken doors— sometimes in 
marble pillars and posterns — some fine imitations of the pudding-stone 
columns, which cost so much in the capital of Washington ; — but 
finally, I think nothing can excel the excellency of the painting of 
the north Dutch church pulpit, where Dr. Brownlee is pastor. Every 
touch of it is true to the character of the bird-eye ma]>le, and having 
the finest possible polish. 

With more time, I might possibly have found out some rarely aged 
persons of good experience in the past. I saw Sarah Paul, a colored 
woman, at No. 23 Lombardy street, of the rare age of one hundred and 
fifteen years,* as it was estimated. Her memory was too unstable to 
rest any remarkable facts upon, although she was sufficiently talkative. 
Another relic of " Lang Syne," was found in the intelligent mind and 
active person, of old William Ceely, now an inmate of the Alms-house 
at Bellevue, at the advanced age of one hundred and eight. 'Tis only 
in the last year that he walked one hundred and fifty miles, to see re- 
latives in Connecticut. How strange to see such persons, so long 
escaped the " thousand ills that flesh is heir to !" 

Coney Island is a " lonely shore" of rare advantage to New York. 
AVe can never hope to have any thing to compare or compete with its 
benefits, as a recreation and a salutary change " for the cooped-up 
sickly citizen." A greater desideratum cannot be imagined for the 
population of a great city, devoted to their daily toil of business, than 
the power of reaching sea-bathing, in a cheap and moderate ride of 
but two hours. There to eat a meal, or spend a night, and return 
home " with nerves new braced, and sinews firmer strung !" Such a 
place is Coney Island, having a dashing surf, and good house of ade- 
quate entertainment. If its worth is duly appreciated as a means of 
refreshing and invigorating the city population, it will be deemed an 
invaluable acquisition ! 

Though but a looker-on in New York, like others, of " no particu. 

iar business," I nevertheless felt myself occasionally charged with 

* She died in February, 182J. 



My Refections and Notices. 77 

every body's concerns, and thought myself not unlike Knickerbocker 
himself — a mysterious gentleman " very inquisitive, continually poking 
about town and prying into every thing,"— seizing when he could, 
facts " trembling on the lips of narrative old age," just as they were 
" dropping piece meal into the tomb." With the best intentions to be 
unintrusive and civil, a quid nunc must sometimes traverse gruff na- 
tures, who having no feelings in sympathy with the subjects, feel fret- 
ted by the kindest questions. They are indeed rare occurrences ; and 
when happening, are more likely to afford amusement to the calm in- 
quirer than to vex him. I could tell anecdotes of some such occasional 
incidents, but one may here suffice. 

Passing along a certain street and seeing the house which had been 
occupied as the primitive Methodist meeting— now a small store, I 
concluded to stop in and inquire whether any facts concerning its 
early days, had ever been spoken of it in their presence. I took for 
granted that the inmate was a New Yorker ;— but I was no sooner en- 
tered than I perceived it w^as occupied by a debonair foreigner, who, 
with much vivacity and seeming politeness, was already on the ap- 
proach from a back apartment. It struck me instantly, as an affair 
mal apropos on both sides ! For I could readily read in his face that 
he expected in me a guest by whom to make his profit. It was not 
perhaps to the credit of the gentleman that I should, beforehand, con- 
ceive that he would revolt at any question about " a Methodist meet- 
ing," let me put it in what form of gentleness I would : But it was so. 
1 had no sooner, in set words of intended brevity, told the objects of 
my stepping-in, than I perceived " the hectic of the moment" mant- 
ling his cheeks ; and I began to think if 1 could only preserve my self, 
possession, I might see the enactment of " Monsieur Tonson" himself! 
His first replication was— "my God saire ! what have I to do wid de 
Metodiste meeting !"-Excuse me, sir, I replied, that is what I cannot 
answer, because, I came to ask you what you had ever heard of this 
house. '^ Why saire, what have you to do wid dis house?" Very 
much, sir, as a matter of curiosity ; for here it was said, was cradled 
a. religious people now the strongest in numerical force in the United 
States ! " Ah saire, dat is noting to me-I am no Metodiste !" Oh, 
sir, replied I, I am satisfied of that. " Then saire, wat do you want ?" 
I told you that at first, sir, when I introduced myself and subject. " I 
have no interest in the subject," said he. So l" perceive, said I, and I 
am only sorry I have engaged so much of your time to so little mu- 
tual benefit. 



"4 ci My Reflections and Notices, 

Perceiving him so tempest tost, on so small a subject— all " to wait 
d feather, or to drown a fly !" I constrained him to hear me a little 
longer, while I should tell him a little of the primitive history of the 
house, under the plausible kindness of enabling him to give more di- 
rect answers to future enquirers, if ever again questioned concerning 
his notable place. His nervous^ impatience, in the mean time, was 
apparent enough, but he had to bear it, for it was impossible to quarrel 
with my gentleness and urbanity ; and he could not but be half-afraid 
his troubler " was lunatic and sore vexed," as one too often visiting 
" the glimpses of the moon !" We parted with mutual bows and civi- 
lities, and both " preserved our honors !" 

As I had looked in vain for any thing like primitive remains of 
" Oranje Boven" in the Dutch churches of New York, I would fain 
have followed Knickerbocker himself to their " last hold " at Commu- 
nipawy—a. name itself sufficiently sounding and mysterious to invite a 
stranger to an inspection and exploration,— to learn, if he could, what 
it means and what it exhibits. Its allurement, to me, would have been 
to catch there a living picture of those characteristics appropriated to 
It by its comic historian, saying, " it is still one of the fastnesses 
whither the primitive manners of our Dutch forefathers have retreated 
and still are cherished with devout affection." The pleasure of a vi- 
sit to such a place, I was not favored to indulge ; but if it answers the 
description, it is the spot which the sons of Oranje Boven, should spe- 
cially consecrate to Dutch memory, by holding there their occasional 
festivals in rude simplicity ;— reviving there the recollection of their 
ancestors by crowning their festive boards with the very diet in kind, 
which they once prized,— such as Suppawn and Malk, Hoof Kaas, 
Zult, Kokkies en Poetyes, Kool Slaa, Roltctje, Worst, Gbfruyt Pens, 
&c. &c. 



0= The original JISS. look, from which the preceding notices of jXew York 
have been taken, has been git-en to the Hidoricol Socicti/ of that place. Among 
a few cf its arlides omitted in the prtsent jjrint, was the form- and manner of 
the queries usually submitted, or explained in substance, to the aged, as a means 
of eliciting the information required. It may he usefully considted by those 
who may desire further to pursue the subject. 












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